Bob chats with Aníbal Enrique and Tisha Shull about traditional therapy, and how it differs from the way we work when integrating IFS and the 12 steps, based on his long experience with recovery and addictions.

The traditional thing in addiction treatment is to join with a critical part that’s trying to cut down the addiction. Unfortunately, this strategy increases the shame in the system. It’s spurring the firefighter part, who just wants to get out of pain to drink more, which accelerates the problem.

In IFS, instead of joining with the manager right away and trying to shut down the addiction, we work with that manager part to calm it, and encourage it not to be quite so critical.

Listen here: Link to episode.