Listening When Parts Speak: A Practical Guide to Healing with Internal Family Systems Therapy and Ancestor Wisdom

An expert therapist and teacher leads you on a transformative journey of self-discovery and healing from collective and intergenerational trauma, based in the powerful practice of Internal Family Systems therapy.

The Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of psychotherapy is acclaimed for its power to help us recognize and integrate disparate parts of ourselves—a revolutionary course of treatment that can yield extraordinary results. But not all the work of IFS takes place in the confines of traditional therapy sessions. In this thoughtful and compassionate guide, Tamala Floyd, LCSW, gives readers the resources to expand their "parts work" beyond the therapist's office and into daily life—where the real healing happens.

To write Listening When Parts Speak, Floyd draws on 20-plus years of experience as a psychotherapist, teacher, consultant, and coach specializing in healing trauma, and in particular, intergenerational trauma. Each chapter offers lucid explanations of key concepts, illustrative stories from patients (as well as Floyd's own experience), and a guided meditation that can be used either in between therapy appointments to support and reinforce the work or as a way to begin an IFS therapy journey.

In these pages, readers will:

• Explore the healing principles of IFS therapy
• Get to know their own parts—including wounded "exiles" and dedicated "protectors"
• Foster a trusting connection between the parts and the secure Self that connects them all
• Start to free themselves from beliefs that no longer serve them
• Connect with the wisdom and guidance of ancestors for deeper understanding and healing

Practitioners, too, will find Listening When Parts Speak an invaluable resource for supporting their patients and enhancing their own practice.

Tamala Floyd, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, IFS lead trainer, consultant, author, and speaker with over 25 years of experience. She received a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California and an undergraduate degree in psychology from California State University–Long Beach.

She has taught at the University of Phoenix and the University of Southern California in human services and social work. Her work focuses on women’s trauma, mothering, and relationship issues, helping women identify and heal emotional wounds that impede their success and coaching them in achieving fulfilling life goals. tamalafloyd.com