Family Systems Theory

We're all familiar with self-talk, self-doubt, self-judgement - and yet many of us still believe we have one uniform mind. Dr Richard Schwartz's breakthrough model of therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), revealed that our minds are made up of distinct parts that form our 'internal family', from Protectors and Exiles to Managers and Firefighters. Introduction to Internal Family Systems is the practical guide you need to understand how your mind works and uncover the life-changing power of IFS.

IFS reveals how the subpersonalities or parts of each individual's psyche relate to each other like members of a family, and how - just as in a family - polarization among parts can lead to emotional suffering. IFS originator Richard Schwartz and master clinician Martha Sweezy explain core concepts and provide practical guidelines for implementing IFS with clients who are struggling with trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, and other behavioral problems.

At its heart, polyvagal theory describes how the brain's unconscious sense of safety or danger impacts our emotions and behaviors. In this powerful book, pediatrician and neonatologist Marilyn R. Sanders and child psychiatrist George S. Thompson offer both a meditation on caregiving and a call to action. By attending to the lessons of polyvagal theory—that adult caregivers must be aware of children's unconscious processing of sensory information—the authors show how professionals can play a critical role in establishing a sense of safety even in the face of dangerous situations.