Adult Health and IFS: a Talk with Nancy Sowell

Nancy Sowell, an IFS Senior Trainer, explores her journey into psychotherapy and the integration of Internal Family Systems (IFS) with health practices. Initially a teacher, Sowell transitioned to therapy after experiencing personal healing, drawn to working with trauma and relationships. She recounts her introduction to IFS through Dick Schwartz and her immediate connection to the model's emphasis on internal relationships and self-leadership. Sowell details how IFS transformed her approach to behavioral medicine, especially after her own battle with psoriatic arthritis led her to explore the connection between parts, burdens, and physical health. She discusses how parts can trigger or maintain symptoms, using examples from her rheumatoid arthritis study, highlighting the innovative approach of addressing health issues through understanding and befriending these parts. Sowell is currently writing a manual on IFS and early trauma and health, aiming to provide a practical guide for therapists and individuals.