Internal Family Systems Therapy [Paperback]

Richard C. Schwartz University of Illinois Chicago USA. (Author)

Book Description

Series: The Guilford Family Therapy | Publication Date: July 11, 1997

This work demonstrates how therapists can apply systems thinking to understand better clients' individual psyches. The Internal Family Systems model IFS uses family system concepts to draw a map of the network of subpersonlities that exist within each individual. Step by step details are combined with clinical examples to illustrate how therapists and clients can enhance their understanding fo intrapsychic processes and set a clear line of direction for positive change. The author also extends IFS concepts to our culture and the families within it to produce a form of couples and family therapy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The recent inclusion of dissociative identity disorder in the DSM-IV (1994) signals a continuing shift from the preconscious/conscious/unconscious model toward a multiple consciousness/split-consciousness paradigm. Among the more important voices in this revival is Dr. Richard Schwartz, whose Internal Family Systems (IFS) model is an elegant synthesis of the best principles of family systems therapy and the evolving, multiple-selves paradigm of personality and consciousness.

In this important and timely book, Dr. Schwartz presents a thoughtful, extensively researched and practical clinical model that therapists will be able to apply to a broad range of clinical issues. Schwartz shows not only how this model may be applied to individuals and families, but also to understanding and changing broader human systems at the level of culture and society. The model also offers a way of understanding transference and countertransference that is both elegant in its explanatory ability and pragmatic in its clinical applicability.

Clinicians and other readers interested in paradigms of consciousness will appreciate the gentle, yet powerful challenge to Western assumptions about consciousness and personality this book represents." --David L. Calof, editor-in-chief, Treating Abuse Today, clinical director, Family Psychotherapy Practice of Seattle, author (with Mary Leloo) of Multiple Personality and Dissociation: Understanding Incest, Abuse, and MPD

"Internal Family Systems Therapy, developed by Richard Schwartz, is one of the most innovative psychotherapeutic approaches to emerge in recent years. Schwartz's model is a unique application of family systems theory to the complex and conflictual interactional system within each person. Psychotherapists working with individuals, couples, or families will find these ideas and methods stimulating and useful, and will value Schwartz's compassion and respect for clients in their painful dilemmas and their change efforts." --Froma Walsh, Ph.D., Professor & Co-Director, Center for Family Health, University of Chicago, Past President, American Family Therapy Academy

"In a complex world, systems thinking is the tool of choice. To my knowledge, it has never been before been put to such good use as it has in Richard Schwartz's model of the Internal Family System. His description of the inner world of the psyche is the clearest and most useful I have ever encountered. Any improvement in the modeling of personality of this magnitude deserves very serious attention. He writes well too, which is a great blessing." --Ron Kurtz, B.A., Developer of the Hakomi Method of Body Centered Psychotherapy

"Each of us is lobbied by a clamor of disembodied inner voices. In his clinical work, Richard Schwartz engages with each of these voices as though it were a full, living member of a small, discordant, yet loyal parliament, one in which the core self of the client permanently presides. By applying family systems approaches to this interior assembly, Schwartz enables the client to comprehend and grapple effectively with many problems, even with such bedeviling maladies as bulimia and self-mutilation. His brilliantly imaginative methods feel natural and immediately acceptable to most individuals and families. The clear, intelligent exposition makes this enchanting book equally accessible to students and experienced clinicians." --Richard Chasin, MD, Family Institute of Cambridge; Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; President, American Family Therapy Academy

"This book presents the Internal Family System's model in a clear and readable way, providing wonderful case examples. The model is an excellent integration of systems theory and individual psychology which has literally transformed the way I work with clients. Because my MFT students have found it to be a tremendous help in their personal growth and in their growth as clinicians, I will continue to use it in my MFT theory courses. I refer to it over and over again in my clinical work, and hope that the author continues to share his ideas with the field." --Laura Johnson, PhD,, Assistant Professor, Appalachian State University

"Richard Schwartz is one of family therapist's most creative explorers. This long-awaited volume on his Internal Family Systems (IFS) model makes him the Magellan of family members' inner lives. Schwartz has done for internal systems what Haley and Minuchin did for external family processes. Schwartz makes the invisible visible in ways that are compelling, lucid, and clinically useful. He shows how the psyche is both systemic and accessible, and his model could well revolutionize family therapy. A far cry from your typical dry text, a spirit of adventure and discovery permeates this landmark volume! Must reading for anyone who wants to stay up on current models in the field. This book has generated enormous excitement among my students, and I highly recommend it to teachers and learners of therapy of any persuasion." --Douglas H. Sprenkle, Ph.D., Purdue University, Editor, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

"....A hallmark of humbleness and thoroughness. Schwartz recognizes that he is not the first theorist to view the mind as a multiplicity-oriented entity....His thoroughness shines as he provides detailed instructions for assessing and working with individuals' internal family systems. In a refreshing stance, he also discusses the common mistakes and pitfalls that new therapists make in practicing this model....This book will be both theoretically enriching and clinically helpful...." --Joseph L. Wetchler in Journal of Family Psychotherapy

"...offers the clinician a new tool for understanding internal conflicts and methods for working with themes of ambivalence and conflicting desires." --Robert L. Beck, American Journal of Psychotherapy

About the Author

Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, is on the faculty of the Family Institute at Northwestern University. Coeditor of Handbook of Family Therapy Training and Supervision, he is coauthor of three books and author of over 40 articles on a variety of topics in psychotherapy. He serves on the editorial boards of five professional journals and is a fellow of the American Association of Marital and Family Therapists.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: Guilford Press; 1 edition (July 11, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572302720
• ISBN-13: 978-1572302723
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,649 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Compulsive Behavior

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

151 of 154 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book with permanently change your view of psychotherapy, August 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Internal Family Systems Therapy (Hardcover)

Internal Family Systems Therapy by Richard C. Schwartz represents the author's attempt at documenting a fascinating journey into the inner lives of clients. His model uniquely applies systems thinking to internal process, seeing our inner lives as yet another level of human systems. As I read this book, I was taken aback by how psychodynamics suddenly became coherent to me in a way that made intuitive and intellectual sense. Schwartz takes the reader through the development of the IFS model, and demonstrates how the therapy emerged from his interactions with his clients. He is successful in describing the step-by-step process of IFS therapy that is tied directly to the theory.

The IFS model assumes that we all are "multiple personalities", organized by a "self" that is compassionate, curious, and expansive. These sub-personalities, or "parts", are all good and are with us from birth. They are kept in balance and harmony through self-leadership. When the self is threatened by trauma or devaluation from the outside world, the parts protect the self from harm; in doing so, they also lose trust in the self's ability to provide leadership and safety. In "exiling" the self for its own protection, these parts become extreme and polarized; the parts that were hurt carry the burdens of pain and suffering ("exiles") that other parts (i.e., "managers" and "firefighters") try to keep out of conscious awareness through various roles and operations. This becomes a recursive system which feeds upon itself to create symptoms when a person is under stress. These parts, which have been forced into extreme roles, are often identified by mental health professionals as symptoms or "psychopathology". The IFS model assumes that the parts that have taken these extreme roles, when released from these roles, become non-extreme, valuable, and helpful to the person. The IFS model posits that through restoration of trust in the self by these extreme parts, the system's balance and harmony is restored. IFS therapy is a delicate, yet powerful process of restoring the Self in a position of leadership and of healing the wounded parts via the processes of "witnessing" and "unburdening".

After reading this book, I have witnessed Dr. Schwartz work with clients and have incorporated the principles in my own practice. My experience has been that most clients respond extremely well to the model and heal quickly. As a therapist, I have also grown personally and professionally. Dr. Schwartz has documented a major new innovation in the field through this book. It receives my highest endorsement!

44 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must have" book for those entering the counseling field., August 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Internal Family Systems Therapy (Paperback)

Through personal application of the therapies described in this book, I found it to be profoundly enlightening. It shed bright lights on the origins of my own thoughts and self-talk. Experiencing the benefits of the therapies, seeing that they work, it provided the best form of teaching to me as to how it can be a valuable resource for helping one's self and for helping others. Having specialized in pastoral counseling while earning my Masters of Divinity degree, this book has done more to help me understand the multiple (and valuable) personalities all persons develop from childhood to adulthood and then how to use these therapies in a counseling setting. Its methods provide such a positive way of looking at ourselves, at other individuals, and at family dynamics. The concept of internal family systems therapy makes so much sense that I hope more therapists and counselors discover it, utilize it, and recommend it.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written and interesting therapeutic model., October 26, 2005

By 

J. Bottone (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Internal Family Systems Therapy (Paperback)

Richard Schwartz clearly explains his therapeutic model of working with sub-personalities (parts) in a way that empowers the client to lead their lives from their Self instead of having one or more of their 'parts' run the show! Although I have intuitively been working this way in a gestalt framework, his model gives many guidelines to make this process smoother and avoid pitfalls in this type of work. An excellent guide.