Internal Family Systems

I completed my level one training from the IFS Institute in July of 2022. I will be taking a level two training specialized in eating disorders and addictions in November of 2023.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a cutting-edge psychotherapy that views individuals as composed of multiple "parts" or sub-personalities, each with its own characteristics and emotions. It aims to help clients understand and harmonize these parts, fostering self-leadership and healing. Through guided visualization and dialogue, clients explore their inner dynamics, resolving conflicts and achieving greater integration and balance within themselves.

My graduate training and education heavily focused on Internal Family Systems and Ego-State Therapy. Imagine if the bad-ass part of yourself that shows up at work could also be the part that shows up when you have lunch with your mother. That would be pretty powerful, and it's also fully possible. Conceptualizing who we are into parts of a diverse and hard-working team is such a powerful tool that can provide immediate results.

I am in the process of receiving training and certification in Internal Family Systems therapy.

IFS takes the approach that we all have an inner world made up of of parts that want to help us, but who have taken on extreme roles in an effort to keep us safe. These extreme parts become less disruptive and more cooperative once their concerns are addressed and they feel safer. IFS is a research-supported therapy with established efficacy. It feels like doing family therapy in your head! When you listen to all your parts, and access your core Self, you can heal your wounded parts.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is my primary treatment modality for individuals. I help clients recognize internal conflicts that are keeping them paralyzed and holding them back from healing. IFS helps me identify root cause issues that can persist for years and through this identification, clients can learn to self-soothe and move forward.

I've received additional training on IFS and found this to be quite a powerful intervention for most individuals.

I completed a level one IFS training in Oct 2023, which included 90 classroom hours of participating in lectures, small and large group discussions, experiential activities, and practicing the IFS model as therapist, client, and observer. In 2024 I assisted with a QTIFS training led by Sand Chang and Nic Wildes. I continue to engage in practicing IFS with colleagues and clients.

Each individual contains multiple parts, each of which play an important role in the makeup of who someone is. Each part must be acknowledged, understood, and integrated into a person's whole and true self in order to heal.

I'm very grateful that Dr. Richard Schwartz came along and hugely upgraded the "inner child work" that many of us had been doing for decades. IFS tools allow us to work with immediacy to address what's happening and provide relief.

IFS is focused on exploring and getting to know all the different parts within us that make up who we are and influence how we think, feel, and act. Using IFS, we can help you to befriend the various parts of self, including some of the parts that might be protecting you from past trauma or carrying the pain of past trauma.

Internal Family Systems, or IFS therapy, is a distinct approach that sees the mind as a family system with different parts playing specific roles. Through therapy, the focus is on understanding and fostering communication among these parts. Integrating these aspects leads to a balanced and harmonious inner life, promoting emotional well-being and personal growth.

I frequently use the non-pathologizing "all parts are welcome" techniques in my sessions. While not yet officially trained in IFS, i have self studied the concepts extensively and love the non judgmental approach this method offers.

Sometimes we repeat patterns or behaviors that we don't like, that don't seem to make sense. Whether it's emotional eating, perfectionism or overwork, the struggle feels intractable. We may feel conflicted, like part of us wants to do one thing or be a certain way, while another part of us wants to go the opposite direction. IFS offers a framework for understanding these inner conflicts, and support a return to harmony within that honors the wisdom of your True Self.

Level 1 training + 20 years of practice

IFS welcomes all of you into the room. Your scared parts. Your bold parts. Your hedonistic, critical, joyful, depressed, shut down, sad parts. We are all complex humans. We have internal conflicts, coping strategies we’ve outgrown, deep hurts we’re carrying. As an IFS therapist, I support you in learning to embrace your whole being. As you connect deeply to your inner landscape, you will find more compassion, acceptance, and understanding for yourself.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is my primary treatment modality. I help clients recognize internal conflicts that are keeping them paralyzed and holding them back from healing. IFS helps me identify root cause issues that can persist for years and through this identification, clients can learn to self-soothe and move forward.