Unpacking the Power of the IFS Self

We know that we (and our clients) need to be in Self for IFS work to proceed successfully. However, Self is not monolithic.

We will study the various capacities of Self and how to tell when one is missing that is needed at a certain point in an IFS session.

We know from Dick Schwartz’s teachings that we (and our clients) need to be in Self for IFS work to proceed successfully. However, Self is not monolithic. Sometimes it primarily involves Compassion, at other times nurturing Love or Inner Strength. We call these different aspects of Self capacities. At any particular point in an IFS session, certain Self capacities will be needed. For example, if a client is getting to know an exile who has shown its pain, then Compassion is needed. If the client is not feeling Compassion for the exile, then it doesn’t matter if he or she is feeling curious, connected, clear and other capacities of Self, the work won’t be successful.

I have identified 10 capacities of Self and studied how each one enhances IFS work and how it can be blocked or distorted. If your work with a client is stalled or chaotic, you can explore which of these needed capacities may be blocked in your client. A part might need your Respect, Curiosity, Caring, or Strength. Your IFS process might need to manifest Awareness, Agency, Focus, or Flow. Then you can help your client to embody that needed capacity so their IFS work can proceed successfully. You can also examine whether you (as therapist) are missing an IFS capacity that is needed.

For each IFS capacity, you learn:

How it is most useful in an IFS session
How to track when a client has it during a session
How to help a client access the capacity
How to work through protectors that block the capacity
How to help a client cultivate the capacity

I am writing a book on this topic. Group members will receive the chapters for each of the IFS capacities.

Click here to read the full article.

NOTE: You should be familiar with IFS and using it on yourself and with your clients if you are a therapist or coach.