Connection through an IFS perspective
The Path to Deeper Connection with Yourself and Others Feeling disconnected is often at the root of what folks are dealing with when they come to therapy. Common experiences such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, childhood abuse, relationship conflict, or many other struggles are expressions of some kind of disconnection. To gain a deeper connection with […]
From Inner Critic to Self-Compassion: Schemas and Parts Work.
Schema theory, developed by Jeffrey Young, proposes that early experiences can lead to the development of deeply held beliefs and feelings about oneself and the world, called “schemas.” These schemas shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors throughout life. Understanding how your experiences have shaped your responses to the world can be helpful. In many ways, […]
Are ‘parts’ real? A discussion of IFS and the use of our imagination.
So, I want to put IFS into perspective and discuss how we might see a “part.” Parts are not new. Conceptualising our psyche as made up of parts is nothing new. Whether it is spirits, different energies, Freud’s Id, Ego and Superego, the true self and false self, seeing different systems of emotion, thinking and […]
The Shame Cycle Explained
This cycle of shame is hard to break. Understanding how this develops to find a way out and heal can be helpful. Here are the steps: A bad thing happened to me. When hurtful things happen in childhood, we don’t see that action as separate from ourselves. We haven’t developed the cognitive understanding that […]
The Importance of Trust in Therapy
Ideally, trust begins to develop at birth when the people who care for us are loving and attentive and our basic needs are met. We can live at ease, knowing that our world is safe, and feel free to grow and explore. As children, when we are dependent on people who are not consistently loving […]
Understanding Parts Work
Understanding Parts Work Here is a clear description of parts work from an Internal Family Systems perspective. Parts are described as relating to the schemas we develop throughout our lives based on our experiences in life. These are outdated ideas about how we need to live our lives because they are based on the past. […]
Integration is the main task of therapy
Emotions are crucial to our integration and healing . Here’s why.
The calming influence of mindfulness
Mindfulness can heal Mindfulness at its core is nothing new. Bringing attention to our experience is fundamentally what mindfulness refers to. What is interesting is that the research confirms the benefits and provides us with information to inform our practice. One of the benefits is how we can practice mindfulness to calm emotional reactivity. Lose your […]