Episode 48 – Internal Family Systems Therapy for Shame and Guilt

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Martha Sweezy, IFS therapist, author and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. We discuss her book, Internal Family Systems Therapy for Shame and Guilt. These topics are covered:

  • The multiplicity hypothesis of IFS
  • The difference between some Buddhist traditions and IFS
  • The ontology of IFS 
  • The shame cycle 
  • Soothing parts
  • Shaming parts
  • Outward shaming parts
  • “Scouting” managerial parts 
  • The kinds of burdens of parts
  • How children are self-referential 
  • Karlen Lyons-Ruth’s research
  • The usefulness (or not) of shame