6 Reasons I Use Internal Family Systems With My Coaching Clients

A visual of the Internal Family Systems Model with Self, Managers, Firefighters ,and Exiles drawn in pen and watercolor by allison crow.

6 Reasons I Use Internal Family Systems With My Coaching Clients

Please do not use or distribute this image without permission and linked credit to Allison Crow.

IFS – Internal Family Systems – is a SELF Leadership tool I use in my coaching practice. Here Six reasons I have IFS found helpful for me and my coaching clients:

The IFS framework & lens align with ethical and non-violent coaching in that, the client is seen as resourceful, creative, & whole.
All the wisdom the client needs can be found within the internal system.
And generally, we humans haven’t been taught to relate to ourselves in a way that accesses that information. We’ve been taught to shame, bypass, suppress, and ignore parts deemed as “negative.”
IFS is non-pathologizing, inclusive, compassionate, spiritual, and profoundly respectful, providing us with inner authority.
All parts have benevolent intent, no matter how problematic the behavior, so we say “All Parts are Welcome” and use SELF-energy and the 8C’s to get to know the parts.
We remember that parts are all just trying to do what they think is best for us; they are only using coping strategies that made sense at one time and are simply out of date now that we are adults.

I’ll be sharing more this month, specifically about the IFS model and how I use it in coaching professionals and entrepreneurs.

💛, Allison

PS: this model can also be used in a personal contemplative practice – no coach needed.