Addiction recovery programs offer many types of therapy to help people with substance use disorders. One of the newest types of therapy available to those recovering from addiction is called Internal Family Systems Therapy.
What Is Internal Family Systems Therapy?
Internal family systems therapy (IFS) is based on the work of Dr. Richard Schwartz. Dr. Schwartz worked as a systemic family therapist when he developed his framework for IFS and began to apply it within his practice in the 1990s. Dr. Schwartz has since written multiple books and articles on IFS, conducts training sessions, and runs the IFS Institute in Oak Park, Illinois.
The theory that supports the framework of IFS is that, just like a family, every person’s mind has a system of inner parts that are held together by a central core, called the Self. When problems happen, some of the parts of the mind are forced to react in extreme ways, while other parts of the mind protect the wounded parts. These reactions polarize the parts of the mind, just like a real family. Internal family systems therapy helps people to first access their core Self, then access and heal all the parts of their mind, in their various states of being, to bring total healing to the whole. Internal family systems therapy has gained in popularity in many clinical settings, as well as other areas where group relationships come into play.
IFS uses traditional psychotherapy techniques to help people work through the IFS framework, including talk therapy, journaling, visualization exercises, and relaxation techniques. An exercise that involves a person making a chart of their individual parts is also used. Patients are encouraged to name the parts of their mind and apply various sub-personality traits, identified in the framework, during therapy sessions.
Internal Family Systems Therapy for Addiction
In 2023, Dr. Schwartz, along with IFS educator Cece Sykes and IFS author Martha Sweezy, published the book Internal Family Systems Therapy for Addictions. This book takes the IFS framework and applies it to addiction, posing the theory that addiction happens when the protective parts of the mind are polarized and struggle to manage underlying emotional pain. The framework is applied to several types of addiction in the book, including substance use.
The practice of Internal family systems therapy for addictions is based on a body of research primarily conducted by Dr. Schwartz and his team. One study that does support the use of this treatment technique for addiction was published in 2020 in Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly. This study found that internal family systems therapy aligned well with the worldview held in native American communities, making it more natural for indigenous people with addiction to participate in the therapy framework.
What Are the Best Therapies for Addiction and Where Can You Find Them?
There are many other therapies for addiction that are supported by bodies of evidence. Premiere Addiction Recovery offers a comprehensive substance abuse treatment program that combines evidence-based therapies, holistic approaches, and experience-based treatment. Some of the therapeutic approaches offered at Premiere include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Dialectical behavioral therapy
- Mindfulness practices
- Nutritional counseling
- Wellness programs
- Art therapy
- Outdoor activities
This combination of treatment approaches ensures that each person is able to focus and heal on recovering from their addiction in their own way. If you need help for your addiction or if you know someone who does, contact Premiere Addiction Recovery at (321) 386-2510 to learn more about our drug rehab.