IFS (Internal Family Systems):
IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy—also known as parts work—helps individuals explore their inner world by identifying and understanding the various parts of their personality. Through guided introspection and dialogue, clients develop a relationship with these parts, which promotes healing, self- awareness, and emotional well-being.
Have you ever felt like one part of you wants something and another part of you wants something else?
This is the concept of having multiplicity of the mind. We all have many parts to us and different parts have different roles in our lives. We have parts that want to protect us from discomfort, parts that want us to be successful, and parts of us that have been hurt that we really don’t like to think about or acknowledge. IFS is a treatment model that helps all of these parts communicate so your whole system is working together.
I like to use the analogy with clients of having all of our parts together in a bus. This bus then drives our thoughts, feelings and actions. Now let’s say that you have a deadline for work or school coming up. If the part of you driving the bus is organized and resilient to distress, you’re able to complete the project on time efficiently and feel pretty good about it. However, if the part of you driving the bus is that little kid that got bullied and never feels they are good enough, you’re going to have a lot of feelings that are difficult to cope with. You may even struggle to accomplish what you know you need to get done due to the fear that younger part holds.
IFS parts work therapy is often helpful for clients who repeat negative thoughts, behaviors, or life patterns that are holding them back from living their most authentic lives. It can resolve the impact of upsetting childhood (or adulthood) experiences that continue to cause strong reactions when thinking about the past. And it can help address powerful, overwhelming emotions.
IFS Therapy is also effective at treating a number of other challenges:
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anxiety, depression, trauma/PTSD
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negative self-beliefs, criticism of self
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self-esteem, self-doubt, self-worth issues
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perfectionist or people-pleasing tendencies
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relationship issues, grief and loss, addiction
Perhaps You've Tried Talk Therapy Before Without Success
Unlike some forms of therapy, IFS therapy is both a holistic and research-driven approach to healing that allows for a deeper exploration of underlying issues and conflicts. IFS creates a safe and non- judgmental space for you to explore your inner world.
It helps you uncover core issues by addressing the underlying emotions and beliefs that drive behaviors. As a treatment method, it’s trauma-informed and highly adaptable to your individual needs and goals. And because it is a person-centered therapy model, IFS places you in the driver's seat of your own healing journey.
To supplement the therapeutic process, I can also integrate other tools into Internal Family Systems. For instance, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are intrinsically linked in order to create shifts in those individual areas, positively affecting the whole system.
EMDR (Eye Movement, Desensitization, and Reprocessing) therapy focuses on processing and lessening the intensity of painful memories often attributed to trauma and negative life experiences. EMDR uses guided talk therapy in conjunction with bilateral stimulation techniques (e.g., side-to-side eye movements) to effectively rewire the brain and how it processes information.
Together, these tools can help you regulate emotions, resolve inner conflict, and overcome personal challenges. You can heal even the deepest wounds and finally let go of the past. However, at the end of the day, IFS is about more than just healing, managing symptoms, or navigating problems. At its core, parts work is about fostering personal growth and self-discovery. I want to help you cultivate greater self-awareness and improve your relationships not only with others, but more importantly, with yourself. Ultimately, I’m here to give you the insight and tools you need to take charge of your own journey toward healing.
Ready to get started? Have some more questions?