Internal Family Systems Therapy

I have only completed the Introduction and the first two chapters, but it is clear how useful this book will be for anyone wanting to understand or better practice Internal Family Systems Therapy. The introduction, by Jack Engler, is an excellent first introduction or revisit to IFS itself. He gives a grounding perspective to how multiplicity of mind, i.e., a mind of sub-personalities, while a new concept to modern western civilization, has long been accepted by other, and older cultures. He also from personal experience address some of the common doubts concerning unburdening. The chapter by Richard Schwartz Ph.D, the discoverer of IFS, is about the role of the relationship between therapist and client. With characteristic openness and humility, Dr. Schwartz, explains how his view has changed over the years. While he still holds, the client's relationship to their parts as primary, he shows the relationship with the therapist to be essential to the healing process. He discusses the importance, and methods for the therapist to work with their own parts that inevitably occur in relation with clients. The second chapter by Martha Sweezy, Ph.D., is concerned with shame, and makes clear how shame perpetuates itself into toxicity, and how to work to relieve it with IFS. All three sections are well written and clear. All have clinical or personal examples to illustrate concepts. The openness and honesty of the authors continues the tradition of IFS literature. The sections are packed, so as well as looking forward to finishing the book, I know that I will gainfully revisit it in the future.Internal Family Systems is a ground breaking, non-pathologizing method to free people from the limiting burdens of the past. This book is a very helpful aid in that project.

Aside from Schwartz's Intro to IFS this and the sequel to this book are the best ways to get a broad understanding of the application of IFS. I have been a therapist for 25 years and have mostly shed every other approach to therapy I have learned for this one. It is hugely exciting and has transformed my job from one that can be emotionally exhausting and even tedious, to one wherein I can offer an immediate way to help people get to know their parts and introduce them to the Self and Self-Energy. Some chapters are more helpful than others, The Intro by Engler is a great primer and I use it as a primer for clients to understand the model. Chapter 1 by Schwartz and Sweezy's chapter on Shame are excellent and so useful in application. Rosenberg refers to the "innocent young parts of Adam and Eve [becoming] . . curious to know the erotic Tree of Life . . " and describes their banishment from the Garden of Eden as being "shame about their bodies". This is his own interpretation and misses the bigger picture of the Judeo-Christian view of this passage, which is not limited to the body. While it is true that a non-judgmental approach to polarities is essential, as therapists we are also trying to help parts feel safe so that extreme polarities are no longer necessary. Self energy (or God's Spirit for we who believe God is Love and not a shamer), essentially moves toward healing, as extreme polarities become less necessary, leading to what client's describe as a "peace which passes all understanding".

These readings feel like doing a Level 3 with part of each day led by a senior practitioner focused on a different area of application. Of course, the live demos and practice sessions aren't there...but what IS included is insight from the practitioners about what's going on for THEIR parts as they're doing the work, and lots of case vignettes. For me, that's one of the most valuable elements, as it makes my own parts more welcome...in some cases, also gives me clues as to what parts of me to look for as I'm working more challenging cases that I might not realize are there.Some of the material might also be useful for clients--e.g., I think I'll excerpt from Toni's section on couples work.Great stuff, well written. A lot of $$$...but worth it.

A great overview. Easy to follow for a beginner, but enough information to be useful.

good to read for counselors

If you liked Richard Schwartz's IFS, you'll like this one too. The original IFS is an introduction into a now blossoming field of psychology. This book come over 15 years later and shows how therapists have been using the IFS model in their respective fields. Highly illuminating and even found myself on the verge of tears multiple times witnessing the enacting of this beautiful therapy. I'd recommend reading the first IFS first, but if not you'll still get a lot from this book.

This fills in a lot of the spaces in the IFS writing; especially Dick Schwartz's chapter on the client-therapist relationship.Every chapter has a personal account of the impact on the author of the IFS process and good case study. I was particularly moved by Jack Engler's forward.Bonnie Weiss

About 30 pages are blank in the middle of the book!

Quite a bit on ifs and sexuality, also on health related subjects. And a brilliant first chapter on client therapist relationship well worth reading and rereading. Not the best book to learn ifs but good to see examples of its application in a wide variety of situations

ok

いろんなIFSのセラピストが各々とても刺激的な寄稿を寄せてくれています。中でも、セラピストのerotic partsに正面切ってフォーカスを当ててくれている寄稿があり、大変面白く読ませてもらいました。クライエントのみならず、セラピストの中の、どのようなパーツ（erotic partsでさえ）も歓迎するIFSの精神には惹かれますね。IFSには本当の意味でのコンパッションが満ち溢れています。

I've studied and practiced Internal Family Systems developed by Dr Richard Schwartz since 2002. I've read many books and articles on Internal Family Systems and Internal Family Systems New Dimension is one of the best of all. It is the only book that I read cover to cover all at once because I couldn't wait for the information and the next chapter. Dr. Schwartz's chapter had new and exciting material. All 11 authos are excellent and don't skip the introduction. If you are a student of IFS, a trainer, or never heard of Internal Family SystemsGET THIS BOOK! Your life will be enriched becuase of it.Jean Kirkland

Useful contribution to the limited material written so far on IFS. Wish Richard Schwartz would write another tome on the subject.