Exploring "Inside Out 2" Through the Lens of IFS and EMDR Therapy

As a therapist specializing in combining Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), I particularly loved "Inside Out 2." The first film titled "Inside Out” provided a brilliant and accessible depiction of human emotions and the inner workings of the mind. I expected the sequel to continue exploring these themes but was delighted to see that they added the concept of Core Beliefs. In this blog, I delve into how "Inside Out 2" can be interpreted through the perspectives of IFS and EMDR, two powerful therapeutic approaches that help individuals understand and heal their emotional landscapes.

*Spoiler Alert* Pause here and come back after you’ve watched the movie! 

Internal Family Systems (IFS): Embracing Our Internal Parts

IFS, developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, tells us that our systems are composed of various "parts," from every age and experience we’ve ever had. IFS also has a concept of core Self which we explore more about SELF here.

Each part has their own perspective, feelings, and roles. These parts often develop as a response to our experiences, particularly those from our childhood. In "Inside Out," we see personified emotions like Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, which can be likened to the different parts in IFS. 

As IFS therapists, we love the film as an example to help clients visualize and understand their internal parts. The colorful and dynamic representation of emotions can serve as a metaphor for the IFS process, where clients learn to identify, understand, and compassionately engage with their parts. By recognizing that each part has a purpose and a story, clients can begin to foster self-compassion and healing.

In "Inside Out 2," we see Riley's internal world become more complex as she navigates late adolescence, a time of significant change and emotional upheaval. We are introduced to emerging emotions such as Envy, Ennui, Embarrassment, Nostalgia, and Anxiety.

From an IFS perspective, this period often brings forward exiled parts—those aspects of ourselves that hold painful emotions or memories we have tried to suppress. In the film, we watch Joy try to get rid of painful memories in the beginning and see that powerfully intensified by the introduction of anxiety. 

Lastly through an IFS lens, Inside Out 2 shows how parts of us try to protect us by exiling other parts of ourselves and how that creates a limited and extreme expression of Riley’s system in the movie.

Now let’s explore the movie through the lens of EMDR Therapy.

EMDR: Healing Through Processing

EMDR, developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro, is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals process and integrate traumatic memories. Trauma is not what happened to you, but rather what someone stores as distressing or disturbing in their system.

EMDR involves using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, to help reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional charge. Learn more about EMDR HERE.

 In "Inside Out," we saw how Riley's memories were stored and retrieved, giving us a glimpse into the importance of memory in shaping our emotional experiences.

In "Inside Out 2," we see Riley’s core beliefs and how the effect how she faces new challenges. Throughout the movie, we watch as Anxiety stores negative Core Beliefs ultimately changing how Riley thinks about herself and others and how that creates more stress and acting out behaviors. Later in the movie, Riley’s Core beliefs are restored to a balanced system. Ultimately this creates more safety in Riley’s inner and outer world.

This mirrors the EMDR process, where clients often revisit and reprocess past traumas to understand the core beliefs they formed and work toward healing that belief. The film shows neuroplasticity in action -  the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. or put simply the idea that memory is stored in our system and that it can be re-accessed and changed how it's stored. And most importantly how our systems are organized affects emotional intensity and behaviors.

This movie serves as a metaphor for the EMDR process, where clients reprocess traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact, leading to a more balanced and integrated emotional state.

Conclusion: A Therapeutic Lens on "Inside Out 2

"Inside Out 2" has the potential to offer valuable insights into the human psyche, making it a useful tool for therapists trained in IFS and EMDR. By personifying emotions and memories, the film is a powerful tool to help clients visualize and understand their internal experiences. 

Whether you are a therapist or simply interested in your own internal world, watching "Inside Out 2" through the lens of IFS and EMDR can deepen your appreciation of the complexities of the human mind and the transformative power of therapy.
To learn more about IFS, visit: https://ifs-institute.com/

To learn more about EMDR, visit: https://emdria.org/

Authorship: This blog was written by Morgan Levine, LCSW. Morgan specializes in working with adults (18+) through the lens of neurodiversity, grief, and complex trauma. Her clients are people from across the lifespan and lived experiences who experience anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD, obsessions and compulsions, relationship issues, CPTSD, use of substances or people, attachment wounds, and specific trauma events.

Disclaimer: The information in this blog is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health care nor a recommendation or endorsement for any particular treatment plan, organization, provider, professional service, or product. The information may change without notice. No claims, promises, or guarantees are made about the completeness, accuracy, currency, content or quality of information linked. You assume all responsibility and risk for any use of the information.

IFS EMDR Therapy Group is an outpatient therapy group founded by Morgan Levine. We specialize in helping adults struggling with the effects of living in dysfunctional systems move toward healing and wholeness. We provide therapy to address symptoms such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, grief, obsessive and compulsive thoughts and behaviors including but not limited to using work, perfectionism, substances, relationships, food, etc. We offer ongoing support as well as EMDR intensives; both of which are informed by IFS, EMDR, DBT, CBT, Polyvagal Theory, trauma-informed yoga, attachment, and other recovery principles. Our therapists work virtually with clients living throughout Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Colorado and Florida. Morgan Levine also provides trauma-informed consultation to therapists worldwide. Want to work with us? Schedule a free consultation here: https://ifsemdrtherapy.com/contact-us.