> The topic of our meeting was based on an article by Richard Schwartz entitled “Introduction to internal family systems therapy “. This topic was chosen as the therapy offers an interesting structured way of working and can be used individually as well as with clients. It also posits an optimistic view of the way humans operate as it sees the core or “true” self as the leader of different parts and as essentially beneficent, containing what he terms the 4 C’s or qualities of being defined as being Calm, Compassionate, Curious and Connected. The fundamental aim of the therapy is to “unburden each part so it has a healthy role and for each part to trust the Self to lead”. He defines parts as being like sub-personalities and having different aspects often in opposition to each other such as the inner critic, the abandoned child, the pleaser, the angry part and the loving caretaker. One aim is to get the different parts into a creative dialogue, guided by the therapist, so that there can be understanding and appreciation of different intentions and healing can take place..The questions to ask are whether the part is useful and how is it trying to help?
> It is therefore important to recognise that every part has a positive intent though not obviously so at first. Thus a part that seems judgmental and competitive can be there to protect the person by making them feel okay through feeling superior to others.This notion is similar to the psychodynamic notion of the defences such as denial that have to be dismantled gently in the therapeutic process.
> The system divided the parts into 2 categories or roles of being protectors or exiles- the latter refers to “ young child parts that hold pain from the past” and the protectors operate to keep these in check until recognised and processed.
> Our shared reaction to the system was that it was rather overly complicated but that the idea of parts talking to each other was helpful and interesting and would work with some clients. Of particular usefulness was the way in which a kind of distance or objectivity is created through the defining and identifying of the parts so helping ourselves or clients to manage and process emotional pain. We liked the idea of the client using their name when addressing a part eg “ what does this part say to Jo”? ( the client’s name) . Also mention was made of the use of imagery in trauma work where a guided fantasy involves meeting different parts of the self in a house in the woods and the rooms/ doors/ windows can be used as different challenges to overcome in the imagination so that “the real work is done in the imagination “.. A book was recommended by Sandra Poulsen: “looking through the eyes of trauma and dissociation “, an illustrated guide for EMDR therapists and clients (2009).
> We then had a more general discussion of how much the core self can be viewed as solely a positive force and introduced the notion of the shadow self and how this needs to be understood and integrated ( as Jung believed) and whether this shadow self is made up of parts or exists in its own right. Another book was suggested here: “ the shadow and the counsellor” by Steve Page (1999 ) as an excellent exploration of ways of working with the shadow in counselling.
> We all agreed that Freud’s definition of the aim of therapy as “ transforming neurotic misery into common unhappiness “ was overly reductive and pessimistic and ignored notions of joy and positive transformation through therapy.
> We had a full and interesting meeting and felt the article gave us food for thought and self-reflection.
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fells and dales counsellors 