About Internal Family Systems Therapy (Q&A with Robin Rea)

Question: What is Internal Family Systems therapy?

Answer: Internal Family Systems therapy is a transformative, experiential model of psychotherapy that once understood and applied can optimally evolve into a life practice where we can learn to stay compassionately connected to ourselves and others, even when navigating challenging circumstances.

For more information on the model and its founder, Dr. Richard Schwartz, please go to: ifs-institute.com.

Question: Who can IFS therapy help?

Answer: Anyone interested in learning more about themselves. I help people with a wide range of problems, but often the people I see have an early life history of significant emotional neglect. When we don’t receive the emotional support we need as children, we can spend our adulthood focused on others and neglect our own needs. IFS fosters a practice of listening to and healing those parts of us that never got what they needed emotionally.

For more information on childhood emotional neglect, please go to: drjonicewebb.com.

Question: Can you tell me more about your Internal Family System training?

Answer: I was introduced to IFS about 7 years ago, and I have been immersed in learning more about it, not just for my clients, but also for myself. I am Level One and Level Two trained, and I continue to deepen my skills by participating in workshops, trainings, consultations, and my own therapy with an IFS therapist.

Question: How has IFS therapy helped you?

Answer: More self-acceptance and self-compassion. Less time spent in self-judgment and shame. Most importantly, I’ve gained a way to access a deeper core of wisdom and courage that helps me feel grounded and present in my daily life.

Question: How do you help people using IFS?

Answer: Answer: I hold space for and listen to what parts of themselves show up and in what ways these parts show up. They might present as protective, defensive stances, rageful protests, deeply felt yearnings, or entrenched stuckness around making a decision. I start to name them as “parts”, and in so doing, facilitate the client’s awareness that they are not just one thing, but instead multi-dimensional. Just this understanding can be transformative for some people.

Instead of being an “angry” or “anxious” person, they learn to be curious about and listen to their “angry” and “anxious” parts.

As clients explore more about themselves in this way, and as they learn to resource an inner compassion and
curiosity where parts can feel understood and cared for in a deep way, healing shifts can happen, and long-buried distress and shame can be transformed. I have heard clients share many times that they feel lighter and more joyful in their lives after extended IFS work.

Question: What if this kind of therapy isn’t right for me? Do you have other ways of working with clients?

Answer: I have 25 years of experience working with people in diverse settings, and have gained extensive training in other therapeutic modalities along the way. In my current practice, I often utilize other techniques and tools that integrate smoothly with IFS protocols.

I listen to my clients and never push my agenda in how the therapy should unfold. I believe in creativity, flexibility and resourcefulness.