Internal Family Systems is a transformative tool that conceives of every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts led by a core Self. Self is in everyone. It can’t be damaged. It knows how to heal.

Internal Family Systems is a non-pathologizing evidence-based psychotherapy and a way of understanding personal and intimate relationships. 

According to IFS, the undamaged core Self is the essence of who you are. A person's parts can be healed, transformed, and better managed by the Self by achieving three goals of IFS:

1. Free the parts from their extreme roles
2. Restore trust in the Self
3. Coordinate and harmonize the Self and the parts, so they can work together as a team with the Self in charge

IFS therapy can treat individuals, couples, and families. It can effectively treat:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Panic 
• Phobias
• Trauma
• Substance use
• Physical health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
• General functioning and well-being

Managers: Manager are protective parts that function to control people’s surroundings and manage emotions and tasks to navigate daily life.

Exiles: Exiles are parts that hold hurt, fear, or shame from early experiences, and they carry the difficult emotions and memories associated with those experiences. Managers aim to keep exiles contained and hidden from conscious awareness to avoid distress and pain.

Firefighters: Firefights are activated when exiles produce overwhelming, painful, or threatening emotions. Firefights aim to inhibit those difficult emotions by any means necessary.