Trauma treatment with IFS
Trauma leaves a lasting imprint on the mind and body, often disrupting a person’s ability to feel safe, whole, or connected. Over the past two decades, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy has gained increasing recognition as a highly effective, evidence-based approach for trauma resolution. Unlike traditional models that pathologize symptoms, IFS approaches the psyche with compassion and curiosity, viewing all inner experiences as parts of a complex internal system.
What Is Internal Family Systems (IFS)?
IFS, developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, is a non-pathologizing, experiential therapy based on the idea that the mind is made up of subpersonalities or "parts," each with its own emotions, thoughts, and roles. Central to the model is the concept of the Self—a calm, curious, compassionate presence that can lead internal healing. Trauma, in this framework, burdens parts with extreme roles such as protectors (who guard against pain) or exiles (who carry the wounds). IFS therapy gently guides the client to build trusting relationships with their parts, helping to unburden trauma and restore internal harmony.
IFS and Trauma: The Research
Recent studies show promising results for IFS as a trauma treatment:
A 2021 pilot study published in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma found that IFS significantly reduced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors of multiple childhood trauma. Participants reported decreased avoidance, emotional numbing, and hyperarousal.
Neuroimaging research suggests that engaging with parts in a state of Self-energy may help regulate the default mode network, supporting improved emotion regulation and reduced reactivity.
Dr. Frank Anderson, a psychiatrist and IFS expert, emphasizes that the imaginative work in IFS—engaging with internal parts and accessing Self-energy—has tangible neurophysiological effects. He states, “Imagination is a very powerful neuroplastic agent,” indicating that IFS practices can reshape neural networks in the brain and body.
IFS therapy has been observed to calm the amygdala, the brain's fear center, and enhance the function of the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and emotional regulation. This suggests that IFS not only helps in processing trauma but also contributes to the development of healthier neural pathways, supporting adaptive and resilient responses to stressors.
These findings support what many IFS clinicians observe: when clients approach their internal system with compassion rather than judgment, profound healing becomes possible.
Why Clients Benefit from IFS
Empowerment through Self-leadership: Rather than relying solely on the therapist to direct healing, IFS empowers clients to become active participants in their own inner work.
Non-pathologizing and strengths-based: Clients often express relief in discovering that their "symptoms" are actually adaptive responses from protective parts doing their best.
Deep integration and long-term change: Because IFS works at the root level with wounded and protective parts, it allows for meaningful, lasting shifts in both emotional patterns and behavior.
Applicable to complex trauma: IFS is particularly well-suited for complex trauma and dissociation, as it gently works with internal conflict without retraumatization.
Supports neurobiological healing: By aligning with the brain’s innate capacity for change, IFS promotes neuroplasticity—retraining the nervous system to support regulation, resilience, and healing.
Conclusion
Internal Family Systems therapy offers a powerful, respectful approach to trauma healing. As research continues to expand, IFS is emerging as a leading modality for clients seeking not just symptom relief, but deep integration and compassionate reconnection with all parts of themselves. Whether you're a clinician or a trauma survivor, the message is clear: you are not broken. You are a system that can heal.
References
Hodgdon, H. B., Anderson, F. G., Southwell, E., Hrubec, W., & Schwartz, R. (2021). Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Survivors of Multiple Childhood Trauma: A Pilot Effectiveness Study. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 31(1), 22–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2021.2013375
Mok, C. (2023). An examination of internal family systems interventions for trauma with implications for ethical psychedelic-assisted treatment. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 9(1), 51–66. https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/9/1/article-p51.xml
Sea Change Psychotherapy. (2024). Is Internal Family Systems (IFS) Evidence-Based? Understanding Its Role. https://seachangepsychotherapy.com/posts/is-internal-family-systems-ifs-evidence-based/
