*Photo credit: Monique Feil
In case you missed Part 1 of this series discussing the marriage of the Six Steps To Healing Yourself with Internal Family Systems (IFS), you can catch up by reading Getting To Know “Parts” Involved With Medical Conditions, Part 1. To delve deeper into this topic, join me and Harvard-trained psychiatrist, author of 3 books on IFS, and IFS master trainer Frank Anderson, MD on June 8-9 for a weekend Zoom workshop titled IFS AS MEDICAL TREATMENT. Learn more and register here.
Here is a quick recap of the Six Steps To Healing Yourself:
Step 1: Believe that healing is possible.
Step 2: Connect to and surrender to Self.
Step 3: Let Self choose your healing support.
Step 4: Diagnose the root cause of your illness.
Step 5: Write The Prescription for yourself.
Step 6: Treat your fears and resistance.
If you want to learn about Steps 1, 2, and 3 from an IFS perspective, you can find the information here. Now, let’s delve into Steps 4, 5, and 6 from an IFS viewpoint.
Step 4: Diagnose the root cause of your illness
The Whole Health Cairn wellness model, featured in viral TEDx talks and the Mind Over Medicine approach, serves as the foundation for this step. This model allows you to assess various aspects of your life, determining whether they act as medicine or poison. By focusing on areas where you live authentically and align with your truth, you can identify potential reasons for any interruptions in your natural healing process. Trauma, whether situational or developmental, is often found at the root of the diagnostic process, exacerbating illness symptoms. Healing trauma with methods like IFS may reverse medical symptoms, especially in cases of elusive illnesses resistant to conventional treatment.
Step 5: Write The Prescription for yourself
In Step 5, guided by your Self energy, choose actions that address the root causes identified in Step 4. Listen to all parts’ opinions and mediate conflicting views to create a self-guided treatment plan. This process may involve conventional or alternative therapies and lifestyle changes to restore balance and healing to your nervous system.
Step 6: Treat your fears and resistance
In this final step, address any fears or resistance that arise when implementing your treatment plan. Some parts may have valid concerns, so it’s crucial to acknowledge and negotiate with them without judgment. By understanding and working with your parts, you can navigate obstacles and move towards healing effectively.
In conclusion, by embracing the Six Steps To Healing Yourself and approaching them through an IFS lens, you can embark on a transformative journey towards self-healing and wellness.
