Internal Family Systems Worksheets

An Internal Family Systems Worksheet that facilitates welcoming all parts of yourself.

By Audrey Liz Perez on Mar 06, 2024.

Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.

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What Is A Internal Family Systems Worksheet?

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a form of psychotherapy that was developed by Richard C. Schwartz in the 1980s. It is based on the premise that each person's psyche contains many different sub-personalities, or parts, which have their own individual needs and motivations. These parts can work together harmoniously to produce mental health if they are allowed to do so without being suppressed or repressed by other parts within the system. This internal family systems worksheet allows for the exploration of these internal components and helps individuals understand how their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are all connected. This process encourages self-awareness as well as insight into how one’s life has been impacted both positively and negatively by these various inner components of their personality structure over time. By providing an opportunity for reflection on how certain aspects may be causing distress or impeding progress in life goals, clients are encouraged to find ways to bring greater harmony among all elements within themselves in order to experience healing from within rather than relying solely upon external solutions such as medication or therapy techniques employed outside oneself.

Printable Internal Family Systems Worksheets

Download these Internal Family Systems Worksheets to improve your client's treatment progress and therapy journey.

How To Use This Worksheet For Internal Family Systems

The internal family systems worksheet is designed to be used straight away with no further hassle. An internal family systems worksheet example is also available on this page to offer you a better understanding of this template. Follow the steps below to get yourself started with this worksheet:

Step One: Download the PDF

Download the PDF onto your device or access this template from the Carepatron template library which offers you more flexibility over the content of the template. The PDF can be filled easily with the interactive text fields, or be printed out.

Step Two: Guide Your Client

Before your client writes anything down on the worksheet, use your expertise with the internal family systems to guide your client to build awareness and connection with the different parts within themselves. If you are going through this worksheet without a therapist, follow the instructions on the worksheet to get into the right mindset.

Step Three: Record the Process

Ask your client to reflect and record their feelings, emotions, experience, and thoughts during the process on to the worksheet which would help them develop insight about different parts of themselves, and how they interact with each other

Step Four: Documentation

Once the session is done, remember to document the file in an organized and secure manner. The content within this worksheet is considered for clients’ privacy and should be treated with care. It is also an invaluable resource for future reference.

Internal Family Systems Worksheet Example (Sample)

The internal family systems worksheet can be confusing, especially if you are unfamiliar with this theory. Therefore, we have created an internal family systems worksheet example aiming to give you a better understanding of this worksheet template and the questions within.

Download this Internal Family Systems Example (Sample) here: 

Internal Family Systems Worksheet Example (Sample)

Who Can Use this Printable Internal Family Systems Worksheet (PDF)?

The Internal Family Systems (IFS) worksheet is recommended to be used during sessions with qualified mental healthcare professionals, although it can be used by anyone who is interested in exploring their inner self and developing a better understanding of their mental health. This worksheet is particularly useful for people with anxiety, depression, trauma, or substance abuse issues as it provides an opportunity to explore the different parts of the self. Through completing this worksheet individuals can learn how to recognize and address patterns in their thoughts and behaviors that may be causing distress or difficulty functioning in everyday life. Furthermore, IFS has been found to reduce symptoms associated with many psychological disorders such as PTSD and depression while improving overall well-being when practiced regularly over time. Some examples of mental healthcare professionals are:

  • Therapists and Psychotherapists
  • Clinical Psychologists
  • Mental Health Counselors
  • Psychiatrists and Psychiatric nurses

Why Is This Form Useful For Therapists

The Internal Family Systems Worksheet is an invaluable tool for therapists. This worksheet allows the therapist to view the client's internal system as a whole and identify various parts of the self, their roles, and their relationships with each other in order to create an individualized treatment plan. 

Further Understanding of Clients

This worksheet allows the therapist to better understand the client’s inner world and its dynamics. By using this worksheet, therapists are able to gain insight into how different parts of a person interact with one another, which can be useful in understanding how they respond to external stressors or triggers. Additionally, it helps them diagnose and treat disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or depression more effectively by targeting specific aspects of their personality that may be contributing to symptoms.

Encourage Self-Integration of Clients

This worksheet encourages clients to recognize all of their internal parts and accept them instead of rejecting them or trying to push them away. When clients are able to acknowledge all parts within themselves—even those they may not like—they can begin working on integrating these pieces into a cohesive whole rather than being divided from one another due to shame or fear. This integration process can provide clients with greater clarity on what motivates certain behaviors or thought patterns so that they are better equipped for therapeutic interventions in order for lasting change. 

Improved Collaboration

This worksheet also provides therapists with an opportunity for collaboration between both parties during sessions since it encourages open dialogue between the therapist and client about any issues that may arise from exploring different aspects of themselves. Through active listening during these conversations and providing guidance when necessary, therapists are able to cultivate trust between themselves and their clients while simultaneously helping them move toward healing through increased self-awareness.

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Why Use Carepatron For Internal Family Systems Software?

Carepatron is a comprehensive software solution for internal family systems (IFS) worksheets and sessions. Carepatron provides therapists with tools to help families manage and resolve conflict, foster connection, increase understanding, and strengthen bonds between members. One advantage of using Carepatron for IFS software is that it offers a user-friendly interface. The intuitive design allows users to easily navigate through different modules such as relationship mapping, goal setting, communication exercises, and more, using provided templates to which you can make modifications based on your needs. Additionally, therapists are provided with a much more powerful client scheduling system than traditional paper-based methods, allowing easy rescheduling of sessions and appointment reminders.

Carepatron also allows users to securely store and access client data from any device using its cloud storage system. This makes it easier for therapists to stay in contact with clients outside of scheduled sessions, as well as review progress without having to go through cumbersome paperwork. Carepatron has been developed with security in mind so both clients and clinicians feel secure when using this platform for therapy sessions. All data collected during a session is stored securely on encrypted servers using AES-256 (bank-level encryption). As such, clients know that all conversations during an online session will remain confidential even if the device being used has no encryption capabilities whatsoever.

Internal Family Systems Software
Can you do IFS therapy on yourself?
Can you do IFS therapy on yourself?

Commonly asked questions

Can you do IFS therapy on yourself?

Yes, it is possible to do IFS therapy on oneself. Through self-reflection and exploration of the inner parts of one's psyche, a person can use IFS techniques to help resolve internal conflicts and gain insight into their own motivations. However, it is recommended that you seek the help of a qualified therapist to ensure you are using the therapy correctly and safely.

Can I practice IFS without certification?

While certification is available to those who wish to become certified IFS practitioners, it is not mandatory to practice IFS. It’s possible for someone without formal training or certification to learn about and practice basic IFS concepts as a self-help tool. This could involve studying books, articles, podcasts, or videos about IFS; attending workshops or seminars led by experienced trainers; engaging in supervised individual sessions with an experienced practitioner; joining online discussion groups with other people interested in learning more about the model; and participating in experiential activities such as role-playing exercises or guided meditations. Those looking for a deeper dive into the theory and methodology behind Internal Family Systems can pursue professional training courses leading up to full certification from the Center for Self Leadership (CSL).

Who completes an Internal Family Systems Worksheet?

Internal Family Systems Worksheets are typically used by therapists and counselors to help their clients identify different parts of themselves. The client is responsible for filling out the worksheet, which involves writing down thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to the person's inner family dynamics. The therapist can then use this information to assess how well each part is functioning and provide guidance on how to better support them.

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