What we are working towards in psychotherapy

With so much turmoil and violence, it can be easy to forget about the power of psychotherapy. It might be useful to remember what a therapist is helping someone to work towards.
 
Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS), developed by Dr Richard Schwartz, offers a powerful map of the human psyche. It teaches us that we are not a single monolithic “self,” but a system of parts. Each part has its own history, fears, and desires.
 
At the core of this system, however, lies the Self. This is the innate essence within each of us that knows how to lead with wisdom and care. When we are in this Self-energy, we can relate to our inner parts, and to other people, with openness, clarity, and calm. Healing happens not through force or fixing, but by making space for all parts to be heard and held in compassion.
 
IFS identifies eight core qualities that naturally arise when we are centered in the Self. These are:
Calm, clarity, curiosity, compassion, confidence, courage, creativity, and connectedness.
 
When we embody these qualities, we become healing presences; for ourselves but also for everyone around us.
 
Chris Warren-Dickins
Psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey
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