Watercolor illustration of five colorful, cheerful figures hugging, each with a heart on their chest, surrounded by leafy branches and a soft, pastel background. Text reads 'All Parts have a Purpose' at the top.

An Introduction to IFS

Every Part of us has a story, a purpose and a reason for being there. Healing begins when we stop fighting those Parts and start listening to them with curiosity and compassion.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapeutic approach that sees every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts guided by a core Self, all responding to each other, much like members of a family do.

Below you will find some basic information about IFS including the key “Parts” that come into play as well the qualities and characteristics that IFS encourages us to tune into and use to help to get to know those “Parts” better.

Further information on the 8 C’s, 5 P’s and 6 F’s is available below along with my own personal experience with using IFS to help me build a healthier, more compassionate relationship with my anorexic part.

Image introducing the parts in IFS
Parts in IFS Image
Image of the 8 C's in IFS
Image showing the 5 P's in IFS
Image showing the 6 F's in IFS
Infographic titled 'Healing Through IFS' featuring four steps: 1. Understand your Parts with a purple heart icon, 2. Build trust and connection with two intertwined hearts in a pink circle, 3. Release burdens with a blue circle and a healing hands icon, 4. Develop Self-leadership with an orange circle and a group of people icon, each description explaining the steps for healing using internal family systems.

Want to learn more?

Download my free Introduction to IFS Guide or check out my pages about the 8C’s, 5P’s and 6F’s (which also includes a reflective journal to help you find out more about your parts).

A colorful illustration promoting self-discovery of the 8 C’s of self, featuring a sunlit path through a field of purple and white flowers, a tree, a butterfly, and an open notebook listing qualities such as clarity, curiosity, compassion, calm, confidence, courage, creativity, and connection.
A promotional graphic for a free introductory guide to IFS, featuring illustrations of a book, a cup of coffee, butterflies, flowers, trees, and a trail in a nature setting.
Illustration promoting the five P's of self: Patience, Presence, Persistence, Perspective, Playfulness, with a pathway, trees, butterflies, and a signpost.
A promotional graphic with a nature scene and wellness theme presenting the title 'Learn about the 6 F's'. It features a stack of rocks, an open book, a mug, lavender flowers, and butterfly illustrations, with a stream, trees, and mountains in the background at sunrise.