Empowering you to make changes and

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a compassionate, evidence--informed approach based on the idea that we all have different "parts" within us --- distinct thoughts, emotions, and patterns that develop throughout our lives.  These parts often carry protective roles, emotional wounds, or unmet needs, and they can come into conflict when life feels overwhelming.

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Instead of seeing yourself as one fixed identity, IFS helps you understand your inner world as a collection of parts that each have a purpose.  Some parts try to keep you safe by managing, controlling, or avoiding difficult feelings.  Other parts hold pain, fear, grief, or vulnerability from earlier experiences.  All parts are welcome, and all parts deserve compassion.

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IFS supports you in connecting with your Self --- the calm, grounded, curious inner presence that can listen to your parts with understanding and care.  From this place, you can begin to build a more harmonious internal system.

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In our work together, IFS may involve:

• noticing different thoughts, feelings, and impulses as "parts"

• understanding what each part is trying to protect or express

• offering compassion to wounded or burdened parts

• helping protective parts relax and trust their inner leadership

• gently unblending from overwhelming emotions to create space

• developing a more peaceful, coherent internal world

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IFS is not about blaming yourself or forcing change.  It is about helping each part feel seen, understood, and supported so you can move through life with greater clarity and emotional ease.

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This approach is especially supportive for people who feel internally conflicted, overwhelmed, stuck in repeated patterns, or burdened by self-criticism.  It is also a gentle and effective way of working with trauma, grief, fear, and childhood emotional wounds.

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References:

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Anderson, F. S., Sweezy, M., & Schwartz, R. C. (2017). Internal family systems skills training manual: Trauma-informed treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD & substance abuse. PESI Publishing.

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Schwartz, R. C. (2021). No bad parts: Healing trauma and restoring wholeness with the Internal Family Systems model. Sounds True.

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Schwartz, R. C., & Sweezy, M. (2020). Internal family systems therapy (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.

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Weiss, D. M. (2021). Internal Family Systems therapy: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 87, 102030.

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Zweig, C., & Wolf, S. (1997). Romancing the shadow: Illuminating the dark side of the psyche. Healing Arts Press.