Internal Family Systems Therapy

Second Edition

By: Richard C. Schwartz, Martha Sweezy

Narrated by: Brian Arens

Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

Now significantly revised with over 70 percent new material, this is the authoritative audio presentation of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which is taught and practiced around the world. 

IFS reveals how the subpersonalities or "parts" of each individual's psyche relate to each other like members of a family, and how - just as in a family - polarization among parts can lead to emotional suffering. IFS originator Richard Schwartz and master clinician Martha Sweezy explain core concepts and provide practical guidelines for implementing IFS with clients who are struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, and other behavioral problems. They also address strategies for treating families and couples. IFS therapy is listed in SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices.

Internal Family Systems Therapy is deftly narrated by Brian Arens, an Audible listener favorite.

©2020 The Guilford Press (P)2020 Echo Point Books & Media, LLC

Internal Family Systems Therapy - Novice review

I enjoyed the book which provides a good oversight of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy history and practice. What interested me was the evolution of the system from influences like Gregory Bateson who was an Anthropologist and seminal systems thinker who influenced psychology by insisting on context in analysis.

Richard Shwartz seems to have discovered the system of therapy through a kind of ethnography with his clients - i.e. listening to them instead of coming from an expert vantage and imposing preconceived pathologies onto the patients. The key discovery seems to have been that by recognizing parts within his clients and then being able to directly question and interview these parts, the therapist can make great advances in assisting the client to heal their internal mental system. The therapy structure is non-pathologising and therefore seems to be less threatening for clients seeking assistance.

The book covers most aspects of the therapy and also has a chapter on the broader society and culture in general which I appreciated as I do not think a systems thinker can leave this out, especially now. It shows honesty and openness to take position, and not to write from a the non-reflexive position which so much pervasive in academic disciplines.

Hypnosis by a different name. Wonderful!!

Loved it. I am trained in hypnotherapy. Schwartz says he doesn’t believe that his technique is hypnotic bc it doesn’t resemble his limited exposure to hypnosis in school (and he probably wants to avoid the baggage attached to hypnosis by stage/entertainment hypnosis), but there are a million different ways to induce trance, and he has stumbled upon one of them. That being said, his model for understanding the psyche is brilliant. His articulation of it is practical, accessible, and deeply interesting. The non-pathologizing approach seems like a huge step in the right direction. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in models of mind, and ways to heal the wounded and fearful parts. I think Schwartz’s model could be improved with a little emphasis on trance development and calibration, as offered in the field of hypnosis, but that is for him and his many practitioners to decide. Regardless, this book will definitely be on my “replay” list.

A well-structured, in-depth look at IFS

The book is very well written, and goes to great lengths to explain and illustrate the concepts of IFS. The audio and narration quality are also very good. It might be more useful for mental health experts, but the general public will definitely benefit from listening to it as well.

Top 2 reads of 10,000 pages read in 3 years.

As a more progressive psychotherapist, who looks past the post modern approaches of traditional, cognitive based therapy, Schwartz has come up with the best model that allows for the 21st century interventions within the psychedelic assisted, trauma informed and psychoneuroimmunologic advances of the mental health industry. This is, seriously, is one of the two most beneficial reads in my time on earth. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to understand where the conventional models go wrong!!!!

amazing book

I am a therapist who is doing my own IFS therapy as well as starting to use it professionally. This book is invaluable.

Thank the lord baby Jesus

Wow, I am so grateful that Internal Family Systems exists! A must read and a game changer.

Definitely eye-opening...

Bringing the self and all your parts to live a more balanced life. Very much enjoyed this book as a therapist and has further motivated me to become an IFS therapist to utilize this with my clients!

Brilliantly done!

Excellent, well presented book on IFS; a clear, motivating, and encouraging way to access and heal all your parts. Thank you! A+++

Great framework, but irrelevant politics drift in

I really like the IFS framework. After learning about the related Structural Dissociation model, I decided to learn more about IFS. I was eagerly listening for the first couple of chapters, although I found myself cringing at some of the tortured links to ecology and dynamical systems. (I have a PhD in theoretical evolutionary biology.) But when the author began proclaiming that healthy integration with parts will lead me to become an environmental and social justice activist, I had to return it.

Don't get me wrong; I am politically aligned with the author. But this book is claiming to provide a framework for understanding and treating trauma. This is an empirical claim: the framework is, or is not, sufficient to understand and address traumatic damage to the psyche and consequent behavior. Metaphors to science that Schwartz doesn't understand is one thing. Claiming, entirely without appeal to evidence, that healing will lead to liberalism, is absurd.

Revolutionary

Go deep enough in one area of endeavor, discovery, and exploration and you may solve a problem so thoroughly as to resolve problems of all other areas of endeavor. Dick Schwartz appears to have initiated the achievement of such a feat.

Too fast, impossible to listen too

Sounds as though the narrator is trying to halve the recording time. Impossible to listen too

Exceptional and essential

One of the most important resources I’ve ever come across. Alongside The 4 Pillar Plan, Non-violent communication and Lost Connections. Absolutely outstanding! It isn’t a page turner, but like The Body Keeps The Score, it is essential reading for people trying to help others. Loved it!

In-depth, fascinating introduction to IFS

This is a brilliant book. It’s addressed to therapists, and as a trainee therapist I found it invaluable. The narration is outstanding, and really added to my enjoyment and understanding of the book. Thank you, Brian Arens!

Author needs to get out of his own way

I'm sure this is a great book as it's been mentioned in many of the conversations I have with fellow hypnotists but the Audio version is read by the author at a very slow pace. It's difficult to keep engaged with.

It would also seem obvious to get a second person to read the parts of Rossi instead of the repetitive name initials.

RH... Please get out of your own way and get this read by someone else please.

effective guide for beginners and.intermediate

specific steps illustrated with real life examples narrated as a live demo. really helpful to get quite a precise understanding

Great system but not as simple as I thought.

Struggled to finish this one, I was gripped at first but as time went on the subject matter started to get quite complex and hard to take on board. I think the IFS system in itself is great for complex issues and well worth studying further. I guess I am going to have to listen to this one again and maybe again in order to take everything on board.

Extraordinary!

Downloaded the book as a party of my IFS therapy that I do. The book is comprehensive and very complete from A to Z related to IFS. The book ends with various completed therapies and their details. I would love to hear the next chapter! Have a good listen!

completely brilliant!

makes total sense and really well explained and narrated. will be learning more about this

Great for therapists and lay people alike

Detailed description of Therapy sessions and the IFS methodology. Enjoyable to listen to and useful for everyday applications in understanding oneself and others, whether in therapy or providing therapy.

Very wonderful

I cried through this. Wanting everyone to know this amazing lost connection. Like finding the love of your life! Inside. Thank you. I’ll continue to share with work colleagues and friends x