Internal Family Systems meets the System of Selves
Innovative "parts work" for storytellers
At the heart of Character Mapping is the System of Selves, a unique approach to the inner workings of the mind and its many layers—featuring the wildly popular Internal Family Systems (IFS), developed by Richard Schwartz, PhD.
Mariel Pastor has been deeply involved with IFS for all of her professional life. She worked closely with Dr. Schwartz in the model’s early stages, as IFS asserted–quite radically, at the time–multiple parts and the presence of a wise core Self within every person. When the fields of neuroscience and trauma studies took off, IFS surged in popularity. Scores of therapists and clients were relieved to find an approach that was accessible, intuitive, and deeply respectful of both the challenges and the beauty of being human.
Yet, IFS is much more than a transformative, evidence-based approach to psychotherapy. For many, it represents a psychospiritual approach and viewpoint that fosters self-knowledge and compassion, aligning with other philosophies and practices that value wholeness, balance, harmony, and interconnectedness. Diverse fields, such as education, business, and
community building, have embraced the systemic wisdom this model has to offer.
Mariel Pastor and Richard Schwartz, PhD in 1999
As an international lead trainer for IFS, Mariel is known for the clarity, warmth, and humor she brings to this complex and nuanced work. She is the principal author of the IFS official training manual, as well as the creator of the Unburdened Internal System mandala and curriculum, providing a vision of hope and relief.
Through Character Mapping, Mariel creatively weaves together IFS and other body-mind approaches within an Integral framework, recognizing the profound power of stories and the act of storytelling. This acknowledgment comes from her experience guiding clients and fellow storytellers on journeys of self-discovery, as well as from her dedication to her own personal work and growth.