If you’d like to learn more about internal family systems therapy in Austin at Ava Recovery, our team is available at any time. Learn how finding addiction treatment in Texas can be the first step to the rest of your life.
Internal Family Systems therapy, or IFS, is a psychotherapy approach used to treat addiction. Broadly, psychotherapy is a way to treat a range of mental health and emotional conditions. Psychotherapy aims to reduce or eliminate symptoms, and there are also specific approaches that work toward identifying the root causes of a condition. Psychotherapy can improve functionality, emotional well-being, and healing.
Many conditions may benefit from psychotherapy, including coping with stress, trauma, medical illness, loss, specific mental health conditions like depression or anxiety, and substance abuse disorders. Often, psychotherapy is combined with other medicines and therapies.
Psychotherapy can be conducted in different settings—group, individual, family, or couple environments, for example. It’s used to treat people of all ages, and both the client and therapist are actively involved participants. The sense of trust between a therapist and client is an essential factor in the progress someone makes throughout their treatment.
Psychotherapy is an evidence-based treatment modality. Around 75% of people who participate in any psychotherapy program benefit from it. These therapies can improve psychological and emotional well-being and contribute to positive physical and mental changes.
There are different types of psychotherapy. These can include cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and psychoanalysis.
Ava Recovery is a provider of psychotherapy, including Internal Family Systems therapy in Austin, as part of our Austin dual diagnosis treatment for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Learn more about our expert, medical drug & alcohol detox in Austin, Texas at Ava Recovery.
Our expert team at Ava Recovery uses internal family systems therapy as part of our addiction treatment programs.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a distinct approach to psychotherapy that recognizes we’re all made up of parts or subpersonalities that work together to drive our thoughts and behaviors. All of our parts are seen as valuable and as serving an important purpose in their natural state. However, challenging experiences and traumas create struggles for some of the parts, leading to internal conflict.
Over time, the different parts of a person’s personality will create diverging ways to deal with the experience of pain. This can lead to harmful coping skills like the use of drugs or alcohol, eating disorders, or risky sexual behaviors. These are viewed outwardly as destructive behaviors, but in the concept of IFS therapy, these are seen as a way to protect yourself from experiencing the same pain as you did in the past.
When participating in Internal Family Systems therapy, the goal is to give the hurting parts of the personality the space to heal and be heard. IFS encourages participants to recognize and appreciate every part of the personality for trying its best rather than internally berating it. There’s curiosity and compassion that lead to a way for healing, which is known as unburdening in this type of therapy. Then, as there’s a progression in the therapy, the goal is to help you return to your harmonious natural state.
If you’re seeking Internal Family Systems therapy in Austin, we do offer it at Ava Recovery, along with many other forms of psychotherapy and treatment modalities. By offering Austin IFS therapy and other psychotherapeutic and holistic approaches, we seek not just to help you stop using drugs and alcohol but to heal as a whole person and to thrive in your life.
There are three main goals of participating in IFS therapy in Austin or elsewhere. These are:
Our team of therapists are expert providers of Internal Family Systems therapy in Austin, and we can help you explore if this could be a beneficial approach for your individualized treatment plan.
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We offer free consultations to anyone who reaches out for help. Did you know most major insurance carriers will cover the costs associated with treatment? Contact our trusted treatment team today to discuss your personal options for treatment.
Ava Recovery is proud to offer a variety of treatment options to provide you with a treatment plan that fits your needs. From detox to residential inpatient to aftercare and beyond, we’re with you each step of the way. Learn more about how we can help right now.
IFS can support those in addiction recovery in a variety of ways.
When you struggle with addiction, you probably also deal with negative self-talk. You may have an internal critic. Your substance misuse could be an attempt to silence this critic. Many people with a substance use disorder know that it’s not good for them or beneficial. Still, they’re trying to protect themselves from painful past experiences or the negative internal things they say to themselves through substance use.Â
The behaviors are seen as harmful in IFS therapy, but there is also the idea that, to this point, they serve a purpose in your life. You didn’t want to become an addict, but you wanted to avoid extreme pain. However, without healthy, effective coping mechanisms, you could have come to rely on substances to numb your feelings and emotions.
When IFS is part of an addiction treatment program, there’s recognition and honor for the parts of your personality that are trying to protect you from further pain and trauma. Every part has a space for sharing its story, and then it can alleviate the need to self-protect. When IFS is part of your treatment plan, it helps you to learn how to self-regulate and transform your internal system, promoting long-term recovery.
At Ava Recovery, we are a provider of Internal Family Systems therapy in Austin in both inpatient and outpatient settings. We also offer more traditional therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and experiential therapy, including equine-assisted psychotherapy. Our programs meet you where you are, and we lead with compassion as we help you through this journey and into the next healthier phase of your life.
If you have questions about Internal Family Systems therapy in Austin or addiction treatment programs in general, please reach out.
IFS is just one part of our comprehensive addiction treatment services, but it plays a crucial role in helping you better understand yourself and how to move forward in your recovery. Learn more about this therapy and how we incorporate it into our programs by reaching out to our team.
The Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach to addiction views addictive behaviors as attempts by "protective parts" to manage emotional pain or internal conflict. Developed by Dr. Richard C. Schwartz, IFS therapy helps individuals identify and disconnect from these "addictive parts," fostering self-leadership and healing the underlying "wounded parts" that drive addiction. This trauma-informed, evidence-based model emphasizes that there are "no bad parts," recognizing that even maladaptive behaviors serve protective roles within the psyche.
The family systems model of addiction sees addiction not as an isolated issue but as a symptom of dysfunctional dynamics within a family unit. This approach considers how relational patterns, roles, and communication styles contribute to substance abuse and addictive behaviors. Family therapy based on this model helps address systemic issues, promoting healthier interactions and supporting addiction recovery.
While the "5 P's" aren't a formal IFS concept, key principles often associated with IFS therapy include:
Structural family therapy focuses on reorganizing family dynamics to improve functioning. In the context of addiction treatment, it identifies dysfunctional patterns that may enable substance use and works to establish healthier boundaries, roles, and communication styles. Unlike IFS, which focuses on internal parts, structural family therapy targets external family structures.
The family systems approach to addiction examines how addiction affects and is affected by family dynamics. It integrates therapeutic techniques to address both individual and relational issues, aiming to reduce enabling behaviors, improve support systems, and promote sustainable recovery.
IFS therapy has proven effective in treating addiction by addressing the root causes rather than just the symptoms. Clinicians like Cece Sykes, LCSW, and Martha Sweezy have demonstrated that working with "addictive parts" and "protective parts" helps individuals understand their behaviors, heal underlying traumas, and cultivate self-compassion, leading to meaningful addiction recovery.
IFS therapy is an evidence-based approach increasingly recognized for its effectiveness in treating substance use disorders. By focusing on healing "wounded parts" and reducing "polarization" within the psyche, IFS helps individuals achieve lasting change. Research and clinical experiences highlight its success in promoting emotional well-being and reducing reliance on addictive behaviors.
IFS therapy sessions for addiction involve exploring internal parts that contribute to substance abuse. Therapists help clients identify "manager parts" that control behavior, "firefighter parts" that respond to crises with addictive actions, and "wounded parts" carrying emotional pain. Through unblending and fostering Self-leadership, clients develop healthier coping strategies and a deeper sense of well-being.
IFS therapists approach such situations with curiosity and compassion, recognizing that "protective parts" may resist disclosure due to fear or shame. By creating a safe, non-judgmental space, therapists help clients build trust, allowing these parts to gradually open up. This respectful, client-centered approach facilitates honesty and engagement in therapy.
Ava Recovery offers comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment services in Massachusetts, including Internal Family Systems therapy. Our trauma-informed, evidence-based programs support individuals in overcoming substance use disorders and achieving lasting recovery. Contact us to learn more about how we can help.
IFS therapy addresses the root causes of addiction by identifying and healing the "wounded parts" that drive addictive behaviors. It recognizes that addiction often stems from unresolved trauma and emotional pain. By fostering Self-leadership, individuals can unblend from "protective parts," heal internal wounds, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Yes, Internal Family Systems therapy can be highly effective in overcoming addiction. By working with "addictive parts," "protective parts," and "wounded parts," IFS helps individuals understand the internal dynamics behind their behaviors. This process promotes healing, reduces internal conflict, and supports sustainable addiction recovery.
