Internal family systems (IFS) therapy focuses on different protector parts. Those parts include firefighters, exiles, and managers.
The goal of IFS therapy is to help people understand these parts and how they connect with the Self. Each part can help with healing in different ways, but restoring the Self and making sure it’s in control is the top priority.
Managers are meant to help you deal with whatever comes next on a daily basis. They have a proactive role, preparing you for life’s challenges and helping you think ahead.
While there can certainly be unhealthy managers, utilizing the healthy ones can help you do much more than just get through your day. They can also help you cope with anxiety.
Let’s dive a little deeper into the role of IFS managers, and how they can serve as an effective tool for anxiety management.
What Do Managers Help With?
IFS managers make it easier to get through your day without feeling overwhelmed. They can help with everything from how much food you eat to your sleep patterns. They can also help you with everyday tasks like getting things done at work or tackling household chores.
While it might seem like managers take care of a lot of “surface” things, they are actually responsible for helping you live a satisfying, fulfilling, and happy life.
How Managers Combat Anxiety
IFS managers can make it easier to cope with anxiety on several fronts. First, IFS therapy will encourage you to identify the parts of yourself that are triggering anxiety. When you’re able to do that, your managers can adapt and respond to those triggers appropriately.
Managers are also responsible for keeping exiles under control. They are designed to maintain order and keep anxious thoughts from completely taking over. Sometimes, if it feels like your anxiety is trying to take control, it’s the job of the managers to keep you moving forward.
IFS managers can also help to get you in a state of mind where you can safely dig deeper into the emotions that might be contributing to your anxiety.
How Does IFS Therapy Work?
Managers are only one component of IFS therapy. It’s up to your therapist to help you find, understand, and reconcile the different parts within you. Then, you can connect them all with the Self. At the end of the day, when the Self is in control (as it should be), your mind can really begin to heal. You’ll discover that you’re in control, rather than allowing your anxious thoughts to control you.
When the Self is in control and your managers are working with it in harmony, you’re more likely to feel a sense of calm. You’re also more likely to feel stronger as your thinking becomes clearer. You’ll be able to work through the underlying causes that might be contributing to your anxiety. Even if those issues stem from childhood or other situations that happened in the past, they can be explored. Getting to the root cause is often the best way to start healing from anxious thoughts.
Anxiety is a very common mental health condition. If there’s a silver lining to its prominence, it’s that there are many treatment and management options. But, if you want to take a more holistic approach toward coping with your anxiety, IFS therapy could be the answer.
If you’re interested in learning more about IFS therapy and how the different parts — including managers — play a role in helping with anxiety, feel free to contact me. We’ll set up an appointment and start working on giving your managers (and the Self) a boost in the fight against anxious thoughts.
Internal Family Systems Therapy in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Online in AZ
Understanding the different aspects of ourselves can be difficult without the right support. Our team of caring therapists would be happy to offer support from our Phoenix, Scottsdale, and online in all of Arizona. We would be honored to help you have greater access to yourself, and each part that makes you who you are. To start your therapy journey, please follow these simple steps:
- Contact Crossroads Counseling
- Meet with an IFS therapist
- Start becoming more in tune with yourself!
Contact us by calling 623-680-3486, texting 623-688-5115, or emailing info@crossroadsfcc.com and ask to speak with one of our child counselors. You can ask all the questions you have to see if Crossroads is the right fit for you.