IFS Café introductory demonstration, Demo and Q&A

Welcome to the IFS Café! This zoom meeting will introduce you to the practice of the Internal Family Systems method. I will conduct introductory IFS inquiries with volunteers, and describe my ongoing practice group.

Personal experience is the best way to discover the the power of IFS, especially the difference between out familiar parts and your True Self, the central feature of IFS. Many people experience the emergence of parts easily, while for others they seem elusive. I will begin by illustrating the way we invite parts into our awareness, recognizing that reticence is the result of lack of trust. Equally important is the possibility of well-meaning parts attempting to play the role of Self; discovery of the difference is as profound as spiritual emergence.

You do not necessarily have to interact with me to track your own internal laboratory, only bring a need-to-know intention to find out what is true.

I will minimize instruction in order to focus on practice. But follow your curiosity, these zooms are meant for you to observe and ask questions. I bring a particular focus on cultivating Self with wisdom from meditation teachings and somatics, including breath work.

My page is an entry point for you to learn IFS thoroughly, including regular practice with other members.

Yes, this means affiliation with a group entails commitment and diligence.
You are not in such a group simply by joining the Meetup page. Here, you can attend introductory zoom presentations to find out if you are ready for a practice group. I am well aware that you may not have recognized that when you joined the page.

My IFS Cafe' is not a social media portal for likes and friending. IFS originated as a PSYCHOTHERAPY method, which means it necessarily delves into aspects of our "psyche" (parts) that are very troubling and resistant to change. You already live your life with the fact that memories of traumatic events in your past activate, and hijack your consciousness and behavior, which you try to control or avoid to varying degrees of success (called "psychological defense.") This leads to an endless cycle of repetition. IFS views such defenses, including addictions, depression, anxiety disorders, etc. as ADAPTATIONS to impossible situations and not flaws or moral failings. This is the important meaning behind the principle of "NO BAD PARTS."

If you know anything about IFS you know it has the reputation for escaping this treadmill. It does work, but only if you apply it, and only if you do so skillfully. Like therapy or spiritual work, application is not fun, or a hobby, or when-I-feel-like-it distraction. Practice groups provide access to others with similar commitment. Intro meetups have the purpose of allowing you to understand your readiness before you make any kind of commitment.

I will publish the zoom link here and in email to the RSVP list a few moments before we start. Refresh the page if you don't see it.

Once you crack the code of access to your True Self, its presence will supercharge any inner transformational work you do. Because IFS models the mind accurately, you can bring it to journeys, therapy or coaching even if your guide doesn't use the model.

Michael Nowacki