No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma & Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model

I’m training as a Psychotherapist, so I read this book as part of my learning. Thankfully, by doing so, I’ve realised that my own internal experience aligns 100% with the IFS model.For many years I’ve experienced myself as parts, and even went as far as “mapping” them, little did I know this was an exercise I’d eventually find in the pages of this book.The book is an easy read, and is a compilation of the writers theories as well as transcripts of meetings with clients. There is a spiritual element to the book that is carefully managed so its not a significant distraction to those not aligned with the authors worldview.From a student perspective, the book is insightful and informative. From a personal perspective, it’s been a revelation and I suspect it will play a part in my developing practice and exploration of self.Another subject you may want to explore that underpins the IFS approach is “Systems Thinking”…

A great read for anyone interested in learning more about how their personality parts all fit together, and where certain traits and behaviours come from. Useful for yourself but also helps improve relationships as you understand more about other people’s behaviour too.

This has been an unusual experience for me. I'm not used to interacting with my inner world and thoughts in such a way and yet the ideas presented here were so intuitive and easy to adopt. It has resulted in a much more peaceful and calm existence.

Clear introduction to the idea that we have parts of self . To me the book takes you through the process, there are useful exercises to follow, though I think best explored with a family systems therapist. However, I found a useful addition to psychotherapy sessions, and a good way to think about me for the future. There's some really good points in the book - self as a wider field; physical issues as a manifestation of parts of self; trauma pushes us out of self; parts overwhelm us until we no longer fear them.

My 1st book on IFS and what a great title !Even if you're familiar with the model it's a great refresher, I am glad it reaches the topic of spirituality. I like the title very much and in the book the author explains that when you try fight a troublesome part - it will fight back as it's need your attention, to be listened, to be healed and loved.What I understood IFS is all about:- to get to know your parts, liberate them from their roles and return them to their natural states- this happens when they trust your Self to be in charge- as a result the whole system works in harmony and is Self-led- you no longer have so many parts that are hurting and stuck in the past- you are no longer trying to protect them and worry about the future- you feel whole/complete again, present and connected- ultimately you sense your purpose (and I believe everyone has one)

I thought the examples were useful and the exercises. Some bits I’ll need to read again.It was helpful to identify which parts are exiles protectors or firefighters

I like the book and further confirms the view to befriend all our parts and not be opposed to them.

I got super excited about IFS after reading 'The body keeps the score' and thought I'd try to learn more about it. I suffer from a type of dissociation due to trauma and it made some sense to me the talks about fragmented personalities.HOWEVER.Getting deeper and deeper into this book and the 'science' behind it, I was progressively disappointed. I grew up a fundamental baptist and deconverted as an adult, but I'm very sensitive to 'extraordinary claims without extraordinary evidence', to put it like that. There are many times when the author just...says stuff. Asserts his convictions. I began thinking more and more 'Hold on a moment, where's the evidence for X..?'.I do know that DID is real, and my form of personality fragments are real too. I believe in the 'inner child' and 'inner teen' are in all of us and we have to parent ourselves. But IFS seems put on some shaky foundations, and makes a few too many assertions on reality for my comfort.In summary: be careful. Trust your gut if information you're using to help yourself doesn't line up with facts and figures you know from other, verified sources. IFS may help you, but it may also mess with your head and you MUST stop if that's the case. If you feel the practitioner is off, under qualified, or the community you're in has some culty vibes - put yourself first. There are other therapies too. <3

The radical notion that there are no bad parts - and no bad people - could be truly transformational for us as individuals and for us as a society. This book presents that idea and the work necessary to heal the parts of us (and our society) that we don’t like.Richard Schwartz brings years of experience and understanding of systems thinking to this work and explains the simple, profound truths in a straightforward accessible way. The book also includes exercises you can use to explore your own inner world. Highly recommend.

…but this book is a must read, and imho will inform trauma care in the future. The “meditation” (not traditional meditation) exercises the author asks you to do dig deep, and feel like they get down into the subconscious stuff you usually can’t reach with typical trauma books…in the muck where actual change can happen.If you’re into the metaphysical, the author offers some very interesting psychological theories that, if you’re like me, lead to interesting questions and ideas that may change how you view the universe overall.I wish Internal Family Systems Therapy was more widely available, as I believe it would be even more effective in person with an experienced coach.Highly recommend, especially if you feel like part of you is fighting against your goals and success.

The book arrived damaged.

Cheguei ao título através de recomendação de outra leitura (o que elevou a expectativa) e fiz questão de ler a obra, mesmo apenas encontrando a versão em inglês. O conteúdo é bom e interessante e eu consegui tirar vários benefícios pessoais através dos exercícios em meditação. Engana-se, porém quem acha que encontrará aqui um manual para o SIF (ou IFS) e aplicação autônoma (o próprio autor menciona limites a se chegar enquanto lidando com seus exilados). Ainda assim, creio que o acompanhamento com um psicanalista que saiba conduzir e aplicar as técnicas sejam de grande valia e que o SIF tem muito potencial terapêutico.Na minha opinião, o autor escorrega em algumas passagens e tira um pouco do mérito acadêmico da obra por expôr certa militância progressista pessoal e asco a figuras públicas controversas.

Of all the books I read, this one helped me the most to get back into love for humanity.