The Internal Family Systems Model (IFS), first developed by Richard C. Schwartz, is an integrative approach to individual psychotherapy that combines systems thinking with the view that mind is made up of separate subpersonalities, each with its own viewpoint and qualities. The focus of IFS therapy is to get to know each of these subpersonalities and understand how they work as a whole in order to better achieve healing. IFS can be used to treat individuals, couples, and families and it has been shown to be effective for treating a variety issues, including depression, anxiety, and panic. Think this approach might be right for you? Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s Internal Family Systems specialists today.
Level 1 training + 20 years of practice
— Elizabeth Hinkle, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Virginia Beach, VAUsing IFS therapy, I aim to help my clients to get to know and negotiate with the different parts that constitute their whole self, and achieve an understanding of the ways in which they can best interact.
— Isha Kumar, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York, NYI am trained in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) protocols. I have completed training and receive continuing education and consultation as an IFS informed therapist through ifsca.ca. As we learn to approach our different parts from a place of openhearted compassion, we can experience insight and deeper healing. The outcome of IFS therapy techniques include the unburdening and transformation of our parts bringing a sense of inner freedom and peace.
— Cherie Mills, Psychotherapist in Austin, TXWe are multifaceted beings and Internal Family Systems or IFS takes a deeper dive into your internal family system of parts. During our sessions together, I will support you in exploring the many parts of you and how they came to be. We may find that our parts may be acting as protectors from past traumas and fears, leading to avoidance behaviors and preventing healing. We may find that they are reactive and impulsive or we may find the ones that are hidden and exiled away due to shame.
— Julius Peterson, Clinical Social Worker in Decatur, GAI enjoy using an Internal Family Systems framework to understand our inner dynamics and how our various selves respond to the world around us. IFS can be super powerful for developing insight and self-compassion.
— Viviana Del Aguila Niebylski, Mental Health Counselor in New York, NYAs an IFS practitioner, I bring both professional expertise and personal experience, having navigated my own healing with this transformative approach. Recognizing that we all comprise different parts, I destigmatize mental health, affirming the inherent goodness within each facet. Guiding you through this therapeutic journey, I leverage my unique blend of knowledge and personal understanding to foster self-discovery, creativity, and lasting growth.
— Laura Clay, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Lisle, ILParts work is an essential component of treating trauma as a whole, due to our human tendency to dissociate to varying degrees. This is a gentle, respectful, yet powerful approach.
— Anya Surnitsky, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in ,As an IFS-trained therapist, frightening and extreme behaviors are compassionately understood as sincere attempts to help restore balance and calm within ourselves. As a non-pathologizing approach to psychotherapy and understanding behavior, we can acknowledge and validate the parts of ourselves that desperately try to help soothe us, without degrading, criticizing, or invalidation . We can also safely help unburden our wounded parts that hold pain and keep us stuck in ineffectual patterns.
— Cameron Lewis, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Redmond, WAInternal Family Systems is the framework I use the most since it is applicable to almost any issue a person is dealing with. Otherwise known as "Parts Work", this approach is considered a "psychospiritual model" which means there is an element of spirituality to this type of work and it's fascinating to see deep transformation in clients who are open to exploring with experiential methods using IFS. It's way more complicated than this but I assure you it would be helpful to you!
— Stacey Hellman, Clinical Social Worker in Ellicott City, MDHave a background working at a residential/outpatient treatment facility based in IFS, and continue to refer to the model. Thinking of true self and parts of the psyche has been helpful to most of my clients to move past many of their problematic behaviors/thought patterns and to get to how we can heal their attachment wound.
— Kelley Collins, Licensed Professional Counselor in ,We are all made up of parts as well as a core, nuclear self. Some parts develop in response to difficult experiences from our past to protect us from the dangers of the world. These parts can remain active for years, trying to protect us in ways that no longer work to promote our wellbeing. Learn how to manage these parts and support your core self and its expression in the world.
— Michael Germany, Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in Austin, TXAKA "Parts Work". Multiple parts exist within us, each with their own needs, wants, fears, and beliefs. All of them are important - even the ones we don’t like. Parts Work can help name, give voice to, and integrate these parts. It can be particularly helpful for expanding our sense of agency and clarity when addressing stuckness, inner conflict, ambivalence, and self sabotage. If you’ve seen the movie Inside Out and resonate with the “emotional headquarters” concept, this is probably your jam.
— Aerin Riegelsberger, Associate Clinical Social Worker in Oakland, CAI am Level 1 and 2 trained through the Internal Family Systems Institute. I am passionate about the potential of this model for healing emotional wounds and helping people experience change and growth. I have assisted in trainings to teach this model to other therapists, and I regularly receive consultation with an IFS Institute certified consultant.
— Seth Auman, Licensed Professional Clinical CounselorI integrate an IFS framework with many clients.
— Elisa Colera, Licensed Professional Counselor in Houston, TXInternal Family Systems (IFS) helps people navigate their problems in an experiential, hands-on way that gets to the core of what's causing the problems. IFS can help you heal by accessing and healing your protective and wounded inner parts.
— Lauren Timkovich, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, COUsing IFS, we partner to explore your inner world and get to know your parts of self. Though they are all pieces of the whole, there are parts that protect, parts that defend, parts that lead, and parts that get exiled away. Through this approach, powerful change happens. We can increase self-awareness, resolve inner conflict, heal pain, change destructive behavior and gain flexibility.
— Blake Locher, Licensed Professional Counselor in Portland, ORBecoming certified in IFS has become a really challenging endeavor. Fortunately, I have found many wonderful opportunities for training and experience. I have my own IFS Level 3 therapist and am working peer to peer with a long time LCSW. I currently use IFS with all my clients who are willing. Hands down it is the most amazingly magically fantastic way to heal trauma from current life experiences and intergenerational trauma.
— Sabrina Hanan, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate in Bozeman, MTAs a Level 2 trained IFS therapist, I believe there is nothing "wrong" with you! I view each problem as a burden that part of you has taken on, likely at a young age, as a way to help you cope with overwhelm. By nurturing your relationships with these parts, you will learn to access your true Self - a place of wisdom that embodies curiosity, calm, courage, confidence, creativity, compassion, connectedness, and clarity.
— Maryann Bavisotto, Social Worker in Buffalo, NY