The Essential Self: Unpacking the Enneagram and Internal Family Systems with Jenna Riemersma (Type 1)
Jan 31, 2025
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Jenna Riemersma, a bestselling author and certified therapist, dives into the powerful synergy between the Enneagram and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. She explains how understanding our internal parts—like managers, firefighters, and exiles—can lead to personal transformation. Jenna emphasizes that all parts have inherent goodness, even when they might play negative roles. Listeners are introduced to practical tools for self-reflection, promoting awareness and compassion in navigating their emotional landscapes.
The podcast explores how Internal Family Systems therapy reveals the importance of recognizing and embracing all internal parts for personal healing.
Jenna Riemersma illustrates how the Enneagram framework can enhance understanding of internal dynamics by identifying specific behavioral patterns tied to personality types.
Deep dives
The Power of Connection in Mental Health
Struggling with mental health can feel isolating, but connecting with others who share similar experiences can provide crucial support. Virtual intensive therapy programs offer a structured environment where individuals can engage in group sessions and receive therapy from expert providers. The sense of community not only fosters understanding but also emphasizes that no one has to face their challenges alone. This connection plays a vital role in healing by allowing participants to share their journeys and learn from one another.
Understanding Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Internal Family Systems therapy is an approach that views individuals as comprising various 'parts', each with distinct roles and intentions. This model emphasizes that all parts, even those that seem unhelpful or harmful, have positive intentions rooted in their desire to protect or heal the person. By recognizing and embracing these different parts, individuals can begin to unburden themselves from emotional pain and foster greater self-compassion. The process of acknowledging these internal dynamics ultimately leads to a healthier inner dialogue and emotional resilience.
The Role of Exiles and Protectors
Within the IFS model, 'exiles' are parts of the self that carry vulnerability and trauma, often leading to painful feelings. Protectors, which include both managers and firefighters, work to shield these exiles from experiencing further pain by adopting coping mechanisms that may not always be healthy. The interplay between exiles and protectors creates a cycle where overwhelming emotions can trigger protective behaviors, often leading to destructive patterns. Understanding this dynamic empowers individuals to break the cycle, allowing for healing and reintegration of their exiled parts.
Integrating IFS with the Enneagram
The Enneagram personality framework can complement Internal Family Systems by offering insight into how personality types interact with internal parts. Each Enneagram type can reveal specific patterns of behavior and corresponding manager or firefighter parts within an individual. By identifying their primary Enneagram type, individuals can better understand their internal systems and the dynamics at play. This integration allows for a deeper exploration of personal growth, as individuals can access the strengths of different types while navigating their internal landscapes.
Join us for an enlightening episode of Typology as we dig into the fascinating intersection of the Enneagram and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy with our special guest, Jenna Riemersma. Jenna, a bestselling author and certified therapist, shares her insights on how understanding our internal parts can lead to personal and spiritual transformation.
In this episode, we explore:
The foundational concepts of Internal Family Systems and how it relates to the Enneagram.
The different categories of parts within ourselves, including exiles, managers, and firefighters.
The importance of recognizing that there are no bad parts, only good parts stuck in bad roles.
Practical tools for engaging with our internal systems, including a guided exercise to help you connect with your essential self.
Whether you're new to the Enneagram or a seasoned practitioner, this conversation is packed with valuable insights that will help you navigate your inner world with compassion and understanding. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from Jenna's expertise and discover how you can begin to embrace all parts of yourself with compassion and curiosity.
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