A visual technique for creating a "map" of the client's inner system. The client draws or writes down the parts, their relationships, polarizations, who protects whom. The map is a tool for navigating a complex system, not an end in itself. It helps the client see the "architecture" of their inner world and reduces the chaotic feel of the experience.
Step-by-step guide
- Offer paper or a digital tool
- Start with the most active part: draw it in the center or on the sheet
- Ask: "Are there other parts around it? Which others do you notice?"
- Gradually add parts: "How are they connected? Who is in conflict with whom? Who is protecting whom?"
- Find the Exiles under the Protectors: "What is this critical part protecting?"
- Use the map as a reference for sessions: "Which of them do you want to work with today?"
When to use
- At the start of an IFS course — the orienting phase
- With complex systems that have many active parts
- With chaotic, overloaded clients: the map creates structure
- As a home task between sessions
Key phrases
Let us try drawing a map of what is inside. This anxious part — is there someone else nearby? Draw or write how you sense them.
Follow-up questions
How are these parts linked to each other?
Who is protecting whom?
What parts do you notice under these Protectors?
Alternative phrasings
This is not a map of truth — it is a hypothesis. It will change as we work.
Warnings
- ⚠️ Do not turn it into intellectual analysis — the map should reflect lived experience
- ⚠️ The map is a hypothesis, not a truth; it will change
- ⚠️ Some clients get lost in complex maps — give them simple formats
Source: Schwartz R.C. 2021
Materials are informational and educational and summarize publicly available scientific sources. They are not medical or psychological advice, are not intended for self-diagnosis or self-treatment, and do not replace consultation with a qualified professional.