Publications

Back in 2015, the Foundation launched an effort to capture and annotate where possible published material that revolves around IFS as a therapy modality or a paradigm with applications far beyond the clinical setting. The developed Database is an online searchable and annotated catalogue of IFS-related publications across journals, doctoral or graduate dissertations, books and book chapters. Entries include a "research applicability score" (1–5) to help users identify the most methodologically rigorous sources.

Please go to IFSpublications.FoundationIFS.org to access the database (history, usage instructions, and description of the metadata appear therein.)

You may also choose to go to the IFS Institute site, which hosts a Research and Bibliography section, including some of the information available under the Research menu of this site, presented in list form.

Scales

There are two types of scales that researchers (and practitioners) could find useful:

(1) Fidelity Scale

The Fidelity scale indicates whether the IFS psychotherapeutic protocol has been adhered to in sessions used with "research subjects" in clinical settings or clients whose sessions are not considered part of any research. The Foundation funded the development of such a scale, which involved many volunteers and a commissioned inter-rater reliability study. The IFS constructs, scale itself, and the study may be accessed here. (The Foundation is working to update this scale along with its inter-rater reliability study.)

(2) IFS Self-Reported Scales

IFS self-reported scales similar to personality scales to show whether the IFS protocol has led the user or the individual experiencing it to shift perspective, move farther on the path toward healing, or gain access to deeper qualities of Self leadership.

Stating the evident, researchers studying IFS are encouraged to use other validated scales appropriate to the issue the IFS treatment is being used to address (such as, scales to examine shift in symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.) in conjunction with the self-IFS reported scales. Two such scales have been developed and validated in certain settings (IFS Scale and Self Leadership Scale). The Foundation encourages further studies to expand the validation of these scales in new settings.

Other Resources

Journal of Self Leadership

Long before the Foundation was operational, a group of IFS practitioners launched a journal of IFS articles, which ran for three issues. Content from these three issues are hosted on a website maintained by the Foundation.

IFS University Syllabi

A number of IFS-trained practitioners, who were also serving as university faculty members, have taught IFS coursework. Sample syllabi have been gathered and can be accessible here.