What is the Internal Family?

What is the Internal Family in Internal Family Dynamics?

Internal Family Dynamics, LLC, offers therapy using Internal Family Systems, a model developed by Dr Richard Schwartz. It presents a view (or framework) of the individual which understands us as being composed of a network, or system, of parts. The Pixar movie "Inside/Out" gives a nice illustration of this framework. 
Since parts can hold feelings (sadness, anger, guilt, shame), thoughts (strong judgments or criticism of self or others), and behaviors or compulsive activities (eating, working, spending and others),  we refer to these parts as being an “Internal Family.”

At the center of this system of parts (or sub-personalities) is Self. Self can be described as Wise Mind, Best Adult Self, Spirit, or Soul.  Self has no agenda, but has a number of qualities such as compassion, clarity , dedication, respect and playfulness.
  
The process of therapy is to differentiate Self from parts.  When this happens, rather than feeling that we are depressed (or anxious or angry or guilty), we begin to notice that we have parts that carry these qualities. For most people this is immediately relieving, and that is only the beginning of the relief that is possible.
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