A student of life’s forces—seen and unseen

After years of all sorts of therapy, I have found IFS to be the most user-friendly and applicable method of personal work. At 73, I have finally been able to address the long-held, erroneous beliefs my Parts have suffered with.

When I was younger and suffering, folks used to tell me that all I needed to do was to love myself, but I had no healthy context for how to do that. Now, coming to understand my burdened Parts, their experiences and intentions, and their desire to be free, I began to change the landscape of my internal world. It has taken a long time to create new jobs for my tenacious Parts, whose main job has been to throw me under the bus. With the same vibrant energy of kicking my own ass, they are now supporters of almost anything I choose. When young ones feel pain—often because of a misunderstanding—I have plenty of energy to be a loving support as we work things out together.

I am particularly drawn to the spiritual aspect of IFS, recognizing that I am a direct descendant of the transcendental energetic field that informs all life. Compassion, peace, and curiosity are always available to me. Having struggled with loneliness for many decades, I now feel more vibrantly a part of this field of connection and belonging.

Much gratitude to Dick Schwartz and to my dear therapist Pat, who was my guide along the path.