The natural healing force within us
I recently took a professional development webinar with Alexia Rothman on the clinical application of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. At one point she shared a quote from Hippocrates that really stayed with me. It felt familiar and very accurate, almost as if he was describing what we now call Self energy in IFS. The quote was: “Ο ἰατρὸς ἔνδον ἐστίν”, which translates to “The physician is within.” I love how direct and simple it is. Healing comes from the inside. Hippocrates understood this long before psychology existed, and versions of this same idea appear in so many cultures and traditions.
In Russian we say the heart knows, and we talk about dushevnost’, a kind of soulfulness and sincerity that lives inside a person. In Buddhism there is the inner refuge and Tathāgatagarbha, the inherent potential for awakening. In Judaism there is the idea of the neshama (נשמה), the soul that is pure and wise at its core. Each morning, the traditional prayer begins with: “The soul You have given me is pure.” In many Indigenous teachings there is an understanding that the body and spirit already carry what is needed for balance, a kind of inner medicine. And even in something as modern as Star Wars, we hear the same message in the language of “the Force.” Different cultures, different words — but the same truth repeats itself: something inside us knows how to move toward healing.
In IFS we call this place the Self. It’s not a part and not a coping strategy. It’s a steady inner presence that appears when our protectors soften. When Self is present, we naturally experience the eight Cs: Calm, Clarity, Curiosity, Compassion, Confidence, Courage, Creativity, and Connectedness. When even one of these qualities shows up, something shifts inside. The breath settles. There is more space. The nervous system begins to reorganize without being forced. Healing often begins with these small, quiet movements rather than dramatic breakthroughs.
Alexia also reminded us that therapy is not mainly about tools or techniques. It is about creating a safe environment where this inner healing force can emerge. The groundedness in the therapist’s body, the tone of the room, and the slow building of trust — these are what help protectors relax enough for the Self to lead. And when the Self begins to lead, even in small increments, the direction becomes clearer. There is more compassion toward our parts, more curiosity about what is happening inside, and more connection and self-leadership.
So I want to end with a simple question. Out of the eight Cs — calm, clarity, curiosity, compassion, confidence, courage, creativity, connectedness — which one feels the most reachable for you right now? For me today it’s curiosity, and very often creativity comes along with it. They always feel like the easiest doors to open.
Till next time. May the Force be with you.
