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I recently rediscovered Jay Early's Self-Therapy audiobook and I'm wondering if anybody has experience with the IFS approach, and I'd like to know how you guys have made it work in your life. I have a little experience with this method starting about 8 months back. At first I did the guided meditations and got some success. I tried meditating on my own which didn't work as well and finally did some IFS style journaling. Journaling was the most difficult and painful, but it helped me get to know some very neglected parts of my psyche. I gave up about 2 months in and I'd like to find out how to deal with some issues when I run into them again. I ran into real difficulties when the angry and aggressive parts started to come up. I never got into self when those parts were near. I remember being very scared and helpless, and the way I tried to deal with these raging parts was superficially polite and apologetic. There's a strong sence of polarised fear and rage when I read my old journal. If anyone has advice to offer, I'd greatly appreciate it.

My therapist currently has two spots available, so I thought I recommend her here. I am doing IFS-therapy since about one and a half years and can not speak highly enough of her. I am aware that finding a therapist is a very individual thing, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. Before working with her I searched for a therapist for a long time and spoke to a good dozen different therapists without finding someone I was comfortable with. I know that it takes a while to find someone who is not only great but also a great match. Here some reasons why I highly recommend her : She is not religious and not "spiritual", but rational and consistent. She has over 20 years of experience with clients and has done the work in therapy herself. She is empathic, honest, patient, curious and kind. In working with her she always had my back and I always feel respected and taken care of. While I have been ( and am) working through some quite heavy subjects with her, there are always some lighthearted, humorous moments in our sessions. It feels good to me to be able to share my tears as well as a laugh with her. She has always been very flexible if something came up between our sessions, if I needed more or less time and if it was necessary to move our appointments. She is offering sessions through Skype and has reasonable rates (even a sliding scale). By the way, doing therapy through Skype has never been a problem for me and working with her was for me the best decision I ever made. If you are interested in giving her a try, write me a pm and I send you the contact information!

I just wanted to reach out to anyone that has experience with IFS therapy. I recently contacted an IFS Therapist about starting some therapy with them, but I am skeptical of the approach. I am not spiritual in any sense, and find that I am uncomfortable with the process and ideas behind the therapy. I've only heard good things about it so far though so I thought I could give it a try. I have a very small income, so I'm extremely cautious about spending such a large amount of money on something that might not work for me. Has anyone gone through with IFS Therapy who is not spiritual, or perhaps that it made them initially uncomfortable? Were you able to successfully process your traumas? If I don't go with the IFS model, are there any other models that you might suggest as effective? The IFS model had me, right up until the true Self bit. The protectors, managers, and exiles all make sense, in a sort of "dumbed down" version of what's going on in my mind. Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Since starting IFS-therapy 6 months ago I've gain insight to a ongoing conflict I've had for a long time but I don't seem to get anywhere to resolve the conflict. The conflict is between these two parts. Part 1. The protector 90-95% of the days I'm overtaken by a protective part that limits/shut down almost all emotions, some days are better than others but this is the general theme. This makes me feel tired and causes a lack of energy/motivation throughout the day, and I find little/no enjoyment out of most things. What I've come to understand is that the part believes it needs to do this because it is protecting myself from exiles threatening to arise and overwhelm the system and it feels that it isn't safe to open the system up. This is still true during therapy although I think it has gotten a little better there. Part 2. The trying part. The trying part is a manager who tries to manage my life, keep it organized and he takes the lead in the IFS-work. He's like a kid that has taken on the parental role and believes he's alone in leading the system. This part is in conflict with the protector part because he's trying to get the protector part to step aside. Since a manager isn't the Self and doesn't have the healing capacities of empathy, love, etc the protector won't let him get into contact with any of the hurt parts. The solution? The solution could be to get to know the trying part, to get him to understand that he doesn't need to lead the system, that he's not alone and doesn't have to take on that role. But this fails because I (the protector) can't find or feel any curiosity/appreciation towards him. So if I ask if the protector could step back to allow me to feel curiosity/appreciation/more self energy towards him, but its the trying part that does the asking. So naturally the protector won't step back. This is the never ending loop, and the trying part eventually just gives up and say "Fuck it, I have no idea what to do, What the fuck am I suppose to do". It's like the conflict occurs in the investigation room and I'm behind the semi transparent window observing and they believe no else is there. Is there anyone who has gone trough similar situation or have some tips on how to better resolve the situation?

INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS) THERAPY MODEL by DR. RICHARD SCHWARTZ Hello! Thanks for checking out this new forum. I wanted to open this space up for anyone currently practicing or interested in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. I learned about IFS from Stefan's interview with the creator of the model, Dr. Richard Schwartz. The podcast is here: http://www.fdrpodcasts.com/#/1575/you-are-not-alone-freedomain-radio-interviews-dr-richard-schwartz-freedomain-radio I am so grateful for having been exposed to IFS and I am hoping to spread the model because I have seen incredible results in myself and others. In addition to using the forum to share IFS experiences I would also like to offer my services to any and all who are interested. I have been integrating Internal Family Systems therapy within my own self-therapy and the work with my clients for the last 8 months. I was recently accepted into the official IFS Training Program and completed my first leg only a few weeks ago. The intensive training ends in August when I will be listed on the official IFS site as a trained IFS Therapist. Until then, while entrenched in IFS training, I am offering HALF OFF on all SKYPE therapy sessions until September 1st as I make the transition away from the my current model into the IFS model. Despite being within the training, I am highly adept and confident in the use of the model. I strongly believe this model can help one discover who they really are in a deep and profound way. Whatever the struggle, IFS is incredibly powerful, loving, and all-accepting. You can send me a personal message or take a look at my website http://www.conormcmillen.com for pricing information. I really look forward to posts on this forum! Thanks again for checking it out

Can there be a sibling in my IFS, when I'm an only child? There were times in my youth when I often wished I'd had a brother. As a spindly and shy girl growing up, I rarely felt confident in myself. I spent a lot of time thinking, and would ponder how much better my life would be, if only I had a brother to give me advice, to protect me, and to share in the authority of my parents. A number of years later, my mom and I were sitting alone at the dining room table having a conversation. I think I was in my 30's at the time. Though I'm not sure how the topic came up, nor do I recall having mentioned it to her before, I admitted to her that I had always wished I'd had a sibling. It felt like I was confiding a big secret. Then, I asked her why she and dad had decided not to have any more children. She grew sad and her answer was not one I had expected. She told me that she got pregnant again within weeks after I was born. She went on to tell me that she had lost the baby in a miscarriage and it had been due to an error made by the doctor who had delivered me. (Alert for any men who get queasy at the mention of the birth process, be forewarned.) She said the doctor had neglected to remove the afterbirth after I was born and that it had caused the miscarriage of the pregnancy that followed. She said she was never able to get pregnant again afterwards. She began crying and I recall telling her how sorry I was. I got up and hugged her until she regained her composure. After the conversation, I had an overwhelming feeling that I was at fault somehow for the miscarriage. I'm not sure why I felt responsible, but I did. It was obviously the incompetence of an ill-trained doctor, but was it something in the way she had told me or was it something in the way I processed her answer to my question that made me feel otherwise? Though I didn't mention it to my mom (and we've never discussed it since), I went through a period of grief after that conversation. Grief for the loss of my sibling. Grief that I had somehow caused it. It was a deep sense of bereavement. To console myself through the grief, in my mind, I created the brother I never had. I mourned him. I embraced him. I visualized him. I imagined what it would have been like to grow up together. Did I answer the very question I began with? Do I carry him with me still? Upon reflection, I'd say yes, there can be a sibling in my IFS. Though I'm an only child, I feel I have a sibling and he lives in me. I'm not sure what role he plays yet. Perhaps he's been there all along as the one who helps me find answers to life's unknowns and the place to hide when I feel threatened. It seems time to pay him a visit and to get to know him better. I welcome any input from others who have experience with the IFS and can advise me if this is indeed possible. And also any input as to why I would have felt responsible for the loss.

Hi, I had some thoughts about what happens when we ignore parts of ourselves and made this video. I'd love to hear what you think https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MXePMInaYPo