Internal Family Systems Therapy, 2nd Edition by Richard C. Schwartz, Martha Sweezy paperback

by Martha Sweezy

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Self Help, Counselling, Mental Health, Unfinished

Paperback

Published June 13, 2022

Reviews

[Jake Hunsaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.9 stars. This book provides a very good entry-level overview to Internal Family Systems Therapy and the theories that support the model. There are certain aspects of this model that I find incredibly helpful in the therapy room. I also really enjoyed that this book provided a history of the models development and theoretical framework. That being said, there were some aspects of the book that I found reduced its value. This book fell into the same pitfalls that many therapy books fall into. The first of which being the overuse of self developed jargon. IFS has developed its own language and model developers enjoy over using that jargon. This book also spent, in my opinion, a little too much time explaining the theory of the model, and not enough time teaching its techniques and usage. It is true that there is a separate skills book related to IFS, but I was hoping for significantly more skills to be discussed in this book. Just as with nearly all models of therapy, I also believe that the author of this book oversold its benefits. I have the same complaint with proponents of CBT, EMDR, ART, and other models of therapy. They all report grand and over exaggerated recovery from mental health ailments. Words such as enlightenment and euphoria are often used, which I think is inappropriate and misleading. In addition, towards the end of the book, it felt as though we left the empirical side of therapy and quickly dove into what I would call pseudoscience. For example, the author specifically explains that he does not believe that IFS is a helpful metaphor for therapy, rather he believes that there are actual separate identities and "beings" living inside our minds. The last few chapters sounded more like a religious leader attempting to convert an audience to a very specific dogma, rather than a professional teaching a therapy model. This is one of the overarching complaints of non-pathological and psychodynamic therapies. For therapy to be taken seriously by the public, I think that all models should be grounded in empiricism and we should leave behind un-researchable pseudoscience aspects of these models. I find that it is a turn off to many patients. All of that being said, I still find the techniques used in IFS to be incredibly helpful for my patients. I simply try not to explain too much of the theoretical framework to them, and I stay away from confusing jargon.

[Will Hodges · Rating 3 out of 5]

The core of IFS can be very useful for any therapist; however, I found that some of the ideas seem to a tad hokey or stretch there arguments a bit much. 75% of IFS is lovely the other 25% is a bit much

[Heather Beery · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could I would have given it 4.5 stars. IFS as a therapeutic modality certainly seems effective and this book provides a thorough explanation that is useful for therapists. Also, I’m fatigued by people presenting psychological concepts as fact. In truth, viewing the mind as parts is an idea that has been around for a long time. Schwartz just created specific language and a protocol to follow, based on his opinions. This latter part feels left out so often when discussing modalities/ideas.

[Florin Constantinescu]

Ooops, found myself reading the wrong book. It happens.
One quarter of the way in, and I didn't understand just what is going on.
Didn't realize this was aimed at therapists.

[Marina the Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Some interesting concepts, particularly the resemblance of the IFS Self to the Hindu Atman and Eastern Qi. However the therapy treatment presented as possible and even successful seems to me simplistic and over promising.

[Alex Chiang · Rating 3 out of 5]

*massive blunt hit* ok but what if your personality traits also had personality traits

As a burgeoning practitioner, I am by no means an expert on the subject. With that caveat out of the way, IFS seems to hold some creative and imaginative tools that enable a client to develop self-compassion and voice beliefs and feelings about which they may feel ashamed. I really appreciated Schwartz and Sweeney’s commitment to the belief that clients’ behaviors are always ultimately rational. In this lens, parts therapy might help service users to disentangle the various contradictory elements of their internal lives. However, I can’t help but wonder if the authors have suggested an essentially unverifiable theory of personhood that provides questionable value to the therapeutic process. For example, could a strongly defensive client use IFS to bypass the real anger, shame, or hurt that they themselves are experiencing by writing it off as merely a “part” of themself? Additionally, without a strong grounding in biological theory, IFS feels to me like little more than a helpful conceptual framework. That being said, I am excited to try out this framework!

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to about 40% of the book.
It’s a therapist theory book about internal family systems - which is a framework / approach to cognitive therapy.
It reminded me a bit of the inside out movies, although it’s more sophisticated but the idea is generally the same. You have parts and taking no judgment to the roles these parts play you help yourself by having conversations with these parts. You think about what they are doing and why and reconcile with them in order to make more space for your true self to live a fulling calm life.
Obviously I didn’t finish the book but based on other reviews here it doesn’t seem necessary to finish it to get the main takeaways.

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

O adevărată bijuterie psihoterapeutică! Cu o abordare sistemică la bază, terapia Sistemelor Familiale Interne, care dezvăluie mintea pluralistă, ne face cunoștință cu părțile noastre interne (exilați, manageri, pompieri) și ne ajută să le eliberăm de poveri cu ajutorul energiei-Sine, care ne oferă Calm, Curaj, Claritate, Creativitate, Curiozitate, Compasiune, Conexiune.
O terapie deopotrivă aplicabilă pentru lumea interioară a unui om, cât și cea exterioară (familie, cultură, țară).

[Callum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly good besides a bit of political preaching in the latter half. The idea of the self in therapy and that every client and therapist has a natural self healing capacity is very interesting and rings true.

[Sylvie Barak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid and enjoyable starter book on IFS. Good examples.

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview!

This book is basically the same as No Bad Parts, but it is the therapist version as opposed to the layperson version.

Pet peeve: Stop calling psychology inner physics!

[Eduardo Lira · Rating 1 out of 5]

Basura

Está mucho mejor el libro de Sarah Y. Krakauer

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

So excited for my level 1 training!
There was no fluff in this book - everything in it felt relevant, useful, and meaningful.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to one of the most widely acclaimed and, in my opinion, intriguing approaches to therapy. Must read for any student of IFST.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. The original IFS language is so clunky. I much prefer Frank Anderson's adaptations to IFS. Was still good to read it from the originator's perspective.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting idea, but gets a bit esoteric.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah like absolutely not written for me as a casual IFS reader, more so for actual psychologists, but still super interesting. Also low-key believe in a plural mind now. And has given me another way to interact with people. Would definitely recommend for everyone who has been super super conflicted in their life or deals with difficult people.