The Multiplicity of the Mind: Dr. Richard Schwartz On A Systems Approach to Healing the Self

When ‘The Self’ becomes the leading intelligence in our lives, we create more harmony—both within ourselves and in our external lives.

So how do we access our intuition? How do we make decisions from a place of inner peace? And how do we become more integrated and healed humans?

Answering these questions is the life’s work of today’s guest Dr. Richard Schwartz, a psychotherapist who created a very interesting and effective therapeutic modality called Internal Family Systems (or IFS).

IFS is premised on the idea that every person has different “parts” within them, each with their own unique characteristics and functions, separate from one’s “true” or “core” self. Emotional healing and greater well-being can be experienced by bringing these various parts into harmony with each other—integrating them, if you will—in a process many have found transformative.

Dr. Schwartz has been practicing and teaching IFS for decades and has authored several books on the subject, including, You Are The One You’ve Been Waiting For and No Bad Parts.

This episode covers many fascinating topics, including:

• The fundamentals of IFS and how it works;
• Dr. Schwartz’s ‘many parts’ multiplicity of mind model;
• how we develop specific behaviors in response to our respective environments;
• how IFS can help us better understand ourselves, heal our emotional afflictions, and our core Self;
• how to deal with our inner critic; 
• how IFS operates to address addiction, trauma, depression, intimacy & other issues; and
• many other fascinating topics

This episode culminates in Dr. Schwartz illustrating his process by taking me (albeit a bit reluctantly) through a fairly intense psychological exercise I hope you find informative.

The visually inclined can watch this exchange on YouTube. And as always, the audio version streams wild and free on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Dr. Schwartz’s work is deeply fascinating, and this conversation has stuck with me. My hope is that this exchange inspires you to do the internal work required to live a more integrated and purpose-driven life.

Enjoy!

Peace + Plants,