This episode begins with Dr T. delving deeper into the nuances of the IFS Model, including some of the history of its development, and its application in therapy.

The discussion develops from there — touching on a wide range of topics from the groups of “parts” in the IFS model, soul retrieval, the conscious and the unconscious, the personified emotions in the film Inside Out, big Self energy, loving awareness, and the implications of the IFS model for our understanding of the self and the divine…

Throughout the discussion we hear reflections from a rather blissed out Alejandro, having just been through his third IFS session, this time as a participant of Dr T. himself! — because, as we all know, real men do therapy, and real mates run therapy sessions for each other.

References:

• Episode 4 — Understanding ourselves through Internal Family Systems
• Richard C. Shwartz (founder) — Internal Family Systems
• Susan McConnell (founder) — Somatic IFS
• Pete Docter (director)— Inside Out (2015)
• Alan Watts — the game of hide and seek that God plays…
• Alan Watts — the limerick that Tobias couldn’t remember during the episode but then eventually did remember.

Links:

Altered Mates Website

Altered Mates Instagram

Music for the show by Si Mulumby.

In keeping with our ongoing pursuit of experiences that can help to shape and mould our developing models and philosophies, the Altered Mates sought out a skilled IFS therapist to guide us through this therapeutic process. IFS therapy can often feel like an altered state as it involves an experiential deep dive into the living mystery of our inner system.

Tobias & Alejandro share some very personal reflections, speculating on Freud’s Id Ego Superego model, as well as the Fight / Flight, and Freeze / Friend model, based on the work of Dr. Simon Martin.

Clinicians in this space often talk about clients who have spontaneous IFS processes with psychedelics - without prior exposure to this form of therapy - suggesting this model is reflecting something very real about our internal machinations - an aliveness to this system of parts within us, not entirely unlike the film “Inside Out”.

The relationships between IFS and psychedelics are manyfold, and we invite you into a reflection on their differences, similarities and potential synergies as you listen in.

References

• IFS Institute — The Internal Family Systems Model Outline
• Inside Out (2015)
• Freud’s Model of the Id, Ego and Superego
• And a later model: Flight, Fight, Freeze, Friend/Fawn

Links

Altered Mates Website

Altered Mates Instagram

Music for the show by Si Mulumby.