Blending:
When the feelings and beliefs of one part merge with another part or with the Self
Burden:
An extreme belief or emotion which became attached to a part and now drives the operation of the part like a virus. Parts accrue burdens from experience (exposure to an external person or event) or legacy
Direct Access:
A way of working with a client's parts that involves talking directly to them rather than having their words reported by the client
Exiles:
Vulnerable parts, often very young, that have been sequestered within a system for their own protection or for the protection of the system from them. When unburdened, they are restored to their original valuable states and often offer qualities like spontaneity, playfulness and lovingness
Firefighters:
Reactive protector parts that go into action after the exiles have been activated in order to calm the exiles or distract the system from them (dissociation)
Goals of IFS:
(1) Liberation of parts from roles they don't like so they can do what they were originally meant for; (2) Restoration of trust in Self leadership; (3) Re-harmonizing of the inner system
Managers:
Proactive protector parts that try to run a system in ways that minimize the activation of exiles
Parts:
The term used in Internal Family Systems for a person's subpersonalities. Parts can be considered as subpersonalities within an individual with their own emotions, beliefs, ages, and temperaments
Polarization:
A state in which two members (or two groups) in a system relate in opposition to or in competition with each other, to the point where each party's access to the Self is constrained by fear that the other party will win or take over
Protectors:
Divided into two types, Managers and Firefighters. Protector parts work constantly to keep exiled parts contained
Self:
The core of a person, which contains leadership qualities such as compassion, perspective, curiosity, and confidence. The Self is best equipped to lead the internal family
Self-Leadership:
Leadership characterized by the 8 C's: Compassion, Curiosity, Clarity, Calm, Confidence, Courage, Creativity, and Connectedness