I just got off hosting this month’s live Q&A for the IFS Institute’s Circle Program, which is like an introduction to IFS for practitioners. I’m the host (think MC, but no turntables or strobe lights) and each month there’s a live guest. This month’s live guest was Dr. Richard Schwartz (“Dick,” the founder of IFS).
I always look forward to these Circle sessions because I love the energy and community. And I always learn something. They’re such a beautiful way for new people to hear from and start seeing the model come alive, in a live community.
So today Dick said something that caught everyone’s attention. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say this is the equivalent of breaking news in the IFS world. He said that in addition to Managers, Firefighters, and Exiles, he now sees a fourth category of parts emerging: Protectors in Exile.
We used my anger as an example to explore this idea. For many reasons, my system exiled anger a long time ago. The part of me that gets angry has been pushed out and banished to keep me safe. So for me, anger itself functions as a protector, but more specifically, one that’s been exiled by other protectors. It’s a Protector in Exile.
This makes so much sense to me. The idea resonated with so many people in the chat, too. I’d love to know how that lands for you: Do you have parts that other parts have pushed out of the system?
Parts Don’t Have Types. They Take on Roles
Dick also reminded us of something important that he brought up in a podcast episode we did last season on Dissociative Identity and the “plural” community. That is, parts don’t have types, so much as they take on roles.
What he’s saying is that parts aren’t permanently “Managers” or “Firefighters.” Those are simply roles that develop based on the burdens in our system and the jobs they’ve taken on to protect us. This is such an important distinction.
No part is stuck, and every part has the potential to transform when it no longer carries its burden. That’s what we’re working towards in IFS… unburdening parts and freeing them to be part of our system in their natural state.
P.S. I was told you can still join this cohort of the IFS Circle until 10/31/25. Today’s call was recorded and viewable to everyone who registers.
P.P.S. Last’s week’s podcast episode with Caitlan Siegenthaler on IFS and Human Design was so good, here’s a link in case you missed it.
