A number of therapies can help people overcome addiction. Traditionally, it takes several therapies to truly help people overcome the disease. One type of therapy that some rehab centers use is the Internal Family Systems model. It explores the idea of isolating one personality from a group of personalities.
What Is the Internal Family Systems Model?
In general, IFS works under the assumption that people have sub-personalities that develop as a result of interactions. To get to know a person, experts have to identify these personalities or parts.
Learning about these parts gives experts a deeper insight into why people behave certain ways. Using this deeper insight, rehab centers can correctly identify the root cause of addiction. Dealing with the root cause is the best way to avoid relapse.
A Deeper Look at the Origin of IFS
In terms of therapy techniques, IFS is fairly new. Richard Schwartz developed it in the early 1990s to get people to talk about their inner personalities. However, the idea of therapy involving multiple inner personalities isn’t new.
Sigmund Freud identified the existence of id, ego, and superego long before Schwartz pioneered IFS. However, Schwartz’s training led him to look at the relationships and interactions between family members and how these affect personalities.
Experts say that IFS borrows concepts from the integrative model. It uses elements from many schools of psychology. Despite using different psychology fundamentals, IFS still has the goal of understanding the different parts of the human mind.
The Basics of IFS
In general, IFS uses a few basic assumptions. The first is that the mind has multiple subdivided parts. Despite these different parts, everyone has a true self that commands and controls the other personalities. A person’s true self helps them manage their everyday life more efficiently.
IFS also works under the idea that there’s no bad part or bad personality. However, some personalities are more extreme than others. During therapy, therapists work to help people discover and reconnect with their non-extreme parts. In general, there are three distinct personality parts, including:
- Managers that are responsible for consciousness in daily life
- Exiles that block off pain and past traumas
- Firefighters that act as distractions when exiles break out of suppression
The firefighter parts lead to many behavior disorders such as addiction, indulgence, and abuse. The mind thinks that the firefighters play the role of protector, while the exiles are the protected parts. Knowing the difference between these two parts is important for both the therapist and the resident.
Learn More About IFS at The Dunes East Hampton
Understanding all the Internal Family Systems at once isn’t easy. However, The Dunes East Hampton can help you. We offer a caring atmosphere that provides a small staff-to-client ratio. Our staff members offer a wide range of helpful addiction programs, including:
- Residential rehab
- Intensive outpatient rehab
- Interventions
- Group and Individual therapy
- Family therapy
Unlike other rehab centers, we know how busy your life is. We also know that you can’t always be away from your responsibilities for long periods of time. That’s why we allow our residents to use tablets and cellphones at The Dunes East Hampton. We also provide access to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Don’t let addiction ruin your life or the lives of those who you love. Get help for your addiction at The Dunes East Hampton. Call our friendly staff members today at 877-818-5539 for more information about our services.