Description
Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) provides a revolutionary treatment plan for PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders and more.
Using a non-pathologizing, accelerated approach — rooted in neuroscience — IFS applies inner resources and self-compassion for healing emotional wounding at its core. This new manual offers straight-forward explanations and illustrates a wide variety of applications. Easy to read and highly practical.
– Step-by-step techniques
– Annotated case examples
– Unique meditations
– Downloadable exercises, worksheets
IFS is Evidence-Based
Thirty years ago, IFS creator Richard Schwartz, PhD, listened to his clients describing the behaviors and fears of their most extreme parts. he found that the inner world of all his clients was characterized by parts who have a positive intent for the client but had taken on extreme roles in an effort to be safe. He also discovered that these extreme parts would become less disruptive and more cooperative once their concerns were addressed and they felt safer.
IFS views psychic multiplicity as the norm: we all have parts. In addition, every part has a good intention for the client, and every part has value. When clients listen to all their parts, they can heal their wounded parts.
Today, IFS, which has established a legacy of efficiency and effectiveness in treating many mental health issues, is being heralded by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk as a treatment that all clinicians should know.
A. Prokopis (verified owner) –
In reading and going over this manual, I am impressed and grateful for the level of thoroughness and depth the writers have put into this manual. Whether you are an experienced IFS therapist, a novice, an interested individual without any IFS training, this manual will greatly broaden and deepen your understanding of the model and, in my opinion, of therapy in general. It is well worth having this manual at your fingertips.
Louise C. (verified owner) –
Very useful and clearly written book. Can be useful for the ifs novice or expert. Gives great examples of how a session might go between client/therapist in every step of the model. Provides exercise’s that could help client’s get to know their parts better.
Suzanne Rea (verified owner) –
I think this will become my most used manual with clients. It is both clearly written but also covers a lot of material. I like how the authors have categories of different kinds of protectors and how to work with them. The book provides language and insight to experiences I have had with clients that I could not understand previously.
Sarah Jones (verified owner) –
Very clearly written – very accessible. Great examples. Points out the importance of making sure the burdened parts in us learn there is a Self and they can connect to it. Doesn’t remind us that we also have never burdened parts.
Andreas Rohm (verified owner) –
It’s a must read!! You will find out yourself. IFS changes your life and the life of your clients. Frank Anderson is such a jewel to IFS!
N.G. (verified owner) –
This workbook is for IFS clients too! Wonderfully written, refreshing and lively, with clear explanations of basic IFS concepts and insightful exercises. A must-have for beginners as well as those wanting a deeper Self-led relationship with their internal system of parts.
Ellen L. Ziskind (verified owner) –
This is an extraordinarily comprehensive and useful book covering every aspect of IFS the reader could possibly want. It is organized beautifully, visits every aspect of IFS a client or therapist might be interested in learning more about. Remarkably, it is as helpful to clients as to practitioners.
The authors provide contact information for each IFS therapist who has written about a particular topic so that the reader has access to experts on a multitude of topics including eating disorders, alcohol and drugs, pornography, creativity, health coaching and more.
This is a gem of a book!
PattyC (verified owner) –
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If you are reading this review you have some interest in the IFS therapy model. This book is incredibly useful whether you are someone who is beginning to be curious about IFS, a current client, an experienced therapist , or one new to the model.
This book simply and clearly explains the IFS model and theory and the individual examples eloquently illustrate the practice. There are also helpful exercises as well as recommendations for those looking for specific applications of IFS therapy.
Ouzola Customer (verified owner) –
Bought it for my daughter as a’ requested’ gift…she loved it and uses it extensively in her counseling practice.
Haf (verified owner) –
This is the most detailed manual for using the internal family systems method. It has a great number of examples and proceeds step-by-step.
One of the most valuable books any practitioner of IFS could own. I have a full library of IFS books, and this one is one of the very best.
Highly recommended! Bravo!
Stephen P. Weaver (verified owner) –
Very clear text introduction into the world of IFS. I took notes along the way. Well written. Good case examples. Great book. Recommended.
Jessica Spigner (verified owner) –
A comprehensive and applicable introduction. I found it practical from the start, and I am inspired to pursue additional training.
Lindee Petersen Wilson (verified owner) –
Well written book provides a great introduction to an important evidence-based therapy model.
Matthew, Sam, Annabelle, and Ben’s mom. (verified owner) –
Drs. Anderson and Schwartz are both brilliant!! I’ve seen both present this material and it’s now my ‘go to’ modality when helping clients.. I love that they nonpathologize DSM diagnoses. Being a trauma therapist, my goal is to HEAL, not just help clients ‘feel better.’ With IFS, it is possible to heal wounds trapped in the nervous system making our lives and relationships broken messes. If you’re ready to heal your “negative” thoughts, feelings, relationships, etc. please go to selfleadership.org and find an IFS therapist. Definitely read this first as a primer to see what wonderful healing you are in for!
Robin K. (verified owner) –
It is not about families (mom, dad etc..) it is about the “family” in just YOU, all your different personalities and how they act/interact (interesting I am sure) but not what I was looking for, I returned it. I gave it five stars because it seems like a nice book but after reading a few pages I could see it was not what I was looking for and stopped.
Verenice (verified owner) –
Great insight on parts- and things to be aware of- example of dialogues- really good and resourceful
Abraham (verified owner) –
I enjoy that there are many examples of a therapist speaking with a client about different situations (buying into IFS, accessing parts, flushing parts out, etc). For anyone engaging in complex trauma work or perhaps someone that believes that they have elements of dissociative identity, this is a great book for utilizing an evidence-based practice that can lead to long-term and sustainable results with clients.
Silver Moon Sailor (verified owner) –
IFS is brilliant but can be a bit daunting at first. This book helps keep it simple and practical. A real manual to have at hand when you are just learning with clients. I used it in a practice group today and it was really helpful. Flicking through the manual was not as disruptive as I would have imagined and the more familiar I get with it the better that flow will be.
Guy Guri (verified owner) –
I’m a huge fan of IFS. This book breaks it down in all its component parts and gives examples of just about everything they teach. A real gem!
Donald Woodward (verified owner) –
Super helpful with real examples of the process
GNDfan (verified owner) –
This is an unusual take on how we all function as different “parts” inside our psyches. No blame, just supportive attitude towards those parts of ourselves that work to protect our vulnerable parts – even if those protectors are ones we want to change because they aren’t useful anymore. Our “exiles” are encouraged to come into their own and be nurtured and cared for by our Selves. I found this model really helpful just doing it on my own. Hard work though. Recommend this book if you are a person who can take a cognitive approach to your issues.
LovelyLeo_25 (verified owner) –
This is the ABSOLUTELY best book out there if you want to understand IFS quickly. The book is a super easy read and it helps me explain the concept to my clients better and more concise.
John (verified owner) –
A good companion workbook for family dynamics. Makes concepts clear and understandable.
Ouzola Customer (verified owner) –
I recently read Schwartz’ 1995 groundbreaking book “Internal Family Systems Therapy” and was very intrigued. Schwartz’ book is excellent, but I was left feeling that I needed to learn more if I was going to effectively integrate this technique into my practice. So I ordered this 2017 workbook and I was absolutely delighted with the product. In fact, it far exceeded my expectations. This workbook has dozens of clinical examples that flesh out each step of the IFS process and details the most critical techniques that make this therapy so powerful. It also includes segments reviewing the neuroscience of trauma and healing traumatic memories and how the science applies to IFS. In addition there are meditation exercises which allow the reader to explore the model experientially which I found very moving and powerful. Overall this is one of the most effective workbooks that I have encountered. It is easy to engage with and has a great layout and format. I recommend it to anyone who is considering applying IFS to their psychotherapy practice.
FUN2SHOPWITH (verified owner) –
Great book if this is a subject you are interested in reading about or working with a counselor on. Gives a lot of perspective!
Freud fan (verified owner) –
Interesting concept, as this refers to constructs within the individual that are behavioral adaptations for survival within a family that become maladaptive out of that environment. An expanded version of Object Relations, a theory that had broader acceptance in the UK than the US. Understand this, and you will understand personality disorders.
Erin (verified owner) –
Yesssss love it my clients have benefited greatly.
Healing Toolbox (verified owner) –
This is my fourth IFS book after watching a dozen hours of Youtube videos, which I also recommend. Jay Earley clearly has a strong platform with his Self-Therapy IFS book series.
For working counselors-therapists, this book, arranged more like a workbook and college handouts, with case studies highlighting points, covers more topics, more efficiently.
Kudos to Frank Anderson and all co-authors. Frank also teaches live classes and has CEU-worthy videos.
Jacqueline Diaz Maldonado (verified owner) –
An awesome, informative, descriptive, must have book. I think you should read this one first before any other to work with IFS.
Susan V. (verified owner) –
I liked the clarity of the manual. I found it to be a really good supplement to the longer textbook format of Internal Family Systems by Richard Schwartz and colleagues.
Tina the S. (verified owner) –
Nice tool for therapists learning what this system is, and for patients who want an accessible book explaining how this methodology is used in practice.
Triva (verified owner) –
Gets to the heart of the matter where healing can actually happen as one reaches deeper levels of inner cooperation and inner freedom! Lots of exercises.
self paced
denzil meyers (verified owner) –
i love this theraputic method. useful for me.
JADE (verified owner) –
Easy read. Helpful in understanding how IFS therapy works.
Southern Belle (verified owner) –
Helpful in understanding how family affects current functioning
SouthFloridaGirl (verified owner) –
This workbook is mostly for therapists who are trained in Internal Family Systems. The workbook could be a little more organized as it jumps around quite a bit without explanations of the different types of ways to utilize parts in the therapy session. But the scripts used to identify different parts is truly invaluable, as I don’t know any other books or workbooks that outline them in this way. It is a great additional to the valuable book “Internal Family Systems Therapy, 2nd Edition”.
Handsforhandsonhands (verified owner) –
This has been really helpful and practical. High recommend
みこものこころ (verified owner) –
浅井&花丘先生らによる本書の翻訳本が来月岩崎学術出版社から出版されます。ついに日本語で読めるIFSの本が初登場とあって、とてもワクワクしています。
本書は理論書ではなく、実践のためのマニュアルです。構成の問題でしょうか、かなり読みにくかった印象があります。その点翻訳書でどうなっているか、気になっているところです。
IFSの他の本もどんどん翻訳されていくことを願っています。特につい最近出版されたばかりのアンダーソン先生単著の本。ズバリ複雑性トラウマに焦点化した内容になっており、めちゃくちゃ面白く勉強になりました。来月にはシュアルツ先生の単著『No Bad Parts』も出版されます。
あー、待ち切れん！Translation of this book by Prof. Asai & Hanaoka will be published by Iwasaki Academic Publishing House next month. Finally, IFS books that can be read in Japanese for the first time, are very excited.
This book is not a theory book, but a manual for practice. Is it a configuration issue, or I have an impression that was pretty hard to read. I’m worried about what’s going on with that point translation.
I hope the other books of IFS will be translated more and more. Especially recently published a single book by Dr. Anderson. It was focused on Zubari complexity trauma, and it became insanely interesting to study. Suartz’s single book “No Bad Parts” will also be published next month.
uh, wait for it!
Ouzola Customer (verified owner) –
Likes: Easy to read tutorial, examples, instruction, and advice.Dislikes: NoneMy therapist advised me to buy this book, and it was so helpful to understand what she was going to do in our sessions. Also the advice about not doing certain things by myself was very important, as even in therapy with a trained professional some aspects of trauma therapy are tricky and harmful if done wrong.
Harold Boggs (verified owner) –
This book can be helpful for both clients and therapists.
The overview is clear and concise as well as thorough.
Richard E Neslund (verified owner) –
If you’ve ever had any disproportionate reactions to situations (situations that had no impact on you), if you’ve ever felt strong emotions toward someone (and didn’t know what prompted the emotions), if you’ve ever felt severely critical of yourself (even after you’ve done your best), then you’ve experienced aspects of your internal family system of ‘parts’.
Richard Schwartz, in “Internal Family Systems Therapy” and “No Bad Parts”, introduces a comprehensible topography of our inner psyches (including both our constructively productive and also our disruptively less-than-productive ‘parts’). IFST is a very practical process for “healing our trauma” and “restoring our wholeness.” In contrast to many other therapies (that confront our experienced challenges as pathologies), IFST emphasizes how “all” of our parts have helpful intentions … even those ‘parts’ that may be currently mis-guided.
Schwartz presents the IFST theory and therapy in layman’s language and applies it to everyday situations with which most of us can readily identify. Even we non-therapists can understand and appreciate the IFST model and practical applications. Whether you’re a relatively functional individual who effectively manages your inner ‘burdens’ or an individual often overcome by apparently uncontrollable ‘burdens’, Schwartz’s IFST can be helpful for you.
Strongly recommended for individuals journeying toward finding and feeling their greater wholeness!
Five Stars.
J. Bair (verified owner) –
I’m glad I read the reviews and decided to buy this workbook! I took a one day training on IFS and decided to begin using it with my clients struggling with cPTSD but wanted more background on how to introduce the concepts on IFS and the parts. This is exactly what I was looking for. No, you simply cannot learn IFS from a single book. But if you have prior training this will be a great accompaniment.
Ouzola Customer (verified owner) –
This workbook is super helpful!
Lila (verified owner) –
This book is pivotal in learning grace toward self and others — grace that helps one with closure when getting out of abuse and helps one learn healthy bonds in safe-enough relationships. Both essential for healing. It offers a true North on the long road toward relief of unbearable inner pain.
Din0nugget (verified owner) –
This manual is incomplete, as it does not teach you the unburdening process (perhaps the most important step in IFS therapy). Instead the author encourages you to “sign up for their training course” to learn more.
Anonymous (verified owner) –
As a therapist working primarily with folks in early addiction recovery, this workbook is timely and sorely needed! Chapter II on ‘Attachment Wounds, Trauma, and the Addictive System’ provide clients with psychoeducation to help them better understand why it’s so hard to stop the cycle despite how painful it is to stay in it, and the ‘Client Exercises’ have also proved quite beneficial in helping my folks ‘unblend’ from their ‘fire fighters’ thereby enabling them to make wiser choices. I’m also finding the dialogues between therapist and client very helpful in showing how to engage the addictive system whether it be a manager or a firefighter etc. Very excited to have this resource! May it continue to be of great benefit!
Lucinda Skye (verified owner) –
I replaced my dog eared copy which I used regularly in my first several years of practicing IFS therapy and coaching. This manual concisely reiterates the essential steps of my ten month long training and is a great reference book. If you’ve done the training or are waiting for the training, buy this book.