A Talk with Richard Schwartz

Richard Schwartz, the founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS), discusses the evolution of the therapy model, its impact, and future directions. He reflects on the early challenges and the support from a loyal community that helped shape IFS. Schwartz details the development of IFS, acknowledging influences from therapies like Hakomi and collaborations with figures like Martha Sweezy on the second edition of his book, which includes new chapters on burdens and the laws of inner physics. He explores IFS's potential to address societal polarization by fostering self-leadership and compassion. Schwartz also examines the role of IFS in the psychedelic movement, noting how substances like MDMA and ketamine can enhance access to self, while also emphasizing that IFS alone can achieve similar results. The conversation touches on the IFS Institute's transition to online training and its search for a new CEO to expand its influence beyond psychotherapy into areas like executive consulting and education.