I am excited to introduce you to the brilliant work of Richard Schwartz Ph.D., the founder of Internal Family Systems therapy or IFS. Dr. Schwartz has been developing and refining the IFS model for over 40 years and has helped thousands of individuals achieve deep healing and greater fwell-being. During our conversation, Dr. Shwartz actually guides me through an IFS process and connects me with a deeply wounded part of myself, also known as an exile.  I get vulnerable with the hopes of helping you see how powerful and transformative this work can be.  In this episode, we talk about Dick’s new book, You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For: Applying Internal Family Systems to Intimate Relationships. We discuss the societal and cultural obstacles to intimacy and how IFS can lead to the healing and wholeness necessary to experience true intimacy. Rather than place the pressure on our partner to be the healers and caretakers of our wounded selves, we learn to become our own caretakers and therefore show up as a whole, integrated human in our relationships.  IFS therapy is based on the premise that each person has a "system" of different internal parts, each with its own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. These parts can be healthy and adaptive, or they can be wounded, hurt, and problematic. The goal of IFS therapy is to help clients develop a healthy relationship with these different parts, cultivate compassion and empathy for them, and integrate them into a more cohesive, harmonious whole.  IFS helps people achieve greater self-awareness, self-compassion, and emotional balance,  leading to greater resilience, improved relationships, and an overall sense of wholeness and well-being. IFS therapy has been used to successfully treat a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction. Have a listen and learn how to heal and hold your exiled parts, while embracing and calming your managers and protectors.