Richard C. Schwartz is an American systemic family therapist, academic, and author, recognized for creating the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of therapy. He began his career in the field of systemic family therapy and has held academic positions at the University of Illinois and Northwestern University. Schwartz developed the IFS model in the 1980s, inspired by his clients' descriptions of their internal experiences as consisting of various 'parts' of their 'Self.' He emphasizes that these inner parts possess valuable qualities and that healing occurs through integrating these aspects of the self.

In 2000, Dr. Schwartz founded the Center for Self Leadership, which provides training and workshops in IFS for both professionals and the general public, both domestically and internationally. He is a sought-after speaker at national professional organizations and has authored five books and over fifty articles on the subject of IFS. His notable works include 'Internal Family Systems Therapy' and 'No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model.' Schwartz's contributions to therapy have made a significant impact on the field of mental health.