Understand and Explore Your Inner World with Self-Led Internal Family Systems 

The Book:

In the Internal Family Systems approach to understanding ourselves, every person is viewed as having an “internal family” of parts or subpersonailities, each with its own perspectives, feelings and roles. Some of these parts hold pain from the past, while others work to prevent pain from surfacing. When parts are understood and accepted, they can release pain and heal. The Self-Led Internal Family Systems Workbook was created as a guide to discovering your inner world, including helpful insights for preparing for the journey, an accessible self-paced process, and strategies for common IFS challenges that may be encountered along the way. It is a clear and accessible resource to help us all connect to our true, authentic Self and know our internal family of parts, respond compassionately when they’re activated, and send them healing energy when they need it.

  • Directly experience the IFS model, which is now at the forefront of a movement toward a more collaborative and intuitive therapeutic wisdom. Workshop participants are led in experiential exercises designed to facilitate their understanding of the dynamics of the model on both the personal and interpersonal levels, and will also have the opportunity to observe a live demonstration of the model as it is typically practiced. Introductory IFS workshops and book events will, at this time when the path to both inner and outer harmony can seem elusive, reveal that this is a much-needed approach that can provide profound insights and practical tools for self-healing and personal. along with societal, transformation.

  • “I am so grateful to my friend Tanis Allen for creating this clear, practical workbook for helping people access Internal Family Systems (IFS) on their ow. Because she knows IFS so well, she not only offers very useful and easily followed exercises but also the important cautions and guidelines to make this powerful work safe. I enthusiastically endorse this book and see it as an important contribution to the big project of helping everyone change their inner relationships and become more Self-led.” ~ Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, Founder of the IFS model of psychotherapy

    “Tanis Allen’s Self-Led Internal Family Systems Workbook explains the basics of both IFS and poly-vagal theory and offers a wide variety of creative, in-depth exercises that will orient you to your protective parts, and help clarify who “you” are. If you’re IFS-curious, this is a great place to start; if you’re already IFS-engaged, it’s a rich resource.” ~Martha Sweezy, PhD, Author of Internal Family Systems Therapy for Shame and Guilt

    “As a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and psychopharmacologist whose life and practice has been profoundly affected by IFS, I have been looking for a jargon-free introduction to IFS that I can share with my clients and patients. Tanis Allen’s “Self-Led Internal Family Systems Workbook” is it! ~ Dr. Charles Silberstein, MD, Medical Director, Island Counseling Center, Martha’s Vineyard Community Services and psychiatrist in private practice.

    “Tanis Allen’s workbook is a gem. Like Tanis herself, it brings deep wisdom and heart to the IFS process. Tanis has been around IFS a long time. She lives the work and in this workbook helps us to live the work along with her.” ~Kay Gardner, LCPC, IFS Senior Lead Trainer

    “Tanis Allen has created a highly experiential guide that encourages both playful exploration and an embodied experience of connection with our parts in “The Self-Led Internal Family Systems Workbook,” in which readers are invited to enter and find a comfortable place to safely and compassionately go inside. This exceptional resource contains gentle prompts and valuable insights into the IFS approach, and is written for anyone wishing to establish and maintain an ongoing practice of deepening relationships with their parts with curiousity and respect.” ~Shelly Johnson, LMSW, and author of “The Parts Inside of Me”

Tanis Allen, LMSW, ACSW, is a certified IFS psychotherapist in private practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has been practicing, training in, teaching and living the IFS model for over 25 years, has presented many workshops and trainings in the Midwest and Canada, and has served as a guest lecturer at the University of Michigan. She earned both her Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Honors Psychology degrees from the University of Michigan, and her professional experience includes clinical social work in education, both mental and physical healthcare settings and hospice care. Her clinical specializations include work with anxiety and depression, all forms of eating disorders, grief, loss and trauma issues and adjustment to physical illness and relationship concerns. As an IFS clinical consultant, she also provides supervision and mentorship to psychotherapists learning the model, and established and directs the IFS Great Lakes Retreat which is held annually in northern Michigan.