What Your First IFS Therapy Session Will Look Like
It may be intimidating going into your first IFS session. You may have heard about Internal Family System Therapy (IFS) through a previous therapist. If you are like many, you’ve wandered the internet looking for a good explanation. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of case examples or role-plays in the world just yet.
The goal of most IFS therapy sessions is to release the burden and pain your body and internal system carry. Many therapists say you are made up of parts like a clock, car, or other machinery. It’s a good example, but the system can be a bit more fluid, more similar to an operating system of a computer. Your parts react to life’s pains, hurts, and traumas by reorganizing to prevent them from happening again. The burden comes from thinking your parts need to prevent these from happening and hiding the impact of previous events. This puts a huge strain on the system, burning it out and creating all sorts of havoc in your life. You and your therapist work to undo all of this havoc and hard work your parts are doing.
Your First IFS Therapy Session: Finding the Parts
Your very first therapist will likely seem like an ordinary intake session. Therapists will ask about what brought you into their office (or to see them through telehealth). In the therapist’s mind, however, they are likely taking inventory of the most prominent and surface-level parts. The therapist may ask “What is the goal of the part that brought you here to therapy?” as a good starting point. From there, simply share all the things you are experiencing. If you have trouble with the ‘parts’ concept don’t worry. Your therapist will help sort through them with you.
Focus on Specific Parts
During your first IFS therapy session, and in subsequent sessions, you and your therapist will decide what parts to work with. This is usually taken by your lead. “What part do you want to start with today?” or “Where do you want to start today?” If you have difficulty, your therapist might suggest apart and check to see if it’s okay.
Flesh Out The Specifics of the Part
Once a part is chosen, it’s important to take notice of it. What do you feel or notice in or around your body? Are there memories, images, or sensations that come up? How does this play out in your life? Can you visualize or see the part? You don’t have to answer all of these at the same time. Your therapist will help guide you through your IFS therapy session to prevent any confusion.
After your First Session
This is a lot of work, and the first session is generally used to build familiarity with your internal system. You may want to just become more away from the parts you are experiencing, so you can bring them back In Subsequent sessions. From here the goal will be to really get to know these parts, find out their job, and release the burden they hold onto. It may take some time, but this kind of therapy can be very rewarding both.