This was a great overview of Internal Family Systems. I was looking for something to get me started in this field, an overview of the parts of self and to begin separating and tending to, to lead to healing. This book definitely gave me this introduction and as a therapist, sparked my interest in pursuing more training.

Thank you for the ARC!

Do you have internal conversations with what feel like different voices inside your head?

⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5 stars)

With this non fiction book, you get exactly what the title promises you: an Introduction to Internal Family Systems. No prior knowledge is required to get a feel of the essence of this approach.

Dr. Schwartz explains his theory in which he leans towards more non-Western views of having multiplicity in the mind, a family of subpersonalities of sorts that each play a specific role (often times one they have been forced into for a specific reason) and who interact with one another. He states: "What we call 'thinking' is often our inner dialogues with different parts of us." He goes on to explain that our parts can obscure what he calls the 'Self', who we really are - "inherently good, wise, courageous, compassionate, joyful and calm".

I really appreciated that the writer seemed to take us by the hand, explaining the IFS approach one step at a time, and seemed to know when to appease some of our parts that might arise - the sceptic one, the one feeling incompetent, etc- by using derision or even by appeasing the sceptic by normalizing not being totally sold on the idea right away. While doing so, Dr. Schwartz is not afraid of opening up and showing parts of his self, and his growth in his therapeutic skills, to explain his theory. Through showing his parts acting in certain ways, and letting himself be vulnerable by showing his Self, he managed to make some of my parts feel seen and quiet down enough to be able to keep reading and take it all in.

I was pleasantly surprised to finally find language for a journey I'd been on by myself since a few years. This introduction succeeded in making me feel less 'out of the ordinary', gave me language to talk about what I experienced, and put me further on the path of learning to discover my own parts and what they might need.

The book contains a few exercises in which you reflect on your own parts, get to (hopefully) feel your Self emerge, etc. If you open your mind to these, they are certain to make you pause, look inside and emerge with new knowledge about yourself that you can take with you on your healing journey. I, for one, am very thankful for the insights they brought me.

A great introduction for both psychologists and the general public. You gather both theoretical insight through getting to know a new approach, as well as practical insight through the exercises. I also kept a close eye on how my different parts reacted to the information that was presented in this book, which is another source of self-discovery. I am left curious to learn more about IFS!

*ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Introduction to Internal Family Systems by Richard Schwartz, Ph.D., is a guide to the principles and practices of Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS). The author draws on decades of experience as a clinician to provide a clear explanation of the theory and techniques that are the foundation of this approach to psychotherapy.

The author’s writing style makes it easy to understand the concepts of IFS. The book has plenty of examples and case studies, making it an excellent resource for therapists starting to explore this approach and to the layperson who wants to learn more about healing themselves.

I especially liked the author’s emphasis on the therapy sessions themselves and what a client can expect. It's rare to see a chapter dedicated to explaining the therapy process to a client and I really appreciated that thoughtfulness.

Although it's a fairly short book, IFS is new to me and the idea of having multidimensional parts or a 'family' of parts to your psyche challenged me to think outside the box. So instead of reading it quickly, I needed to read small sections, let the ideas settle for a week, then read some more. This is not a fault of the author, he has made it very simple to understand. It's just such a new way of thinking about therapy for people like myself who have been used to straightforward CBT or mindfulness type therapies.

Overall, Internal Family Systems is an outstanding resource for anyone interested in the field of Internal Family Systems therapy. Whether you are a seasoned therapist, a student, or simply someone interested in learning more about this approach, this book is invaluable.

Thank you NetGalley and Sounds True Publishing for sending this advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I’ve always been interested in a type of therapy called Internal Family Systems. I have experienced both CBT and DBT but have never tried IFS. The theory of Internal Family Systems is that inside each of us are different multidimensional parts or personas that exist in extreme roles, caused by the events in our lives. The idea is to learn different ways of relating to these parts to become more integrated and whole.

By turning inward and getting to know your inner parts- the Managers, the Firefighters, and the Exiles, you can understand the reasons for undesirable thoughts and behaviors, and be able to release your true Self.

This book is a great overview of the basics of Internal Family Systems, said in layman’s terms, it’s not too complicated. The author, Dr. Richard Schwartz, developed IFS, so you know he is the foremost authority on this therapy.

Thanks to NetGalley, Sounds True Publishing, and Richard Schwartz for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I love Introduction to Internal Family Systems by Richard Schwartz. This book is a fantastic resource and written in a way that's easy to understand, making it perfect for professionals and regular folks like me.

The author, Richard Schwartz, does a fantastic job of breaking down the basics of the IFS model. He explains how we all have different "parts" or subpersonalities that make up our inner landscape and how these parts can often conflict with one another, leading to feelings of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. He uses real-life examples to make the material relatable and easy to understand. Plus, he gives practical exercises that are doable and one can begin exploring their own internal landscape and start the process of self-discovery.

Introduction to Internal Family Systems is a must-read for anyone looking to understand the IFS model.

Thank you Dr. Richard Schwartz, Sounds True Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the book. I understand that providing this feedback is a choice I am making voluntarily.

I found this a very interesting read. I hadn't heard of Internal Family Systems before, but this book offers a detailed and accessible explanation and guide to working with your various 'parts'. As the blurb suggests, the text is written in an empowering and non-pathologising manner, which makes what could be a daunting or shame-inducing task actually seem enjoyable and fulfilling. Any therapeutic approach that encourages curiosity, to my mind, brings with it compassion and hope. I tried out some of the exercises while reading, and got the hang of them alone, but I think you could also work with a professional to make use of the book's teachings. I really liked Schwartz' emphasis on empathy; the spectrum of parts and how to engage them; and bringing the wounded parts into grounded rather than extreme positions through compassionate witnessing. Sometimes I found the writing approach a little too highbrow for my personal tastes, as I prefer something more down to earth and practical, but that's a minor personal complaint.

disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from Sounds True Publishing via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Richard Schwartz's "Introduction to Internal Family Systems" is marvelous. He is clearly a pioneer and the therapy world, and the world in general, is a better place because of him. His text is down to earth yet brilliant. It is informative, wise, compassionate and a must-read for any serious clinician.

Undoubtedly, this book could create a wave of change. I’m so inspired and hopeful for the future when I find books like these that create or utilize a model that truly makes a change.

This book is formatted very well, too. You’ll read a section, say for example the section on “The Self” and then once that info has kind of settled in you’ll read an exercise to better understand the material to your personal experiences.

I chose this particular book because it’s centered around IFS and I’d love to see this topic broached more and to see the positive change that can and will come from people learning this method. Thank you!

I received this e-book free for a genuine review.

The writing was very amateur and the book was very short. It felt like another self help book re-hashing the same information that other books have already covered. Definitely felt cheesey and gimmicky at times with how things were worded.