IFS Meets Novelas: What Telenovelas Can Teach Us About Our Inner World
If you grew up watching novelas, you know they’re more than just entertainment. They’re lessons in drama, resilience, family, and the hidden battles playing out beneath the surface.
And believe it or not, novelas have a lot in common with Internal Family Systems (IFS)—a therapeutic approach that helps us understand the different “parts” of ourselves.
At MINDplexcity, our founder, Mayra Vasquez, grew up in the Dominican Republic where novelas were a cultural staple. Today, she weaves that storytelling wisdom into her therapeutic lens. Because just like in a novela, your inner world has a whole cast of characters—and every single one of them has something important to say.
The Inner Cast of Characters
Think of IFS like your own personal novela. Inside you are “parts” that play different roles, all trying to protect you in their own way.
The Managers = The Protective Mamá
Every novela has the mamá who tries to keep everything in order—controlling the chaos, setting the rules, keeping up appearances.
In IFS, Managers do the same. They plan, organize, criticize, and push you to stay safe and acceptable.
Just like mamá, their love can sometimes come across as overbearing.
The Firefighters = The Dramatic Villain
No novela is complete without a villain who bursts in, flips the table, and sets the whole scene on fire.
In IFS, that’s your Firefighters—parts that react when pain breaks through.
They distract with binge-watching, overeating, drinking, anger—anything to stop you from feeling hurt.
Dramatic? Yes. But beneath the theatrics, they’re just trying to protect you fast.
The Exiles = The Hidden Child
At the center of so many novelas is a child or a secret—something hidden away because it’s too painful to face.
In IFS, these are your Exiles—the tender parts carrying shame, sadness, or trauma.
They’re vulnerable and easily overwhelmed, so Managers and Firefighters work overtime to keep them out of sight.
The Plot Twist: Enter the Self
Every novela eventually reaches the turning point—the moment when truth, compassion, or unexpected love transforms the whole storyline.
In IFS, that moment comes when your Self takes the lead. Self isn’t another character; it’s the director of the show—the calm, compassionate, curious presence that helps all the parts be seen and heard.
Instead of silencing the villain, overworking the mamá, or burying the child, Self listens to each of them. And that’s when healing happens: the drama softens, the cast finds balance, and the story moves toward resolution.
Why This Matters
So often, people come to therapy thinking they need to “get rid” of the parts they don’t like—the critic, the binge-eater, the angry voice. But novelas remind us: every character has depth, history, and a role in the story.
IFS helps us approach ourselves the same way. No part is bad. Each one has a reason for being there. And when we meet them with compassion, we can rewrite the script of our lives.
Final Scene
Whether you grew up watching novelas with your abuela or you’re just hearing this metaphor for the first time, the takeaway is simple:
Your inner world is a story worth telling. And with IFS, you don’t have to erase characters to find peace—you just need to let your Self take the lead.
At MINDplexcity, we help clients explore their own inner novelas, not with judgment, but with curiosity and compassion. Because when every part of you gets to speak, you finally get the ending you deserve.
Want to learn more about IFS and how it can help you? Schedule your free consultation today!
