[Catrionn]

Has anybody here ever tried this?

If so, do you think it helped you? Why or why not?

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Catrionn

Has anybody here ever tried this?

If so, do you think it helped you? Why or why not?

I have not done this personally but know some that have...

for some it helps for others it didnt.

it is a relatively new therapy approach where it considers every human being has normal parts of their self and sometimes these normal parts of a person can cause problems in their daily life.

you know how sometimes you will be doing something and you think to your self negative things like ...

how stupid of me, I shouldnt have done that, why did I do something so wrong as that. what is wrong with me anyway...

this is an example of a normal human beings, normal part of self called the internal critic.

in IFS a person takes notice of their normal parts like the internal critic and ask their self questions in order to get a better idea of what is happening and why they are behaving that way, reacting that way...

example....(using the above internal critic and situation)

what is this part, name this part ? answer the internal critic, Judge harry.
what does this part look like? A judge behind a desk with a huge gavel hitting the desk
what does this part feel like? grumpy,
what does this part say? why cant you be better at things, you should not be doing stupid things.....
what activates this part? when I have done something wrong
how does this part make you behave? I get jumpy and afraid that I am going to do something wrong.

While you are answering the questions you answer as it you are that part of you.

then you find out if there are any other normal parts of yourself that are coming up by asking internal critic if he/ she will step to the side (in other words are you ready to stop focusing on the internal critic and focus on another part that is linked to your feeling critical of yourself)
then you ask the next normal part of your self the same questions.

eventually all the questions are going to lead a person to discovering their exile (the root of the problem, the pushed away problem or trauma that they have not wanted to deal with) then like with the normal parts before it you ask the exile questions until you are ready to imagine rescuing, leading this exile to safety and the present where this exiled problem/ trauma will no longer be a problem.

the idea is to stay fully aware, not dissociated and not emotionally blended (not triggered) with the parts, to stay in your leadership, in control part of self while also "working with" your other parts of self

here in NY the old term for IFS was called working with the inner child therapy. some places call it trauma therapy. some places call it PAC (Parent - Adult - Child therapy) some call it transactional analysis therapy... its known by many names in the past but the newer term for working with normal parts of self here in NY is called IFS therapy here.

you can find more information on this with your treatment provider.

like I said for some it helps to work in this structured way and for others this structured way doesnt work. I have not done it but I know some that have and some had good results and others didnt.

[MoxieDoxie]

Yes. It was my original therapist modality and it felt silly at first but it really helped. It is just another ego state therapy style. Parts work.