My favourite IFS links, podcasts, videos, films, meditations and reading recommendations
Clients often ask me if I could recommend any resources to them. I have collected together a few of my favourites. First the Institute … then some books… then some podcasts/youtube videos… the Insight timer App with a few of Dick Schwartz’s 10 minute meditations on the Insight Timer app .. and finally a Facebook Community IFS group. This list is obviously not exhaustive and will be added to from time to time (updated early 2022).
The IFS Institute can be found here: https://ifs-institute.com/ with lots of links and readings, the main therapist directory, trainings and a store for online courses/books. There is a UK based IFS institute which has info about trainings and also a Directory. https://www.internalfamilysystemstraining.co.uk/
Books/manuals that I particularly recommended are:
Internal Family Systems (Ed 2), by Richard Schwartz and Martha Sweezy. The original text book, and great if you want a deep exploration of the model.
Greater than the Sum of the Parts of Us (this also comes as a really excellent audiobook, read by Dick Schwartz, with guided meditations: I highly recommend this as an excellent introduction to IFS)
You are the one you’ve been waiting for (Bringing Courageous Love To Intimate Relationships) Richard Schwartz
No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model By Richard Schwartz and Alanis Morissette
The Self Therapy workbook by Bonnie Weiss is really good for personal work
Jay Earley has some good self therapy books based on IFS. These provide a framework for learning how to Self heal from an IFS perspective.
Frank Anderson has written a really excellent book called Transcending Trauma: Healing Complex Ptsd with Internal Family Systems. I love it! He also wrote a skills training manual: trauma-Informed Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, PTSD & Substance Abuse
And finally, a wonderful little book, just out in the fall of 2021 by Angela Huebner called Jailbreak. It brings together attachment theory, attunement and IFS. Helping us to recognise that our parts are wonderful ‘guards’ but they also keep us in prison. A signposting of finding Self and heading towards freedom..
And here are some podcasts/youtube videos for you:
My current favourite - a really excellent introduction to IFS with practical ideas with the warm and excited Frank Anderson https://open.spotify.com/episode/1nB0H6p7v0BosDzeozD0Y9?si=huWIgV5WQQ-kKquwCsRT5Q&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A19TdDBlFkqh7uevYO0jFSW
Richard Schwartz introducing IFS:
https://youtu.be/Ym8o762U7uc or https://youtu.be/KbTFJHKVDoM
Richard Schwartz: how others are your ‘tor-mentors’, being there for your parts even in times of uncertainty, fear and anxiety and Coronavirus https://youtu.be/eBy8jFJR9KQ
IFS, Dick Schwartz (including a live demo with Tim) in the Tim Ferriss show https://tim.blog/2021/01/14/richard-chwartz-internal-family-systems/
IFS and Trauma https://youtu.be/2UfmGwENz9M
Richard Schwartz in Conversation with Alanis Morissette
https://youtu.be/JH-32QS6Qfw
“these parts will fight to the end to protect you!” An interview with Dick Schwartz https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/these-parts-will-fight-end-protect-you?fbclid=IwAR1S1cAnFsotv7W0kqDZBrTEnSQeBpCkLMx0mwnD9TTCOdl3AZSUpm71UZM
Podcast with Jonathan Van Ness – How did you create Internal Family Systems?
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/getting-curious-with-jonathan-van-
How to get all the parts within you to work together - and with your partner
https://youtu.be/B6QKBbbJl34
Russell Brand talks IFS (2019) Who are you really? https://youtu.be/oAG6cX_nPKc
and one with Lissa Rankin https://lissarankin.com/watch-internal-family-systems-ifs-founder-dick-schwartz-do-a-vulnerable-ifs-trauma-healing-demo-on-lissa/?fbclid=IwAR3n_Tq5-1wDZW_xEA2QBufST_YiVWYQL07bmwuisQc46B4kvoje6lJ_GwQ
Demonstrations by lead trainers are a good way of understanding just how different IFS is from other modalities! Here’s Dick doing a short one:
https://youtu.be/HGEOC9LEvIg
and here’s longer one: https://youtu.be/tqIhczaF9W8
Derek Scott has a plethora of videos on YouTube which are well worth searching for I love his ones on shame for example.https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLubi85xLPNYrUoriC0RWhWuDBB9mfd9q9
look out for Susan McConnell for Somatic IFS
There are some wonderful talks and interviews in “IFS Talks” https://chartable.com/podcasts/ifs-talks/episodes
Also:
Lead trainers often have published good articles on their websites.. for example Cece Sykes has links to two great articles on addiction https://www.cecesykeslcsw.com
and others too..
Michel Pasterski https://pasterski.com/most-recent/
I’ve been really enjoying talks by Dr Tori Olds - shes so calm and compassionate and soothing …. What is Internal Family Systems? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNA5qTTxFFA Healing Trauma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThA1ojmekpI and finding your True Self https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bNHkg4ZPpA&t=637s and
The most wonderful explanation of Self (and other things too) for the IFS Client can be found in this simple written guide of Self and attachment by Anna Vincentz…. highly recommended https://medium.com/@annavincentz/guide-for-the-ifs-client-chapter-2-the-self-dfc0dbade7c6?source=social.fb
and here is a good summary of IFS from an IFS practitioner http://www.athousandpaths.com/about-ifs?fbclid=IwAR26KGJ8-acScppMgrkw3TLxgsza_GL4GIe0GA1u-1cxy2ciGLO_Vf9NHfk
and Alessio talks about what is Self and how it feels - this is gold ⭐️ https://www.therapywithalessio.com/articles/what-is-self-and-self-energy-in-ifs-internal-family-systems-therapy
There’s a really good set of 10 minute meditations on Insight Timer app. If you download it and type Richard Schwartz in the search box. I particularly like the general IFS meditation, One Part, Path, Courage, Heart and the Fire Drill
There is an Internal Family Systems Community Group on Facebook which is active and supportive (but with the caveat that its not held by therapists and can be a little interesting at times! )https://www.facebook.com/groups/77511055358/about
Everett Considine does some interesting IFS demonstrations you can listen to .. I find them inspiring. He’s a self proclaimed IFS ‘purist’ so you can hear the protocols in action! Highly recommended. I wonder if you can identify some of your own parts?
https://everettconsidine.com/witnessed-ifs-sessions/?fbclid=IwAR2aFx-bvcVAgOjt2uhq2Po89K_2V-0sdXdC5H2cWDRzmebmAl4HQSScf3Q
Finally… how about films with IFS principles in them?
Everyone recommends the Pixar film Inside Out as a good intro to IFS - it has a beautiful visualisation of parts (except the parts seem to have to work it out for themselves and Self isn’t overtly represented)
The two recently out Disney films can be seen from a family systems lens and also an Internal family systems lens - my playful inner children loved these films! Encanto and Turning Red. Grab yourself some popcorn, cosy down and enjoy!
Another IFSy film is Where the Wild Things are where Max gets to know his protectors and exiles and comes back home… he’s not always ‘in’ Self as he exists as himself, but there are many moments he’s curious connected and courageous!
Other films with an IFS edge (IFS principles being portrayed in films..)… Frozen, The Matrix, Robocop, Hesher, Truly Madly Deeply (great for Letting go), Rocketman, Inception, Jungle book, The Kid (Disney film), Big Hero 6, A Beautiful Mind, The Sixth Sense, Tron: Legacy, Fight Club, The Wizard of Oz, Breakfast Club, Twelve Angry Men, Its not you, its me and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde..
Warm wishes
Natasha