Dissecting the differences between somatic coaching, shadow work, and IFS
Embarking on a journey of self-discovery and healing often involves delving into the depths of our psyche, unraveling the complexities of our inner world, and confronting the shadows that dwell within. In this blog post, we'll explore the transformative practices of Internal Family Systems (IFS), shadow work, and somatic coaching, each offering unique pathways to uncovering our true essence, healing past wounds, and cultivating greater self-awareness and inner harmony. From exploring the fragmented parts of ourselves to embracing the wisdom of our bodies, these holistic approaches invite us to embark on a profound journey of self-exploration and empowerment, paving the way for profound personal growth and transformation.
Below, we’ll explore the differences between each modality and then explore how they can be effective in combining the modalities together.
Somatic Coaching
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a naturalistic approach to healing developed by Dr. Peter Levine that focuses on releasing stress and tension from the body.
SE works with the nervous system to promote harmony between the mind and body.
When we experience trauma or difficult life events, the energy and sensations from the event can get "stuck" in the body, leading to symptoms like anxiety, depression, digestive issues, and more. SE provides a way to gently release that stuck energy so your nervous system can return to a balanced state.
In an SE session, you will be guided through practices to tune into your body's sensations, rather than getting stuck in your "thinking" brain. You'll learn how to track subtle bodily sensations and develop resources to handle intense feelings. The goal is to complete your body's built-in survival response and allow your nervous system to restore itself to equilibrium.
SE is very gentle and non-invasive. We work at your own pace to create feelings of safety and control. You will be coached through practices like tracking, grounding, resourcing, and more. You'll gain tools to discharge stuck sensations, self-soothe in times of stress, and restore inner balance.
If you're looking to overcome trauma, chronic stress, emotional difficulties or regulate emotions, SE provides a path to heal by listening to your body's wisdom. By safely discharging pent-up energy from your nervous system, you can reduce symptoms and return to a state of wholeness in mind and body.
IFS (Internal Family Systems) aka Parts Work
At its core, IFS sees each of us as containing an inner community made up of different parts, called "parts" for short. Some parts may be inner critics, protective parts, inner children, managers, firefighters and more.
IFS looks at inner conflict through the lens of these competing parts. The goal is to get to know each part, understand what they are trying to do for you, and unburden them of their roles. When a part feels heard, understood and appreciated, it naturally releases its extreme beliefs and behaviors.
This allows your parts to become less polarized and blend together naturally into a harmonious whole known as the Self. The Self embodies qualities like compassion, confidence, clarity, curiosity and calmness.
With IFS, you will learn to:
- Unblend from your parts and access Self-leadership
- Relieve inner criticism, self-doubt, avoidance and resistance
- Heal past wounds that are being triggered in the present
- Foster acceptance and harmony between parts of yourself
Rather than fighting against aspects you don't like, IFS helps you understand they are protecting you and meet their needs in healthier ways. This allows you to reclaim the energy once consumed by inner conflicts.
IFS transforms inner relationships and results in less inner criticism, more self-acceptance, and increased ability to handle intense emotions. With practice, your Self can emerge as an inner source of strength, clarity and compassion to help you heal.
Combining IFS & Somatic Work
IFS provides a framework for understanding the different parts within us, while somatic work gives us tools to actually heal and transform our parts on a bodily level. By combining the two, we can create deep and lasting change.
In IFS, we identify the various "parts" within us, like inner critics, protectors, inner children and more. IFS helps us understand the needs of each part and motivations behind their behaviors.
Somatic Experiencing then provides techniques to directly address these parts on a body-based level. We can track where we sense each part in the body, notice how they make us tighten or constrict, and release the stuck energy they hold.
As we use somatic tools to address each part, we also dialogue with the part using IFS techniques. We make sure the part feels truly understood and appreciated for its role. This allows the part to relax and let go of any extreme behaviors.
Over time, this blended IFS and somatic approach reprograms our neural pathways. We integrate the once polarized parts into a more harmonious whole known as Self, embodied by qualities like compassion, clarity, confidence and calmness.
By working with both mind and body together, we can create a deep integration within ourselves. We move from inner conflict to inner cooperation, no longer fighting parts of ourselves but accepting them unconditionally. This leads to increased mental health, emotional balance and an embodied sense of wholeness.