BIPOLAR SOBER / ADDICTION / PERSPECTIVES / IFS
ADDICTION THROUGH AN IFS LENS.
MEET YOUR PARTS.
GET CURIOUS ABOUT THE WHOLE STORY.
01 / ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK
WHO'S
IN THE
ROOM?
“While all parts are welcome, all behavior is not.” — IFS Institute, Community Guidelines
Placeholder introduction to Internal Family Systems and its perspective on addiction and recovery.
This opening will introduce parts, protective intentions, inner conflict, and approaching yourself with curiosity.
We will replace this paragraph with your edited introduction. There is room here to explain what this framework helps you understand about your experience.
02 / DIFFERENT PARTS, DIFFERENT CONCERNS
MAKE ROOM
TO
LISTEN.
Placeholder copy about different feelings, needs, fears, and perspectives within you.
This section will explore the language of parts and how it can help describe familiar inner conflicts.
THE PART SEEKING RELIEF
Placeholder for exploring a wish for comfort, rest, distance, or a change in experience.
THE PART WANTING CONTROL
Placeholder for exploring planning, prevention, and fear of consequences.
THE PART CARRYING SHAME
Placeholder for describing painful beliefs and feelings about past experiences.
THE PART WANTING FREEDOM
Placeholder for exploring autonomy, enjoyment, and frustration with restrictions.
Add your reflection here about which descriptions fit your experience and what you would change.
03 / PROTECTIVE INTENTIONS
WHAT WAS
IT TRYING
TO DO?
Placeholder copy about understanding what a behavior was trying to accomplish.
This section will introduce protective roles within the IFS framework and consider how you are applying those ideas to your history.
MANAGERS
Placeholder for parts that try to prevent difficulty through planning, control, or other familiar strategies.
FIREFIGHTERS
Placeholder for parts that respond urgently when distress becomes difficult to manage.
Add a paragraph here about how these descriptions help you examine a pattern without reducing your experience to a label.
IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
04 / CURIOSITY & UNDERSTANDING
ASK
A BETTER
QUESTION.
Placeholder copy about approaching inner conflict with enough openness to understand it.
This section will introduce questions you can use in reflection or explore with a therapist.
WHAT IS THIS PART CONCERNED ABOUT?
Placeholder for identifying a fear, responsibility, or unmet need.
WHAT IS IT TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?
Placeholder for considering the intended purpose of a familiar response.
WHAT DOES IT WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND?
Placeholder for listening to the experience without rushing to a conclusion.
WHAT SUPPORT WOULD HELP?
Placeholder for considering practical care, trusted people, and professional support.
Add an example here showing how curiosity changes your understanding of a familiar conflict.
05 / UNBLENDING & PERSPECTIVE
GIVE IT
SOME
SPACE.
Placeholder copy about recognizing a part’s perspective without treating it as your entire experience.
This section will introduce unblending and make room for a practical example.
THE WHOLE VERDICT
Placeholder for a sweeping statement about yourself or your future.
A PART'S EXPERIENCE
Placeholder for describing the feeling or belief with greater specificity.
Add your reflection here about what becomes easier to notice when other feelings and information have room to contribute.
06 / COMPASSION & ACCOUNTABILITY
UNDERSTAND.
TAKE
RESPONSIBILITY.
Placeholder copy about understanding an intention while considering the effects of an action.
This section will connect curiosity about parts with honesty, repair, boundaries, and practical safeguards.
THE INTENTION
Placeholder for what the response was trying to provide or prevent.
THE EFFECT
Placeholder for what happened and who was affected.
THE NEED
Placeholder for what still deserves care and attention.
THE RESPONSE
Placeholder for repair, support, and a different arrangement going forward.
Add a paragraph here about remaining compassionate while following through on your responsibilities.
07 / SELF & SUPPORT
LEAD
WITH
CURIOSITY.
Placeholder copy about Self in the IFS framework and developing a more cooperative relationship with yourself.
This section will explore qualities such as curiosity, compassion, clarity, and calm, with room to discuss the role of a therapist and your wider support.
CURIOSITY
Placeholder for wanting to understand before deciding what something means.
COMPASSION
Placeholder for recognizing suffering with care.
CLARITY
Placeholder for considering different needs, information, and consequences.
SUPPORT
Placeholder for working at a manageable pace with appropriate help.
Add your reflection here about what this approach contributes alongside your treatment and recovery.
DIFFERENT PARTS. YOUR WHOLE LIFE.
MAKE
ROOM TO
UNDERSTAND.
Placeholder closing paragraph connecting IFS to your life in recovery.
Add your final reflection here about listening, responsibility, and making decisions that consider more of your needs and values.
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