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The Internal Family System Model

Introduction 

 The paper discusses the Internal Family System and its main principles. The Internal Family System model is an example of the system based theory that views an individual as a being made up of components such as self and parts such as exiles, managers, and firefighters. As a system the components need to interact and work together. An individual is considered to be a part of the family which forms the external environment in which an individual is part of.  The same model will be used to analyze the Madea’s Big Happy Family movie and discuss how the principles of the Internal Family System has been or can be applied in the context of this movie.

The IFS Model

The IFS model utilizes the family system theory on the notion that individuals cannot be adequately understand in exclusion of the family unit. The model comes up with techniques and strategies that seek to address issues affecting the family. The model is a perfect illustration of the systems based theory. The systems based theory applies the complex systems to explore behavior patterns. As a system based theory, IFS model considers each individual to be comprised of a variety of sub-personalities or parts. It considers how each of these parts work together to attain healing for the patient.

Riskin (2013), discusses that the Schwartz developed IFS model conceptualizes the mind as a two component entity where the two entities interact to form a system. The two entities are personality and self. During internal conflict, Riskin (2013) discloses that the IFS model can help us to gain insights and awareness to such internal conflicts (processes). The results are three concepts. First, understanding internal conflicts (processes) and how they are intertwined to external conflicts, second is to assess such processes and lastly is how to manage the processes and maybe to improve both the internal and external processes so as to achieve less internal anguish and at the same time a more suitable external conflict-associated behavior. 

Components of IFS model

The model links the concepts of systems thinking together with the ideology of multiplicity of the mind. The IFS model regards a person to be made up of an ecology of relatively separate parts which work together to form an internal family. These parts give rise to patterns of being such as thoughts, emotions, and physiological responses. How these parts respond to the world is determined by the life experiences. Healthy experiences leads to healthy adaptation while negative experiences dysfunction emerges (Mojta et al 2014).  

A central component for this model is the concept of the Self. The self is in the inside of us and is susceptible to damage. The self is separate from the individual’s part and similar to a person’s soul. The therapy build on the basis of this model aims to help an individual strengthen the self and help them attain control over their parts.  The parts regarded in the IFS model include exiled parts, managers and firefighters (Dick et al 2009). The IFS recognizes the qualities of self in everybody which include compassion, calm, curiosity, courage, confidence and clarity  (Hundert, 2014).

Exile parts are the part of the system that handles the state of pain or trauma especially those resulting from childhood experiences.  Exiles are mainly comprised of negative emotions ranging from guilt, unworthiness and a combination of emotions not tolerated by the external environment. The exiles are inhibited by the managers from attaining the conscious levels which may hinder the appropriate functioning.

Managers are parts that work in an individual taking charge to control every situation and relationship with an aim of protecting parts from the feelings of hurt and rejection. The managers work to protect the self from exiled parts and keep them at bay.  The managers endeavor to maintain a functioning level of consciousness in the day to day life. This is only achieved by keeping off unwanted and counterproductive interactions, and experiences that may be experienced external stimuli.

The firefighters are parts that act to distract the mind in the instance when the exiles break the chains suppressing them.  When the exiled parts get triggered, the fire fighters rise up and help them stay contained (Dick et al. 2009).

Assumptions of the IFS Model

The IFS model operates on the following assumptions:

1. The mind of an individual s divided in portions of unknown members of parts.
2. Each individual has a self at the core and the self serves an organizing and integrative function of the whole system. When the self is in control, the individual is said to be self-led thereby creating sense of calmness, with compassion, curiosity, and clarity.
3. Parts the system does not have a bad part. The parts that may be engaging in non-extreme behavior are of importance to the individual. Through therapy, parts are able to identify their non-extreme functions.
4. The development of the internal family results from personal growth and development. The parts are assumed to interact in a complex manner which may cause reorganization of the internal systems.
5. Changes in the internal system will cause changes to the external system.
6. The IFS model success is based on the assumption that the therapists need to be in a position to understand and manage their own internal system as a prerequisite of helping clients gain a healing.

The IFS assessment concepts

The IFS model functions in dealing with complex traumatic stress disorders. The model understands that attempts to have extreme parts change only works to make them more resistant and extreme. The model illustrates how the parts operate like parented children in a family. The extreme parts which would be destructive are constrained form their roles by either the notion of protecting other parts, the polarization from other part or the extreme beliefs and emotions resulting from attachment and trauma histories. The IFS applies the principles of the family therapy that identifies that parts cannot change is isolation. Similar to the external families, where for a change on one member of the inner family to occur, the therapist needs to relate with the network of relationships where the family member belongs to enable the part release its burdens (Schwartz, et al. 2006).

Role of therapist in the IFS Model

The IFS therapy woks in a manner similar to the attachment process between a loving parent and an insecure child. Here the client requires gaining access to the therapist’s self. The IFS techniques will be effective depending on the degree to which the therapist can embody his or her self as opposed to lead by the application of his/her protective parts. The work of the therapist in dealing with complex trauma clients is challenged by the protectors that are do not trust anyone and will test and provoke the therapist (Schwartz, et al. 2006). The therapists are then tasked with ensuring there is reduced resistance and attaining a greater openness to healing.

The therapist decides the path which the IFS session should follow. In an IFS session, the therapist may follow the normal therapy talk but also has an option of focusing specifically on the individual’s internal environment as a means of helping a client connect to the different parts of the self. In dealing with an internal environment, the therapist helps the client open up about the feelings of shame, disgust, anger, or fear (Schwartz, et al. 2006). With the emergence of these feelings, the therapist helps the client understand the reason behind the parts action. This is helpful to the client as they will learn how to allow the part communicate clearly and is so doing deal with difficult problems that they may be experiencing. The core role of the therapist in all this process is to help individuals deal with issues in healthy and constructive manner (Schwartz, 2013).

Goals of the IFS Model

The IFS aims at treating a wide range of mental health conditions and psychological disorders. It aims to deal with situations from a family, couple, and individual perspective. The therapy is recognized as an evidence-based practice. One of the objectives of the IFS Model is the improvement of emotional and mental well-being of clients. It’s also seeks to improve symptoms of phobia, panic, anxiety, depression, trauma, compulsive behaviors,  body image issues, bipolar, substance dependency and sexual abuse (Schwartz, 2013).

In dealing with the complex trauma, the goals of IFS therapy include to help clients unburden the extreme parts to ensure that the parts work in harmony as flexible internal family, regain the part’s trust for the trust leadership, and to help self-interact with the outside world.

Limitations of the Internal Family System model

There have been several issues viewed to limit the effectiveness of the IFS therapy. One such constraint is the interference from the therapist’s part, the protective parts of the client under treatment as well as those of other family members. 

The success of the ITS therapy may also be limited by abuse or lack of support from the external system. Being one of the system based theories, IFS is highly dependent on the interaction of the whole system. Lack of support from family member may be a huge hindrance to achieving effective healing of the individual. 

Complex mental issues such as schizophrenia and dementia may fail to get adequate help using the IFS model.

The success of the IFS therapy is pegged on the therapist performance. The mistakes made by the therapist may inhibit the recovery process. Some of the mistakes in the IFS therapy include pushing the client’s system before the internal system is ready to handle it and failing to recognize when one is dealing with person’s self and the part.

Cultural competence of the IFS model

The IFS helps in understanding the role of self as it relates to the transformation of the internalized oppression and ancestral burden as may be implicated in the Indian Indigenous circle. The IFS offers open-ended methods of accessing internal and external knowledge and gaining relational reciprocity in the balance in the languages of the distributed learning communities and IKR (McVicker 2014). McVicker observed a striking resemblance between the IKR in the Indian country and the IFS in terms of values, methodologies and worldviews (2014).

Application of the IFS Model to the Madea’s Big Happy Family movie. 

Background on the family.

The movie revolves around a torn and shaken nuclear-family relations of Shirley’s three adult children. It is hilarious to see that all the women involved are characteristically unsympathetic. We are introduced to the family where Shirley in the company of Aunt Bam visit Dr. Wallace and this is where Shirley learns that she has less than 6 weeks as her cancer had returned. Health issues are the first problem in Madea’s family. Trust issues are also a problem. When everybody in the family is summoned to hear of Shirley’s health condition, we learn that Madea had given Tammy and her husband Harold some money to fix her (Madea’s) car and the problem was never solved. Bryon and his girlfriend Rose are always talking about financing Rose’s materialistic, extravagant and egocentric life. She (Rose) owes Aunt Bam $20 that has been pending since last year. The arrival of Uncle Monroe once announced sends shockwaves to the family and everyone hides their stuff. Nobody can trust Uncle Monroe since he is a petty thief who uses the trick to finance his crack cocaine addiction. 

Jealousy is the other problem in this family. Karen (Byron’s ex-girlfriend and co-parent) demand to see Byron which sparks Rose’s jealousy. Karen and Aunt Bam gang up to threaten him into paying for child support. Madea, out of jealousy for attention and need to be in control, takes over and orders Karen to leave since she is not part of the family. Evasiveness is a clear problem in this family. Bryon is evading child support, Kimberly, a daughter to Shirley wants to know the agenda of the day so that she can leave the family and Harold is an intimidated wimp who is always evading being the man when his wife is present. Donnie discovers that Kimberly is her real mother who gave birth to him when she was 12 after a rape ordeal. All along, he has believed that Shirley is his mother. Donnie feels like he was not being treated fairly and at that point, he could not trust anyone since they have been evading telling him the truth. 

Madea takes it upon herself to fix the family issues when Shirley finaly dies. Madea gives everyone solid advice. She starts with Karen, then Bryon, and then to everyone regarding respecting their elders. Harold and Tammy are fired upon by Madea in her advice session. Harold is told to put his feet down and be the man in the relationship. Tammy is advised to respect her husband Harold. Kimberly is the last to receive her dose and is told to stop being bitter due to her horrible past and that she should reconcile with her husband who has been on the receiving end of her bitterness. With Madea’s intervention, everything miraculously works. 

How the model’s concepts apply to the Madea’s family. 

From the model, it is clear that individuals cannot be understood in exclusion from the family. From Madea’s family, it would be misleading to attempt to understand any of the individuals when they are away from their family. For instance, it would be difficult to understand why Kimberly is so harsh on her husband. When she is in the context of her family, we are able to understand that she is behaving like she is since she was raped when very young. 

The model acknowledges that self is central. Self is the distinguishing character that we all possess. The self of Madea is that of controlling to positivity, advising and punishing when need be. The self of Rose, although not officially part of the family is self-pity. Kimberly self is that of bitterness and self-defense. She is the one who attacks aggressively those who are close to instead of asking for help. Harold self is that which can be described as timid and easily subdued while that of his wife is that of abrasiveness. Shirley is understanding, forgiving and convincing. She managed to calm Donnie who was seriously infuriated by the news of Kimberly being her mother and not Shirley. 

The model recognizes parts known as exiles. These parts are the part of the system that handles the state of pain or trauma especially those resulting from childhood experiences.  From the movie, the only clear exile is Kimberly. Others, like Uncle Monroe and Harold might be exiles in their own measure but their pasts are not revealed. As an exile, Kimberly is comprised of negative emotions ranging from guilt, unworthiness and a combination of emotions not tolerated by the external environment. From the model, exiles are inhibited by managers and Madea steps in as one. She, as a manager is able to bring Kimberly under control. After the intervention of Madea, she is able to give in to her own feelings and therefore getting along with her husband.

Managers are critical parts of the family system. As earlier mentioned, Madea is the natural manager in her family. She is able to bring all elements under control even when the elements are in great disarray. As part of the system, she is taking charge to control every situation and relationship with an aim of protecting parts (other members of the family) from the feelings of hurt and rejection. She endeavors to maintain a functioning level of consciousness in the day to day life of the family. She is able to keep away unwanted and counterproductive interactions, and experiences.

Limitations of using the IFS model in Madea’s family.

From the Madea’s family, the model can experience some limitations. The model is highly dependent on the interaction of the whole family system. That said, it can be frustrating to the model when one of the members of the family system fails to offer their support. Take the aspect of Donnie. Were it not for the support of Shirley, he could have been devastated. Other complex mental issues such as addiction in can be a hindrance to the successful application of the model by a therapist using the model to treat any of the members of the family. Lastly, unforeseen external aspects of the family system might be a hindrance to the model. For instance, if Karen decides to institute charges against Bryon due to his blatant refusal to provide child support, the family system can be shaken beyond the control of the model. 

Treatment plan

IFS Treatment Plan: Madea’s Family.

Initial therapeutic tasks. 

1. Develop working therapeutic relationship with the family. 

Approach

1. Develop a collaborative relationship with family members, especially with family managers. 
2. Assess the family’s systemic and cultural dynamics. On this, look at the family’s culture, socioeconomic, professional and other norms. 

Assessment strategies.

1. Determine the exiles, manager and firefighters.

1. Exiles- Kimberly, Harold, Uncle Monroe
2. Manager- Madea
3. Firefighter- Shirley and after her death, Madea
4. Assess family imbalances, harmony levels, stressors and leadership. 

1. Imbalances-brought about by financial issues, family secrets, trust problems and jealousy. 
2. Harmony levels- low
3. Leadership qualities- Madea is the only leader, she is able.

3. Client agreement on treatment goals (there below)
4. Identify referrals and contacts to help in firefighting such as close friends, workmates and neighbors. These are resources that might be called upon to help with crisis management. 

Initial Phase Client Goals.

Reduce intensity of past traumas

1. Identify the source of traumas
2. Start mapping each family member’s inner self and establish its relationship with conflict. 

IFS Working Phase of Treatment with Madea’s Family. 

Working Phase Therapeutic Tasks

1. Monitor quality of the working alliance. 

1. Aunt Bam- drive it to her that she, as a senior family member should be always wanting and working for the best of the family and therefore she should work with me to make the family happy and cohesive. 
2. Kimberly- make her come to terms with her ugly past by listening to her. Make her see eye to eye with his son. Help her in bringing her husband to terms with the truth. 
3. Donnie- make him agree that his mother was not Shirley but it is Kimberly. Ensure that he forgives all the family members for not telling him the truth.
4. Uncle Monroe- seek his opinion on how he can stop the using crack cocaine. Confide in him that that is the only way to reduce suspicion and embarrassment to his family.
5. Harold- make him understand that I share with him in his frustration with his disrespectful wife. Promise to work it out together. 
6. Tammy- make her understand that her husband is not happy with her domineering behavior as well as belittling him. 
7. Monitor client progress. 

Working Phase Client Goals. 

1. Reduce polarization patterns between members. This will reduce conflict. 
2. Increase each member’s confidence of assuming their rightful leadership positions (self-leadership).
3. Enhance effective leadership of the family that is issue and direction based. 

Closing Phase Client Goals. 

1. Reduce imbalances in the family by avoiding secrets, proper addressing of each other’s couples, and financial sincerity among others.  
2. Enhance the will and ability to induce and maintain self -leadership in the family to reduce conflicts, increase trust and reduce family secrets which have the potential to hurt 

Conclusion. 

In conclusion, the IFS model can be applied with success in majority of the families as we have seen in Madea’s case. The model involves the application of various concepts which make complete sense: identification of the parts, exiles, managers and firefighters. All the mentioned components of the model are essential in instating help in troubled families. The model’s limitations notwithstanding, the IFS is valid. 

References

Dick, C., Yalom, V. & Schwartz, R. (2009). Instructors’ manual for internal family systems therapy. Retrieved from http://www.psychotherapy.net/data/uploads/5113ce91c0a4d.pdf

Hundert, K. (2014). Reflecting on “Self” and Practice with an Introduction to Internal Family Systems Therapy . Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association Conference. Victoria.

McVicker, S. (2014). Internal Family Systems (IFS) in Indian Country: Perspectives and Practice on Harmony and Balance. Journal of Indigenous Research.

Mojta, C., Falconier, M., & Huebner, A. (2014). Fostering Self-Awareness in Novice Therapists Using Internal Family Systems Therapy. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 67-68.

Riskin, L. L. (2013). Managing inner and outer conflict: Selves, sub personalities, and internal family systems. Sub personalities, and Internal Family Systems, 18, 1-69.

Schwartz, R., Schwartz, M., & Galperin, L. (2006). The Internal Family System Model: Systemically- Based Individual Psychotherapy for Complex Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Schwartz, R. C. (2013). Moving from acceptance toward transformation with internal family systems therapy (ifs). Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, 69(8), 805-816.