Resources

Dr Richard Schwartz explains Internal Family Systems (IFS)

I have found the IFS approach to be powerful in helping clients heal, change patterns and is a fantastic framework for personal growth. Dr. Richard Schwartz was trained as a family therapist and in the 1980’s in working with client’s he began to notice client’s discussing various parts of themselves that seemed to have conflicting goals. He observed that this internal conflict had many similarities to the conflict dynamics between family members hence the name Internal Family Systems. Since the 1980’s IFS has grown and evolved it is now an evidence based therapy approach meaning that multiple scientific studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach. The IFS Institute trains thousands of therapist around the globe each year and has exploded in popularity in the last decade.

Toni Herbine-Blank on using IFS with couples

Toni Herbine-Blank has helped to develop the Internal Family Systems model and adapted it for use in couples therapy. In this video she provides an overview of how she works with couples using this method she refers to as Intimacy from the inside out. What I love about this approach is that it not only provides a map for helping couples to stabilize and bond, this approach also provides a method for deep relationship and individual healing using the principles of IFS.

Susan Johnson on Emotionally Focused Therapy

Emotionally Focused Therapy can provide a wonderful path for couples to share with one another and change their patterns of conflict. Sadly Sue Johnson has passed away but the model that she developed continues to provide therapist with guidance on how to help couples deescalate conflict and then develop a more safe secure bond with one another. This research on the effectiveness of this model to help couples is robust.

Great Calming Meditation

This is the most effective meditation that I have found to help me feel deeply calm. Research has shown that the use of mental imagery can have a calming effect on the brain and this meditation uses an incredibly powerful image of light filling up your body.

I try to practice this meditation regularly. I have noticed especially if I am stress, doing this meditation 2-3 times in a row seems to have a compounding effect and each time I do this meditation I tend to feel an increasingly deeper calm.

Sealing Light Meditation lead by IFS therapist Robert Falconer

Steven Kotler discusses the science of Flow States

Steven Kotler discusses the concept of Flow and provides suggestions for how to increase the chances of experiencing this profound mental state. When I think of this state I think about watching in amazement one of the greatest basketball players, Michael Jordan, who seemed too so gracefully and effortlessly sink shot after shot over his opponents.

Researchers call this state of profound focus flow. In IFS language this would be a deeper state of self energy.

Steven Kotler lecture on Flow states