I. An Overview of Internal Family Systems Therapy
1. The Origins of Internal Family Systems Therapy
2. Individuals as Systems
3. The Self
4. Burdens
5. IFS and the Body
6. The Role of the Therapist in IFS
II. How to Practice IFS Therapy with Individuals
7. Setting the Table for Treatment
8. In-Sight and Direct Access
9. Finding, Focusing, and Fleshing Out Protectors
10. Feeling toward, Befriending, and Exploring Protector Fears
11. Changing Protector Polarizations
12. Unburdening Exiles
13. Doing Inner Work Safely
III. IFS Therapy with Families, Couples, and Larger Systems
14. The IFS Model's View of Families
15. Releasing Constraints in IFS Family Therapy
16. Unburdening in IFS Family Therapy
17. Treating Couples with IFS Therapy
18. Applying the IFS Model to Social and Cultural Systems
IV. Research and Conclusion
19. Research on IFS
20. The Laws of Inner Physics
Glossary of Terms
Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, the developer of the Internal Family
Systems (IFS) model, is on the adjunct faculty of the Department of
Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He has devoted his career to
evolving and disseminating IFS, which now is being taught all over
the world. Dr. Schwartz founded the Center for Self Leadership in
Oak Park, Illinois, which coordinates IFS trainings in the United
States and internationally. He is a featured speaker at many
national conferences and has published more than 50 articles and
books about IFS and other psychotherapy topics. His website is
https://selfleadership.org.
Martha Sweezy, PhD, is Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard
Medical School, part-time; Research, Training, and Curriculum
Consultant at the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge
Health Alliance; and a psychotherapist in private practice. She
teaches Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy nationally and
internationally, and has authored, coauthored, or coedited several
books on various applications of IFS.
"This book illustrates how the parts who populate our clients'
inner worlds are trying to manage an underlying threat that others
may not see. The only credible offer of help is one that can
resolve this threat. IFS guides us to offer deep understanding and
meaningful assistance to clients who long to transform but are
stuck in extreme, destructive roles."--Leslie S. Greenberg, PhD,
Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Psychology, York
University, Canada
"We are indeed the sum of our parts, and, for over 25 years,
Schwartz has been acquainting us with the exiles, managers, and
firefighters battling within our psyches. In the second edition of
this seminal book, Schwartz and Sweezy provide a more extensive
overview of IFS therapy. New chapters address individual and
systemic work with each component of the internal family system, as
well as research attesting to the model’s effectiveness. This is an
invaluable resource for both beginning and experienced
practitioners who seek self-integration for their clients--and
themselves."--Michael C. LaSala, PhD, LCSW, School of Social Work,
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
"Since this book was originally published, the thoroughly
innovative principles and practices of IFS therapy have been
studied, applied, and advanced by thousands of psychotherapists.
The second edition is extensively revised and updated--effective
clinical strategies are illustrated with engaging therapist–client
dialogues; cutting-edge research reveals the promise of IFS for
conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder; and IFS concepts
are applied at and between multiple levels, from the individual to
the whole society. Psychotherapists at any stage of their careers
will find stimulating concepts and carefully designed tools that
will enrich their thinking and improve their practices."--Richard
Chasin, MD, former president, American Family Therapy Academy
“The outstanding second edition of this classic book presents the
preeminent research-supported, integrative family systems approach
to working with individuals as well as their couple and family
relationships in their larger cultural contexts. The book is
beautifully written, the theory is sophisticated and nuanced, and
the clinical vignettes demonstrate the details of putting IFS into
practice. IFS therapy dovetails wonderfully with the emerging
emphasis on body-based psychotherapies, mindfulness practices, and
the role of spirituality in mental health and well-being. This book
should be read by all therapists--not just those who align with
family systems--and should be a core text for graduate programs in
all forms of psychotherapy. I will use it in my graduate
courses!”--Peter Fraenkel, PhD, Department of Psychology, The City
College of the City University of New York
“In this updated second edition, Schwartz candidly shares how his
work with clients has helped him expand his original thoughts
regarding IFS and embrace a more client-led process. Schwartz and
Sweezy define the concepts of IFS well, and the book is easy to
read. I appreciate the addition of updated IFS research and the way
the authors promote healing beyond the individual and family by
extending IFS concepts to communities. Master’s- and doctoral-level
students may further their ability to address self-of-the-therapist
issues by reflecting on how their ‘parts’ interact with the ‘parts’
of clients, thus promoting better therapy outcomes.”--Jenene Case
Pease, PhD, LMFT, Department of Human Development and Family
Science, Virginia Tech; Clinical Director, The Family Therapy
Center of Virginia Tech
"This second edition condenses 25 years of clinical innovation
since the pioneering first edition was published. All who wish to
study and treat family relationships need to read this book.
Schwartz and Sweezy have produced a clear, realistic view of the
extraordinary complexities of families across time and
contexts."--Charles R. Figley, PhD, Kurzweg Distinguished Chair and
Professor of Disaster Mental Health and Director, Traumatology
Institute, Tulane University-
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