Internal Family Systems Therapy for Shame and Guilt

“Focuses on what I believe is the most primal, terrifying, toxic, and motivating of all burdens: shame….[The book] clarifies the crucial differences between shame and guilt, as well as between adaptive and maladaptive guilt.…[It] offers lucid case examples and experiential exercises that are tailored for resolving guilt and unburdening shame and that add nuance and insight to the basics of IFS.“–from the Foreword by Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, Developer of IFS; Adjunct Faculty, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School “Shame and guilt are integral to the experience of complex trauma and are among the effects most resistant to change. This volume is particularly pertinent for therapists who want to interrupt intergenerational cycles of trauma that are often fueled by shame and guilt. Whether or not the reader has a background in IFS, this book convincingly makes the case for the relevance and power of this approach. I am already finding it extremely useful in my practice with trauma survivors, and am excited to learn even more about this system of thought.”–Pamela C. Alexander, PhD, private practice, Sherborn, Massachusetts “IFS is a compelling model that is capturing the imagination of therapists around the world, especially for the treatment of trauma. IFS is simple and elegant, but there is an art to its application. Sweezy is an artist who explains why and how she applies each brushstroke. With remarkable clarity and sophistication, the author untangles the inner dynamics of shame and guilt, and shows how to address a client’s unmet needs compassionately in therapy. This book is generous and deep–no reader will be left untouched.”–Christopher Germer, PhD, Co-Founder, Center for Mindful Self-Compassion “This landmark book takes a deep dive into a central topic for all psychotherapists–how to address the pernicious effects of shame and inappropriate guilt on a person’s sense of self, psychological functioning, and interpersonal behavior. Sweezy applies IFS theory and practice in exquisite detail, with illuminating clinical vignettes. Her approach is novel and refreshingly nonpathologizing and compassionate. The book shows how to help clients come to view their harsh internal voices as their best attempts to protect the vulnerable core Self, and learn to forge a path of reconciliation among these parts and the Self. This is a complex, nuanced process requiring close attention and creativity on the part of the therapist, but Sweezy provides a clear map with which to traverse this emotionally fraught territory.”–Peter Fraenkel, PhD, Department of Psychology, The City College of the City University of New York “This book is a welcome, inspiring guide for all therapists who have struggled with the limitations of pathologizing DSM-based approaches to psychotherapy, in which the therapist is expected to have ‘the answers.’ Based on her deep experience with IFS, Sweezy wisely focuses on symptom domains such as shame or guilt, rather than on specific disorders. The book reminds us that the answers reside within each individual, and gives powerful examples of how IFS allows individuals to discover their own paths to healing.”–Michael Mithoefer, MD, Senior Medical Director for Medical Affairs, Training, and Supervision, MAPS Public Benefit Corporation-

Martha Sweezy, PhD, is Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, part-time; Research, Training, and Curriculum Consultant at the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge Health Alliance; and a psychotherapist in private practice. She teaches Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy nationally and internationally, and has authored, coauthored, or coedited several books on various applications of IFS.