Internal Family Systems is at the forefront of a movement in psychotherapy toward a more collaborative approach that relies on clients' intuitive wisdom. One of the fastest growing approaches in the field today, and voted among the top seven orientations by MFTs, Internal Family Systems offers a clear, nonpathological, and empowering understanding of human problems and philosophy of practice that allows both therapist and client to enter the nourishing, sacred state of flow in which healing occurs. IFS practices are designed to release the compassion, curiosity, and creativity that lies beneath the protective parts of our clients so as to bring open-hearted healing to themselves and their relationships with family members. In that process, they are able to unload the extreme beliefs, emotions, and sensations that burden their lives, allowing the light of the Self (in the spiritual sense of the word, comparable to the soul) to fully shine.

Developed over the past twenty years by Richard C. Schwartz, Ph.D., noted family therapist author and historian, the Internal Family Systems Model offers both a conceptual umbrella under which a wide variety of practices from different approaches can be grounded and guided, as well as a set of original techniques for creating safety, accompanying clients on fascinating and healing inner journeys, and fostering soul-to-soul connection in couples and families. It is a simple yet sophisticated integration of intrapsychic and family theory and technique, and of psychology and spirituality. In bringing the beauty of systems thinking to all levels of human phenomena, IFS reveals remarkable parallels. Internal Family Systems Therapy:

• works with couples, families, groups, and children

• is particularly effective in healing trauma safely, without backlash or overwhelm

• helps therapist stay centered and open-hearted

• provides a user-friendly language for therapy that encourages disclosure and empathy

• brings therapist and client into contact with the beauty and joy that lies beneath protectiveness

• is extremely respectful of client's pace and leadership

• reduces "resistance" by appreciating and respecting client's protective parts

• establishes an enjoyable, collaborative partnership between therapist and client

Long associated with the Institute for Juvenile Research at the University of Illinois-Chicago and more recently with The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Dr. Schwartz has dedicated more than 25 years of service to troubled families and individuals. As one of the leading figures in the study of human systems, he founded and developed the Internal Family Systems Model of Psychotherapy^SM, which is being applied not only to individuals, but to families, groups, and larger organizations. In the year 2000, Dr. Schwartz founded The Center for Self Leadership in Oak Park, Illinois, where the IFS model will be further developed to address issues of violence, racism, abuse, and other forms of oppression at the social level.

Dr. Schwartz is author of the books, Introduction to the Internal Family Systems Model and Internal Family Systems Therapy, and co-author of the books, The Mosaic Mind: Empowering the Tormented Selves of Child Abuse Survivors, Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods, and Metaframeworks: Transcending the Models of Family Therapy. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist, Fellow of the AAMFT, and a member of the editorial board of four professional journals. Dr. Schwartz treats individuals, couples, and families, and his clinical interests include eating disorders and childhood sexual abuse. As a teacher, he is known for his warmth, sensitivity, clarity, and talent for creating safe and empowering learning environments.

A more in-depth biography and photo are available from the home page of the website.

More information about Internal Family Systems Therapy can be found on the website under:

• Model Outline and Glossary of Terms

• Bibliography (books, book chapters, journal articles)

• More about Richard C. Schwartz, Ph.D.

• Trainings and Workshops

"Richard Schwartz' brilliantly imaginative methods feel natural and immediately acceptable to most individuals and families.Therapists will be irresistibly inclined to bring elements of this approach to their work. The rewards for them and their clients will be manifold."

Richard Chasin, Assoc Prof of Psychiatry
Harvard Medical School

"Important and timely...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."

David Calof, Editor-in-Chief
Treating Abuse Today

"Richard Schwartz' description of the inner world of the psyche is the clearest and most useful I have ever encountered."

Ron Kurtz, Founder and Author
Hakomi Experiential Psychology

"One of the most innovative psychotherapeutic approaches to emerge in recent years."

Froma Walsh, Ph.D., Professor and Co-Director
Center for Family Health, University of Chicago

"Offers the clinician a new tool for understanding internal conflicts and methods for working with themes of ambivalence and conflicting desires."

American Journal of Psychotherapy

"Schwartz makes the invisible visible in ways that are compelling, lucid, and clinically useful..."

Douglas Sprenkle, Ph.D. Purdue University