IFS Therapy for Eating Disorders in Seattle
Internal family systems (IFS) is one model that can be used to treat eating disorders as well as other mental illnesses like addictions and anxiety disorders. When I began practicing as a therapist, I was drawn to “parts work” very early on because of the way that most people describe their struggles. For instance, I can’t tell you the number of times an eating disorder client has told me– “There’s a part of me that feels this way, but another part of me doesn’t know why I keep doing this!”
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy?
IFS is a type of “parts work,” meaning that we explore different parts within a person, and how these parts function individually and separately. IFS was created by doctor and clinician Richard Schwartz, and the model has been recognized as an evidenced based treatment by the National Registry for Evidenced Based Programs and Practices.
Dr Schwartz is trained in treating families, and as his career evolved he noticed how each individual seemed to have their own family system within themselves. This is where the name “internal family systems” came from. So essentially, in individual therapy with IFS, we explore the complex family of “parts” within yourself.
The profound thing about IFS is the way that it facilitates self compassion, even in the most devastating illnesses like eating disorders. Because when we use IFS to treat an eating disorder, we are compassionately asking the question, “what is the eating disorder part of me trying so badly to help me with?”
How IFS Works
IFS involves using the 6 F’s to work with and learn more about different parts of yourself. For example, if you’re struggling with binge eating you might have one part that says “I am so tired of this!” We would use the 6 F’s of IFS to explore this part more…
Find: this step is about finding this part, identifying it, and helping it to be seen/heard.
Focus: then we just focus in on this part, and give the part time to tell us or show us about itself so we can observe and learn.
Flesh out: this step allows us to ask the part to share or show memories that are triggering to it, or to share emotions or sensations in the body.
Feel towards- then we get to ask other parts how they feel about this specific part. We get to see how the rest of “you” relates or doesn’t relate!
Befriend- now we want to form a relationship with this part. We start asking- “how can we all work together?”
Fear- we also need to ensure that we ask these powerful parts what they fear, since this will give us insight into how they have been trying so hard to help. This step gives us more information about how we can help.
Is IFS Effective for Treating Eating Disorders?
I find that incorporating IFS for eating disorder treatment enhances it so much- I find that clients are able to connect with themselves and challenge their own behaviors in such a compassionate and meaningful way than they otherwise would by using simple talk therapy. I feel that part of this is because IFS is supportive for trauma and PTSD —considering many eating disorders involve and have origins in experiences with trauma and hardship I feel it works beautifully as a part of eating disorder treatment.
Choosing an Eating Disorder IFS Therapist in Seattle
You can find an IFS therapist by searching on psychology today or therapy den and including the filter for internal family systems. An IFS therapist can be someone who has completed intensive trainings through the IFS Institute, or can be someone who has done continuing education courses and self-study around IFS.
Grace has taken the self-study and continuing education route, as well as consulted with colleagues and has participated in internal family systems therapy as the client herself. You can schedule an appointment with Grace to start incorporating IFS into your treatment here.
If you are looking for support for your child, consider taking my 2 course bundle “The Eating Disorder Informed Parent” for compassionate guidance and research-based education in seconds.