The Spirit-Led Life: Christianity and the Internal Family System

I really appreciated the candidness of this book

I found it thought provoking and at time humorous Mary's approach to her faith. I thought she missed the essence of IFS, as I understand it, which is Self led healing, i.e. from within, not external, through the Holy Spirit God outside of Self). Then she seems to "blend" the two, by saying that the Self is embodied with the Holy Spirit. Too bad the point didn't get brought up and discussed in the conversation with Richard, which is why I didn't rate it 5 stars. I found the conversation interesting and I felt I know both individuals better.Gord McCauley, MD

I was looking for a book that explained the IFS framework from a Christian perspective. I wasn't expecting to necessarily agree with the author in everything she said, but at the very least I thought the author would explain the model for those of us not as familiar with it.The book feels like the author's diary. She goes on an on about her experiences, how she found out about the model, and a lot of her thoughts, etc. I've read about 200 pages, hoping it would start explaining at some point how the model works, how to use it, etc. I've found NADA! Zero!!! Nil!! I can't do this any more. I won't read one more page! I appreciate the author's clever writing in some portions, but 99% of it is just ramblings. Tonight I finally decided to stop reading and just write a review to warn as many people as possible so they don't waste their time/money as I did. I never throw away books after reading them. I either donate them or keep them. But I can't in good conscience donate this book to anybody and I definitely don't want to keep it.I don't want to offend the author if she reads this, but I just had to get it out of my chest. I feel like I wasted hard-earned dollars and valuable time on this book that I will never recover. Sorry if this feels like a rambling! Would be so ironic since I'm criticizing the author for doing the same thing. If anyone has read this and had a difference experience, please enlighten me! Perhaps there's something of value there that I can use. Thanks for reading this! I want to think that I saved someone time and money with this review.

This is two books on IFS. I doubt most readers will enjoy both equally.The second book, pages 253-326, I believe is the more significant book, for the larger audience.It's a transcribed conversation between Richard and Mary. In it everything Richard has written and said in Youtube videos on IFS as a conversion of psychology, spirituality and physiology, comes together. Yes, IFS as a treatment for psychosomatic aspects of arthritis and diabetes is touched on here.This 73 pages would benefit from being published alone as it's a great intro to the IFS world, its issues and the bridges it builds to spiritual practices and ideas, Christian and otherwise.The first book, up to page 252 is Mary Steege's discourses on her life, how she came to incorpirae IFS into her life; and, into her Presbyterian Sunday sermons in Racine WI.This very different second book starts with the great sense of homecoming Mary, myself, and many have reported about--finally, psychology, spirituality and physiology put together again.After this I think what we have here is a long list of terrific ideas for Sunday sermons and talks to Chrsitians about conversing with parts, acepting parts and how IFS facilitates this without "selling" it.I'm sure Christians and other spiritual paths exploring applications of IFS will find BOTH these two texts valuable.Reviewer, Health Intuitive, Bruce Dickson online:http://www.Amazon.com/Bruce-Dickson-MSS/e/B007SNVG46

I've struggled with depression and anxiety for most of my days and a few months ago I found an internal family systems (IFS) trained therapist that is helping me put my life in order. I'm a devoted Christian and had some initial struggles integrating IFS with the bedrock that is my faith. Mary Steege's book gave me the context and tools to fully utilize this wondrously effective therapy and I am forever indebted to her. If you are not a Christian this book probably isn't for you, but IFS works regardless of your faith tradition --or no tradition.