Internal Family Systems Model

I’d be interested in hearing about any experiences HN users have had with IFS. It was something I initially dismissed as sounding pretty woo, but I’ve been hearing enough about it lately that I’ve been thinking it’s worth a second look, and considering trying it. It seems like it may have some potential to fill in some of the gaps that CBT + mindfulness + casual stoicism have fallen short on.

One concern I have is whether these “parts” are actually considered to be present in the mind prior to therapy, or if the therapy itself is what actually instantiates them. I definitely agree that the mind is a very complex mix of various mental structures, rather than one single cohesive “self”, but I don’t know if I yet buy this idea of discrete “subpersonalities”. I could see it potentially being a useful tool, though, for grouping and understanding your own behaviors and impulses with compassion. When I read some people’s experiences with IFS it almost sounds like they’re talking about tulpas, which makes me slightly nervous about the possibility for woo. But despite that, I can see the potential for it being a helpful model for approaching and trying to understand the complexities and contradictions of your own mind, from a place of compassion.

Any HN users had good or bad experiences with IFS?

Is that like DID?