Nancy's Book

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Health Therapy: Treating Trauma-Related Physical Illness & Toxic Stress by Nancy Sowell with Martha Sweezy and Richard Schwartz. 

Many chronic health conditions—from inflammation, pain and digestive disorders to metabolic syndrome and autoimmune disease—are increasingly linked to the lasting effects of chronic stress and trauma. But how do these experiences become embedded in the body, and how can we help? 

In IFS Health Therapy, Nancy Sowell, in collaboration with Martha Sweezy and IFS founder Richard Schwartz, draws upon thirty years of clinical practice and behavioral medicine experience to present a groundbreaking mind-body approach that identifies protective and vulnerable “parts” involved in physical health problems. From this perspective, relief emerges as clients come to know and care for the related parts of the personality by releasing the toxic stress, trauma, and other burdens carried in the mind-body. 

Through vivid case examples, experiential exercises, and practical tools, readers will learn how this clear three-phase framework can be used to: 

• Identify the shame, fear and unmet needs contributing to the illness
• Conduct an IFS-informed health therapy assessment
• Find and help protective parts who affect, or are affected by the illness
• Help vulnerable parts release trauma-related burdens
• Collaborate with other health professionals to support whole-person care 

Adversity and trauma reverberate throughout the mind and body, but they do not extinguish the Self’s capacity to heal.