The founder of Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS) has just released the first workbook to enable people to work independently (or with the support of a professional) using IFS’ process and tools. In addition to providing a concise overview of IFS, the workbook has over fifty exercises with links to guided audio recordings.
The exercises can help with navigating change as well as addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, and interpersonal challenges. For people without significant mental health challenges, they can strengthen confidence and wisdom in moving through life. There’s something in there for most anyone.
I’ve been digging deeper into IFS in my own life and in my work with clients in the past few years. I came to IFS as a skeptic and am now somewhat of an annoying convert (which is saying something because I’m not a joiner and tend to be critical of the fads that blow through the therapy field).
Working in an IFS way has really helped my marriage, enabled me to unwind old injuries, and has given me a more spacious and relaxed experience of myself. This is speaking as someone who has been a Buddhist for forty years (IFS and Buddhism can be complimentary). As I’ve brought IFS into my work with clients, I see how effective it is for helping a person see their experience more clearly, access internal healing and steadying capacities, and facilitate change around long-standing difficulties.
This new IFS Workbook will be a valuable resource for therapists and coaches, and is an accessible path to personal growth and healing for most anyone else.
I also recommend the two books Richard Schwartz wrote for a popular audience just prior to releasing the workbook. They both accompany the workbook well. The first is No Bad Parts, aimed at individuals, and the second is You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For, which speaks to intimate relationships.