Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that focuses on helping people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts. Under the scope of IFS, it is believed that we are all made up of different parts of ourselves; each part is necessary to help us survive different aspects and times in our lives.
It has been helpful to clients who have struggled with Trauma, anxiety, depression, attachment issues, self-esteem, shame, anger issues, and more, and it uses a non-pathologizing approach.
How Does the Internal Family Systems Model Work?
In IFS therapy, a therapist will guide the client in identifying their parts of self and work with them to release parts that might carry a burden and be stuck in time.
The therapist will guide you in:
- Finding or identifying the part that needs attention.
- Focusing on that part, giving the part your full attention.
- Fleshing Out or describing the part, what it looks and feels like.
- Discuss any feelings that arise toward that part.
- BeFriending the part by exploring this part more deeply, getting curious about it, and accepting its presence.
- Exploring the part’s fears and what might happen if its function shifted.
If you or someone you know would benefit from Internal Family Systems, please contact me today. I would be happy to speak with you about how I may be able to help.