Internal Family Systems is an approach to therapy that consists of parts work. Therapy models can be broken down into top-down and top-up approaches. These names reference how an approach works based on neuroscience.

 

Traditional models, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, is an example of a top-down approach. Top-down approaches often explore the narrative and discuss cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns to understand what is influencing your struggles. Sessions challenge thought patterns, identify new action plans, and identify ways to cope. This type of work primarily uses our frontal lobes, the part of the brain that focuses on rational thought, explicit memory, decision-making, and analysis. The goal is that by changing how we think we can influence or emotional processing center (ie the limbic system which is lower in the brain).

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Internal Family Systems is an example of a bottom-up approach. We believe that we are all made up multiple parts, or components of ourselves. What we might call a stream of consciousness or an inner monologue is actualy conversations between our parts. We might have a part that wants to apply for a promotion (a well-adjusted motivator part) and then a voice that says ¨Who do you think you are? You can´t do that - you aren´t good enough¨(a inner critic that has some reason it feels the need to do this). Some of our parts are doing what they natural do, while other parts have taken on roles that we might not understand.

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In Internal Family Systems, we use the body to meet our parts. We can connect with their experiences, beliefs, and build a relationship with them. As we do this, we are accessing our limbic system, where our emotional, implicit memories live without narrative recall. By building a new relationship with our parts we can understand why they have taken on these roles and help heal the underlying emotions and beliefs that led to their formation. By focusing in this bottom-up we, our goal is that these parts will not feel the need to take over as often, and then we can help them calm down when they do show up.

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