ABSTRACT
In Chapter 1, the book’s editor, Emma E. Redfern, interviews the founder of Internal Family Systems therapy, Richard C. Schwartz, on his philosophy of supervision and consultation. This includes validating the therapist’s efforts, helping therapists see their clients as tor-mentors, and asserting that getting stuck (which any IFS therapist can expect) offers an opportunity to locate and heal exiles. Schwartz shares examples of prioritizing which parts to attend to first, including how to defuse suicide parts. He speaks of reducing therapist parts’ fear of extreme parts in their clients as well as therapist parts’ fear of getting it wrong. Schwartz attests to the importance in IFS of hope merchanting and of consultants lending therapists their confidence. Although Schwartz covers techniques when consulting—for example, role-playing—his preference is to be a minimalist with an overarching goal of empowering therapists to trust their Self as they navigate sessions. The chapter includes references to Schwartz’s personal growth as a supervisor/consultant and to the impact of group supervision.
