Why is IFS for Trauma Treatment so Effective?

Internal Family Systems has become increasingly popular in recent years, as more people begin to appreciate the powerful healing that can be experienced with this modality. People who have been through trauma now often use IFS for trauma, as this method can effectively treat the wounds that other therapies are unable to.

In this blog, we explore the most important aspects of Internal Family Systems, and let you know why we believe IFS trauma therapy is so effective.

If you would like to know more about how we use Internal Family Systems for trauma treatment at Yatra Centre in Thailand, contact us today on +66 96 916 3287.

What is Internal Family Systems?

Internal Family Systems is a talk therapy that believes that instead of us possessing one psyche, instead we are composed of a multitude of different “parts”. These parts are distinct from one another, possessing their own perspectives, emotions and roles.

Often, these parts become frozen in time when we experience trauma, so rather than developing as adults, they remain trapped as children. IFS helps us to work with these parts. Richard Schwartz, founder of IFS, tells us: “our parts carry burdens from traumatic experiences, and it’s through compassionate dialogue with them that we can begin to heal.”

This healing is not an overnight process, as it can take time for your parts to trust you and your therapist to do this work. But it is so worthwhile, as the IFS process can be truly transformational when working with trauma, addiction and other conditions.

Types of Parts in IFS

In Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, the parts are categorized into three main types: Exiles, Managers, and Firefighters.

Exiles

Exiles are parts that carry the burden of past traumas, fears, and painful emotions. They are often young, vulnerable parts that have been pushed away or suppressed because their intense feelings are too overwhelming for the person to handle. 

These parts are exiled to protect the person from experiencing the full impact of their trauma. However, when they are isolated, they can lead to feelings of shame, worthlessness, and vulnerability. When we use IFS therapy for trauma, exiled parts are brought back into the fold, allowing them to be heard, understood, and healed.

Managers

Managers are proactive parts that work to protect the person from feeling the pain of the exiles. They do this by controlling and managing daily life, often through perfectionism, hypervigilance, or avoidance strategies. Managers strive to keep the person functioning and prevent situations that might trigger the exiled parts. 

They are often critical and demanding, aiming to maintain a sense of control and safety. While their intentions are protective, their methods can sometimes be restrictive or detrimental to the person’s overall well-being.

Firefighters

Firefighters are reactive parts that activate when the exiles’ pain breaks through the managers’ defenses. Their primary role is to quickly distract from or numb the intense emotions associated with the exiled parts. 

Firefighters use various strategies such as substance use, binge eating, self-harm, or other compulsive behaviors to extinguish the emotional fires that arise. Their methods are often extreme and can be harmful, but they act to protect the person from experiencing pain.

The Self

In addition to these parts, IFS posits the existence of the “Self,” which is the core of a person’s identity. The Self is characterized by qualities such as calmness, compassion, curiosity, and confidence. 

It is the Self that facilitates healing by listening to, understanding, and harmonizing the different parts. The goal of IFS therapy is to help people access their Self and use its strength to lead and integrate their various parts, fostering a sense of inner harmony and healing from trauma.

The Effectiveness of IFS for Trauma

Internal Family Systems is now used regularly at trauma rehab centres like Yatra Centre. It’s easy to see why, as many people are experiencing profound trauma healing from working with an IFS therapist. But why is IFS for trauma so effective?

Addresses Root Causes

IFS doesn’t just focus on alleviating symptoms. It also helps us to understand and heal the root causes of trauma. By working directly with the parts that hold traumatic memories (Exiles) and the parts that protect the person from these memories (Managers and Firefighters), IFS can provide you with deep healing from trauma.

Emotional Regulation

Using Internal Family Systems we can begin to enter into dialogues with our parts, finding out what they want in certain situations, and giving them what they want. This creates harmony and trust within.

This leads to a reduction in overwhelming emotions and can help you manage your reactions to triggering situations more effectively.

Self-Compassion

People who have been through trauma sometimes lose the ability to feel compassion for themselves. They can blame themselves for what happened, or develop an underlying belief that they deserved their trauma.

By helping you get in touch with the Self, Internal Family Systems can help you unlock a wellspring of compassion within yourself, which you can begin to access at will.

Creates Inner Harmony

Trauma can cause chaos within our inner environments. By working with our parts, IFS trauma therapy helps create peace within us. This makes our day to day lives more pleasant, and also allows us to be more effective at achieving our goals in life.

Internal Family Systems in Popular Culture

The movies Inside Out and Inside Out 2 beautifully mirror the core principles of Internal Family Systems therapy.

In the original Inside Out, we see how each emotion (or “part”) contributes to the personality of a young girl named Riley. Inside Out 2 expands on this by introducing new emotional parts, reflecting how internal complexity grows with age.

Frequently Asked Questions About Internal Family Systems

IFS in some ways is a departure from other styles of therapy, and it is common for people to have questions regarding the process. Here are some of the more common of these questions.

Does IFS Work for Everyone?

While Internal Family Systems is often effective for trauma treatment, some people don’t find it effective. People with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) in particular can struggle with the IFS process. This is primarily due to people with DID functioning as entirely seperate entities. This level of structural dissociation can go beyond what IFS was built to handle. People with DID can often benefit from a range of other trauma therapies.

How Long Does IFS Therapy Take?

Internal Family Systems therapy, like all styles of therapy, can take time. Some people may need a couple of sessions to get used to the approach, and the long term goals of IFS are likely to be met in months rather than in individual sessions.

That being said, many people who engage with IFS for trauma find they get some relief from their symptoms in the first few sessions. Occasionally, people have breakthroughs early on in the IFS process.

Can I Practice IFS by Myself?

It’s possible to practice aspects of IFS therapy on your own, and many people find self-led parts work to be insightful and healing. The Internal Family Systems model was designed to help you access your inner world with compassion, so once you’re familiar with the basics, self-guided IFS can support personal growth, emotional regulation, and trauma processing.

That said, self-led IFS has its limitations, especially if you’re working with deep trauma, dissociation, or parts that feel overwhelming, hostile, or shut down. In these cases, working with a professional is best.

How is IFS Different From Traditional Talk Therapy?

Internal Family Systems differs from traditional talk therapy in both approach and depth. While many talk therapies focus on analyzing thoughts, behaviors, or past events from a single “you” perspective, IFS recognizes that we are made up of multiple “parts”, each with its own emotions, beliefs, and role in your inner system.

Instead of trying to fix or suppress painful thoughts or behaviors, IFS helps you form compassionate relationships with the parts of you that are struggling. This means that rather than talking about your problems, you’re learning to dialogue with the parts of you that carry pain, fear, shame, or anger.

Yatra Centre Uses IFS for Trauma

Trauma is not easy to address effectively. Some trauma sufferers try to tackle it for years without feeling like they have made much progress. And while trauma treatment does take time, some modalities are more effective than others.

At Yatra Centre, we believe the Internal Family Systems is one of the more impactful methods of treating trauma. We find that those who engage in IFS and other potent trauma treatment methods at our centre are able to reduce their trauma symptoms, meaning they can be in the world, be free and have compassion for themselves to a much greater degree than in the past.

For more information on how we treat trauma at Yatra, or to arrange a tour of our facility, contact us today on +66 96 916 3287.