Richard Schwartz and Internal Family Systems

Richard Schwartz is perhaps best known as the co-author of one of the best known and most widely used family therapy books in the U.S., Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods. In addition to authoring the book with Michael Nichols, he is a respected clinical psychologist, having graduated with his PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy from Purdue University. Following graduation, he associated himself with the Institute for Juvenile Research at the University of Illinois in Chicago.

As part of his life’s work, Richard Schwartz developed Internal Family Systems. The program began when many of his clients began giving him descriptions of what they were feeling inside. They felt as if they had several parts inside, some of which were extreme in nature. Leading all of these parts was an overarching consciousness he started to call the “Self”. The Self was only able to have calm control over these various parts, however, when they were satisfied, had their needs met, and felt safe. Using this system, he was able to focus more intensely on the parts of a client which felt out of whack and heal that part, giving calm and confident control back to the Self.

To bring IFS training to more psychologists, Richard Schwartz founded The Center for Self Leadership in the year 2000. Located in Oak Part, Illinois, the Center began offering three levels of IFS training and holds workshops for both national and international professionals who want to come and learn more about this exciting strategy. The workshops are also open to the general public for those interested in the therapy for personal use or those who have a layman’s interest in advanced psychotherapy concepts.

In addition to his work with IFS and the CSL, Richard Schwartz takes his lectures and speeches across the country and around the world, speaking to psychotherapy organizations. He is also onboard as a fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He is also an accomplished contributor to publications in the psychology field, including his books Internal Family Systems Therapy, Introduction to the Internal Family Systems Model, and The Mosaic Mind. His most recent book concerning IFS is You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For.

Those who cannot afford to see Dr. Richard Schwartz in person or are not in a location convenient to do so have a wealth of opportunities to find out more about the IFS concepts. If not through his numerous publications, then through online downloads of his recorded speeches and lectures.