Internal Family Systems

Developed by Richard C. Schwartz in the 1980s, the Internal Family Systems psychological model theorizes that all people have multiple personality parts within their minds, each with its own unique viewpoint and personality quirks. Using the concepts of family systems theory, which fosters communication between the various members of a family, IFS seeks to help individuals discover the various parts of themselves and create harmonious relationships between them. This is achieved under the leadership of their overarching true Self, which is considered to be the spiritual center of an individual that is most connected to the healing qualities of curiosity, connectedness, compassion, and calmness. This framework is usually used in conjunction with traditional talk therapy.