Internal Family Systems/Parts Work

[ChrissyStar]

Hi,

Have you any experience with this therapy (as a practioner or patient)? What are your thoughts on it?

I'm intetested in receiving sessions which use the Internal Family Systems (IFS), also known as Parts Work.

I am aware that this is a niche area & I live semi-remote, thus finding a practioner is unlikely to happen. However COVID has caused many practitioners to use online delivery, thus I'm hopeful enough to ask. Can anyone help me here?

If it's against Forum rules to suggest individual people (or medications) - instead, please advise...should I search for this specific treatment, or do all psychologists have training/skills with this work?

What about self-guided exercises using IFS work...where would I find this?

If I can't find anything, I thought about observing a recorded (online) IFS sessions & writing down how it unfolds (the therapists' directives)...then repeating on myself?

Or finding guidelines in how to run such a session - but, where could I do this?

Any advice is GRATEFULLY APPRECIATED. I hope this helps others, too.

[CalmCat]

Hi ChrissyStar,

Thanks for such an inquisitive post, you definitely taught me something looking into this.

If you want to find some one that specializes in IFS, you'd probably best doing a websearch with the terms  'ifs therapists' + 'your state/city/town'".

Or you could purchase some of the books on the subject, learn about it on your own devices.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Doz86

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi ChrissyStar,

Thanks so much for your post. I only learned about IFS recently and am in love with the concept - it's very abstract but it makes a lot of sense to me.

Not all psychologists/counsellors will have IFS training- this is something they'll have to individually seek out. Here is a directory of IFS trained therapists- https://www.internalfamilysystemstrainingaustralia.com.au/directory/

As for self-guided work, I wonder if a self-help book might be helpful? Each IFS session is so unique that I can't see how you can really apply it to yourself. One you can try is 'You are the one you've been waiting for' by Richard Schwartz. He created IFS himself. He also has guided meditations on YouTube and Insight Timer (which is free), so you could try that as well.

Hope this helps!

rt

[Sophie_M]

Hi Chrissy,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for reaching out.

We thought we might shed a bit of light on this: "If it's against Forum rules to suggest individual people (or medications)"

It is against the community rules to suggest individual practioners or name specific medications.

Our community rules can be found here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/community-rules

Among other things, they state we will edit posts which:

• advertises products, services, events or research
• makes any reference to specific prescription medication names and/or dosages or seeks medical advice

These rules are in place to ensure one of our 5 key forums values: safety.

Once again welcome to the forums. We know they can take a bit of getting used to but we think you are so brave for reaching out as you have. Please don't hesitate to check in and let us know how you're getting on whenever you feel up to it.