Dr. Richard Schwartz

Dr. Richard Schwartz is the founder of Internal Family Systems therapy and a pioneer in modern trauma treatment. He began his career as a family therapist and professor, teaching at institutions including the University of Illinois at Chicago and working at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. His background in family systems theory strongly influenced the development of IFS.

Over several decades, Schwartz refined IFS into a widely used therapeutic model practiced globally. He founded what later became the IFS Institute, which provides professional training and research development. He also serves as an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Through his work, Schwartz has helped reshape how therapists and individuals understand the human mind—offering a framework grounded in compassion, dignity, and the belief that every part of us deserves care.