Internal Family Systems vs. The Mace Energy Method: Which Approach Works Best?

When it comes to healing emotional pain, different modalities take very different routes. Two contemporary approaches—Internal Family Systems (IFS) and the Mace Energy Method™ (MEM™)—both seek to resolve suffering, but their philosophies and outcomes diverge in profound ways.

Origins & Foundational Principles

Internal Family Systems (IFS) was developed by Richard C. Schwartz in the 1980s. It posits that the psyche comprises multiple sub-personalities, or “parts,” such as managers, firefighters, and exiles, all organized around a calm and compassionate core known as the Self. The model emphasizes that each part has a positive intention, even if it operates dysfunctionally—and that harmony comes when the Self leads the internal system.¹ ² ³

The Mace Energy Method (MEM), by contrast, comes from John Mace’s philosophy of Causism. Instead of working with parts, MEM holds that emotional upsets create negative identities—energetic patterns buried in the psyche. These don’t need to be managed or befriended; they can be dis-created entirely. MEM is the practical technique for achieving that dis-creation quickly and permanently, rather than managing it.⁴ ⁵ ⁶

The Process in Practice

In IFS, the therapist helps a client enter a self-led state. From there, the client gently connects with inner parts: protectors (such as managers and firefighters) and vulnerable exiles. Protectors are acknowledged for their positive intent, while exiles are invited to unburden their pain when they feel safe. Over time, this ongoing dialogue creates more harmony and balance.¹ ³ ⁷

Conversely, MEM offers a more direct method of resolution. The client focuses on an unwanted emotion; their mind then produces an image that represents the negative identity. Through guided attention, that image—and thus the underlying negative emotion—is dis-created entirely. No personal storytelling or emotional unpacking is necessary, and the shift is often immediate and permanent. Once gone, it does not return.⁴ ⁵ ⁸

Ongoing Management vs. Complete Dis-creation

IFS is an ongoing management process. Healing unfolds gradually, with the client learning to identify, soothe, and integrate parts over many sessions. While profound shifts can occur, the work is about continuously cultivating compassion, balance, and understanding among parts.¹ ² ³

MEM, on the other hand, is about complete resolution. By dis-creating the negative identity lodged in the psyche, the issue itself disappears—meaning there is nothing left to manage. Clients often report that what once triggered them simply no longer exists as a problem.⁵ ⁶ ⁸

Comparison in Key Areas

Area	Internal Family Systems (IFS)	Mace Energy Method (MEM)
Philosophy	Inner world as a family of parts, each needing compassion & balance¹	Emotional upsets create negative identities lodged in the psyche that can be permanently dis-created⁴
Therapeutic Style	Ongoing, narrative-rich, dialogic exploration of parts²	Rapid, image-based, minimal narrative; no disclosure needed⁵
Goal	Manage and integrate parts for lasting harmony³	Dis-create negative identities so the issue is gone⁶
Duration	Typically long-term, ongoing practice¹ ³	Often 1–2 sessions per issue⁵ ⁸
Outcome	Greater self-awareness, ongoing balance of parts²	Permanent elimination of emotional upset⁴ ⁶

Client Experience

In IFS, clients often gain deep self-understanding. They may, for example, discover that a critical inner voice (a manager) is trying to protect them from failure, or that a numbing behavior (a firefighter) is shielding them from old pain. These insights can be life-changing, but the process requires continued practice and engagement, since parts continue to surface in new contexts.¹ ³

In MEM, the client doesn’t need to analyse or interpret their inner world. A practitioner doesn’t give advice or explanations—they simply guide the client through the dis-creation process. The result is usually immediate relief. Once a negative identity has been dis-created, it no longer resurfaces, freeing the client from the cycle of managing or revisiting it.⁵ ⁸

Which Path Fits Best?

IFS is suited for those who want to explore and understand their inner system in depth, and who are willing to engage in an ongoing relationship with their parts. It’s particularly powerful for those who value insight, self-compassion, and a steady process of personal growth.¹ ²

MEM is best for people who are ready to let go completely of unwanted emotional patterns. It appeals to those who want fast, permanent results without having to revisit or narrate painful events.⁴ ⁵ ⁶

Conclusion

Both Internal Family Systems and the Mace Energy Method offer pathways to emotional wellbeing—but they do so in different ways. IFS is about ongoing management, integration, and cultivating harmony among inner parts, while MEM is about permanently dis-creating the root cause lodged in the psyche so the issue is gone once and for all.

Your choice may depend on whether you feel drawn to a reflective, ongoing journey of inner dialogue (IFS) or to a direct, efficient resolution of emotional pain (MEM).

References

1. Schwartz, R. C. (1995). Internal Family Systems Therapy. New York: Guilford Press.

2. IFS Institute. (n.d.). Outline of the Internal Family Systems Model. Retrieved from https://ifs-institute.com/resources/articles/internal-family-systems-model-outline

3. Verywell Mind. (2023). What Is IFS Therapy? Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-ifs-therapy-internal-family-systems-therapy-5195336

4. Causism Institute. (n.d.). What is the Mace Energy Method? Retrieved from https://www.causisminstitute.com/about/mace-energy-method/

5. Expanding Awareness. (n.d.). About the Mace Energy Method. Retrieved from https://www.expandingawareness.com/about

6. Positive Health. (2002). The Mace Method for Emotional Healing. Retrieved from https://www.positivehealth.com/article/mind-matters/the-mace-method-for-emotional-healing

7. EPG PubPub. (2021). Unburdening Exiles in IFS. Retrieved from https://epg.pubpub.org/pub/wujn4nou

8. Strategies for Overcomers. (n.d.). The Mace Energy Method. Retrieved from https://www.strategiesforovercomers.com/the-mace-energy-method/