Book review: Korean IFS Cards

Internal Family Systems Parts Cards are tools typically used in therapy and personal growth to help individuals understand and interact with their different Parts. They will usually focus on different elements of the IFS model—Parts made up of managers, firefighters, and exiles and, of course, Self energy. IFS cards help people identify and understand their Parts, clarify and articulate their inner experiences, explore Parts through reflection, and facilitate communication between Parts and Self. The Korean IFS Cards created by Seonghee Son with Robert Falconer are a welcome addition to the genre.

This set of 82 cards, accompanied by a 187-page guidebook, is elegantly presented in a sturdy, beautiful box. The printing is professional and highlighted with vivid colours and a variety of artistic genres. Importantly, the issue of cultural relevance is front and centre with the cards featuring imagery and scenarios rooted in Korean culture and society, aiming to resonate deeply with individuals familiar with these contexts. ​The helpful footnotes offered in the guidebook orient the reader to specific cultural references in Korea, while also giving basic information about the larger concepts of IFS.

The cards provide an opportunity for users to develop specific a meaning around—and a relationship with—their Parts, prompting deeper interpretation when needed. This creates a nice balance between directives and allowing for individuals to be creative.

The guidebook offers useful, specific steps for users to follow when developing relationships with Parts; when mapping their Parts; and when dealing with specific obstacles. There are also directions for other uses, like daily meditations, working with cards that resonate deeply (positively or negatively), or creating a Parts family of your own.

There are also additional guidelines for use in individual therapy, couples therapy, and group therapy, which are helpful to therapists and clients alike. My personal favorite was the suggestion to generate my own keyword or description of a particular card that resonates with one of my own Parts, in order to deepen understanding and relationship.

The focus on Korean culture offers welcome nuance to the IFS model, but this package is applicable to people of all cultures. These cards made me wonder what impact could be if cards were made based on other cultures, too. Or what’s the possibility of sets of IFS cards focused on other dynamics related to the model, including clinical disorders or even legacy burdens?

Overall, the Korean IFS Cards serve as a valuable resource for therapists and individuals seeking to explore and understand their Parts through a culturally informed lens.