Updating and meeting Self - part 1

Jan 15, 2024

In this episode, the podcast delves into the complexities of updating and connecting the self with internal parts in therapy. They explore differentiating the self from parts, past from present, and the client's self from abusers. The focus is on transforming protectors and facilitating access to exiles, emphasizing safety, resources, and potential for change. The episode also highlights the importance of connecting with the inner self, navigating internal protectors and decision-making, and establishing trust and differentiation in Internal Family Systems therapy.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Introduction

00:00 • 2min

Exploring Differentiation and Updates in IFS Therapy

01:37 • 2min

Transforming Protectors and Facilitating Access to Exiles

03:19 • 2min

Connecting with the Inner Self

05:16 • 10min

Navigating Internal Protectors and Decision-Making

15:03 • 7min

Exploring Trust and Differentiation in Internal Family Systems Therapy

22:21 • 3min

Send us a text

Today we focus on updating parts - a process that is much more than just telling a part your present day, adult age. There are many reasons why we do the update with protectors, but it's particularly helpful in negotiating a Self-to-part relationship. We describe various scenarios you often face during updating and provide a lot of the language around this, including case material on handling protectors who dismiss the update information and a dominant figuring out protector who "knows" the client's current age. We also differentiate between the kind of updates that are available, highlighting:

· Why the difference in age between the client and their parts matters

· How the chronological age of the client doesn’t equate to Self

· Differences in safety and resources now from in the past

· The passage of time and how by meeting Self, protectors get to have options.

There's going to be a part 2 to this topic in the next episode, which will look indepth at one case example.
Client permission has been obtained for the case material we share.

Emma E Redfern MBACP (Snr Accred) initially trained in humanistic integrative psychotherapy. Emma is a certified IFS psychotherapist as well as approved IFS clinical consultant. She edited Internal Family Systems Therapy: supervision and consultation (2022, Routledge) and authored Transitioning to Internal Family Systems Therapy: A companion for therapists and practitioners (2023, Routledge). Her most recent publication, co-edited with Helen Foot, is Freeing Self: IFS Beyond the Therapy Room (2023) .
See www.emmaredfern.co.uk for details of workshops and articles as well as books. You can also follow Emma on Linked In.

Gayle Williamson (MIACP) initially trained in humanistic integrative psychotherapy. She took one of the alternative routes to IFS training now available, through IFSCA and the Adler College, Canada.
She works fulltime as a pure-IFS psychotherapist and also writes widely on mental health. Her most recent article 'The Myth of Mental Illness' is published in the latest IAHIP professional journal. Gayle runs small-group, online trainings and skills workshops for IFS beginners as well as group supervision. She also edited Emma's book, Transitioning to Internal Family Systems Therapy: A companion for therapists and practitioners.
See www.ferneytherapy.ie for further info, resources and Gayle's articles.