Discovering Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I do not use the term transformational lightly. Yet this is the only word fitting to describe my Level 1 IFS training.
Never before have I come across such a fully attuned, inclusive, inspiring and coherent course. I’m blown away by the integrity of the tutors and leaders, their authenticity ringing out loudly from their sense of self. I feel truly humbled by their generosity of truth, trust and compassion.
These are grand words, and yet the experience is profound and almost wordless, a feeling and knowing more than a description. I feel blessed to have found IFS and know in my bones that it has found me and together we will step more boldly into the world, both inner and outer.
If you too find yourself feeling curious about IFS I urge you to itch that scratch and begin to explore. There’s so much to discover online and I am bursting with enthusiasm to share my journey with you. Should you feel drawn to start IFS therapy we can begin to gently walk together hand in hand into your inner world through IFS therapy. You will be held with kindness and curiosity with your inner system treated with the utmost respect at all times.
You’ll be in charge of where we go and how and you’ll be setting the pace. Your inner system will be invited to respond in its unique way guiding and leading you into your inner world and the wisdom within. Our aim is simple, to open a dialogue where understanding can be nurtured, respect gained and a space created for healing to occur.
During IFS therapy, there is no need to return to the nitty gritty details of your intimate story. You and your system know the facts, there is no requirement to share these with the therapist if you prefer not. The alchemy is in the experience, the unveiling of the pain, the reverence for the protectors who have held it at a safe distance and the unfolding that spontaneously occurs when your system knows it is both seen and heard with love, kindness and gratitude.
Let me know if a spark of curiosity has been ignited in you and you’d like to learn more. I can’t wait to hear from you. In the meantime, below are some links to whet your appetite and let your system begin to trust that help is on its way.
Until we meet.
With love
Lucy x
Learn more through these Internal Family Systems Links :
Feel Better Live More Podcast with Dr Rangan Chatterjee and Richard Schwartz
In this Podcast, described by Dr Chatterjee as “potentially one of the most important episodes I’ve ever released”, IFS is described in detail. You can also listen to a live IFS session, recorded during the interview and showing in detail the depth of the process and the profound healing offered.
Written by Lucy Parker
Integrative Counsellor, Psychotherapist & Coach, MBACP
Senior Yoga Teacher
https://embarkcounselling.co.uk/
hello@embarkcounselling.co.uk
A description of a personal IFS journey of discovery…
There was an invitation, an opening into a new way of experiencing and understanding my inner world. A held space where I knew the opportunity was to learn and grow with the ‘seed’ within and through the support of the ‘tree’ holding me.
It began with ‘The Wall’. Strong, firm, bold, static and determined. Its force behind me, part holding part stifling and ever-present, stiff and rigid as stone.
Softening into the beat of my heart I began to feel the gentle, vulnerable sadness of a long-forgotten ‘young one’, cold and lost in the cave of my heart, resting in my palm.
I felt the vice-like force of the ‘sandwich’ I sat between. Part wall to the back, part free to the front, holding my heart and an urgent question lying deep inside.
My body felt the tremor and vibration of the sorrow and responded with earth to the ground. A way to find stability and support through my feet and ankles, solid as clay, a homecoming.
My hands touched my body with kindness and warmth, a reminder of my strength and holding. I am here – I am real, alive and capable.
Returning to ‘The Wall’, its pain of requirement revealed like mist on glass warmed by the breath. As I amplified my heartbeat to its listening ear, I felt it stir, a step towards movement, an eager pulse offering change and play. It wanted to take my hand, to lead me into its experience of a job well done.
Self offered an inviting smile and light glow of welcome and awe. A reverence and appreciation for the connection and budding communication. A nod of understanding and respect for all The Wall has done alone before now.
The Wall spun and danced with joy, revealing pictures of its triumphs, its many battles won and trophies of its toil. We skipped hand in hand down the dusty hall corridors marvelling at the paintings, commemorating its victories.
And just like that the hardness of its role was both revealed and complete. It had been seen, heard and appreciated. It has shared the pain of the task and now it desired a new home, but where?
‘The young one’, lying cold and alone and oblivious did not stir. ‘The brave heart’ beating loud above her, calling to her in the only way it knows, through the rhythm of life, the pulse of its beat.
‘The Wall’ cast off its presumed and previous density and sighed open into pieces. Shattering its former rigidity and offering itself up to new possibilities. Boldly it chose to embrace a new position, that of ‘glorious protector’ to the young and lost, held gently in the cave’s palm.
Setting up camp, a fire is lit and water is gathered. Soon the rhythmic beat of the heart fans the flames from the fire filtering new air into the lungs of the babe. A glimmer of hope is felt in the bones of the child, just a touch, a mere suggestion and yet enough for it to stay and begin to breathe again. Waiting as it will for Self to return and a new connection to be kindled. Waiting for rescue and a new day to dawn.
Meanwhile, ‘The Jack’ pops up to make himself known and the system re-organises itself once more.
NB> Many terms used here, shown in bold and with quotation marks denote a PART within this person’s system.
Lucy offers IFS Therapy online, via Zoom, or in person from one of her therapy rooms in Tunbridge Wells or Groombridge.
You can get in touch with Lucy via email by clicking on the image above and requesting a FREE discovery call to explore more about your therapeutic aims and how IFS might help you.
