People often ask, can I do IFS on myself? The simple answer is yes. You can absolutely practice IFS therapy on yourself. In fact, doing self-therapy using Internal Family Systems Therapy has the most potential power for deep healing and growth. While it can be great to find an exceptional IFS therapist, the reality is that the supply of IFS qualified therapists is limited and the demand for them is high. Although it may be difficult to find an IFS therapist, many people have had immense success becoming their own therapist and practicing Internal Family Systems on themselves.
You should always consult a professional in times of extreme distress. However, for those that desire to overcome challenges, to move through mild depression or anxiety, or simply to develop greater self awareness, practicing IFS on yourself is absolutely at your disposal.
As you step into the role of your own IFS therapist, you might find that using an external therapist is necessary to help you if you get stuck. In this case, reach out to us here at InternalFamilySystems.org and we can see if one of our IFS trained practitioners is available. Rest assured, even if you do get stuck, you can have your own personal IFS journey that is done with yourself, for yourself, and by yourself.
Not only is it possible, but it is a fantastic option that will leave you feeling empowered, capable and ready to embrace life at its fullest.
Internalfamilysytems.org has created a program that can help you do IFS therapy at home by yourself. This program will help you step into self-therapy, self-leadership, and self-empowerment by taking the IFS protocols, simplifying them, and giving you action steps and exercises to begin practicing IFS at home by yourself today. By the time the program is completed, not only will you be able to create healing in your own system, but positively impact the way you relate and connect with other human beings as well. It is going to be incredibly beneficial and positive for about the same cost as one or two IFS sessions with a therapist.
To be clear, it is not recommended that you do not find a therapist, that can be incredibly valuable. However, for most people, learning how to practice Internal Family Systems at home on your own, on your own time, on your own terms, is the way to go.
Internalfamilysystems.org is here to empower you and as many other people as possible and The Self-Led IFS Program is designed with you in mind.
To get an understanding of how Internalfamilysystems.org was created, here is the story of our founder Conor McMillen and how he got started with Internal Family Systems therapy.
Around 2012 Conor had a major shift in his life and was really struggling. In 2013 he heard a podcast about Internal Family Systems therapy with a man named Richard Schwartz. Conor listened to the podcast for over two hours, transfixed by the concepts presented. By the end of the podcast, his entire system had shifted by integrating a very simple perspective; his system has multiple parts.
After this shift, Conor had a deep sense of relaxation wash over him. The next day he started absorbing as much information as he could on IFS therapy. He was buying and reading books, reading articles, watching YouTube videos and suddenly Conor found himself designing different ways to tap into his own parts.
After 6 months Conor had completely mapped his own system. He had learned what parts wanted, what they needed, what their boundaries were, and, most importantly, he had learned how to compassionately understand and help those parts integrate into his system as a whole. All without the assistance from a therapist. This profound experience led him to apply to become trained in Internal Family Systems therapy through the IFS Institute, created and headed by Richard Schwartz. The same man Conor heard on the podcast many months before.
Although Conor was a transformation and lifestyle coach, he was accepted into the training based primarily on his testimonials from coaching clients. Because, like you, he did not have a psychology degree. In fact, he was the only participant who was not a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist. Intimidated but confident, Conor completed his training and went on to offer his coaching services based on a fundamental understanding that our systems are complex, beautiful, and need to be understood before they can be asked to change.
The program we host here at internalfamilysystems.org is not one designed by people who know a subject. It is designed by people who have actually experienced the benefits from the practices that are in this program.
Conor changed his life. In one way, it was entirely on his own. In another way, he had help. He heard that initial podcast. He read every book he could on Internal Family Systems therapy. He read every article. He watched every YouTube video. He even went and got trained by the official IFS Institute. Here at internalfamilysystems.org, we have condensed this material into one program so that you can do it entirely on your own, just with a little help.
Conor’s personal IFS journey began with a podcast that helped him understand not only was his system composed of various parts, he also had something called Self energy. Self energy is a place of higher awareness; a place of calm, curiosity and compassion. As Conor started to build that connection to Self energy, he started to become connected to the parts of his system in an entirely new way.
The way Conor became connected to these parts is similar to what an IFS therapist may do. Although most therapists use a variety of techniques, IFS trained therapists generally use the same protocols and approaches. One of these is referred to as Dropping-in. Dropping-in is typically done with eyes closed, although one can have their eyes open. You are then led through a relaxation process via breath and / or mediation techniques. Eventually you are guided into a simple question: how are you feeling? You then access what you are feeling, connect to it, and bring calm, curiosity, and compassion do the unfolding process of discovery. In our program here at internalfamilysystems.org, we will teach you how drop-in and exactly what you need to do to effectively connect with the various parts of your system.
By understanding some of these simple protocols and concepts, there is no way you can do it wrong. Once you get a firm and tangible understanding of what Self energy is and how to connect to it, you can do IFS therapy on your own. Although this practice might take some time to really understand and feel what Self energy is like, there is no rush. You can use these protocols anytime, anywhere, by yourself.
One of the benefits of doing IFS therapy on yourself is that you get to do it on your own time. It is recommended that you go as slow as the slowest part needs to. Remember, there will be parts that want to go slow. You might also find parts that want to speed the process up and get the healing done! You might get really curious and want to keep working. Where is this part coming from? Does it hold a memory? What does memory have to say?
Self energy will be your guide. Self energy is calm, curious, compassionate, relaxed, and patient. So as long as you follow these very simple protocols and you can identify for yourself when you are out of Self energy then come back to Self energy, you will be practicing IFS successfully on your own.
The Self-Led IFS Program teaches many methods to identify parts, connect to Self energy, and heal trauma. At InternalFamilySystems.org, you will get even more nuanced with your practice in a very simple way, such that when you are dropped into a deep space, you can recall these protocols that we offer without much effort.
Back to Conor’s story. As he continued to practice Internal Family Systems therapy on not only himself while also sharing it with his clients, two things became clear. One, IFS works. Two, there are not enough IFS practitioners, psychologist or coach, in existence to meet the need of those who could be helped by the IFS practice.
In 2015 Conor began to construct what is now known as The Self-Led IFS Program. This program was originally released in 2015, revamped in 2016 and 2018 and has most recently been updated with the help of several other IFS practitioners to guarantee its efficacy on a broad scale. Since its inception in 2015, thousands of people have used this program and the testimonials are incredible.
Through his own experience of healing and growth, Conor has spearheaded a program and a movement that places the power of IFS in the hands of the individual. Helping others empower themselves is Conor’s passion. Whether it is through IFS or other forms of coaching, this is why he is here.
InternalFamilySystems.org, is here to help empower you through The Self-Led IFS Program. The Self-Led IFS Program is here to help you lead a more satisfying and fulfilling life. Through this program, you will confidently learn how to use IFS therapy on yourself, and it is guaranteed that by the time the program ends, your life will be changed for the better. In addition, the growth never stops as you will have tools to carry with you for the rest of your life.
The most important piece in any kind of self-growth work that you choose to do, whether that is with a coach or a therapist, an online program, or even just reading a book, is to find skills that you can take with you on your journey for the rest of your life.
The Self-Led IFS Program isn’t here to give you something that just feels good while you’re doing and when it ends everything goes back to the way it was before. The Self-Led IFS Program is here to help you empower yourself forever.
So, can you do IFS by yourself? Absolutely! By going through our program, you will be able to take the skills you learned on your journey and apply them to your life on your own time. After many years of coaching and using IFS on his clients and himself, Conor believes that utilizing these tools by yourself is the ultimate way to lead a self-fulfilling, self-actualizing, and self-aware life.