Internal Family Systems (IFS)

A moment of connection: embracing the simplicity and serenity of slowing down. In a typical fifty-minute therapy session, you might expect to cover a lot of ground. Maybe you'll talk through the fight you had with your partner last week, process your anxiety about an upcoming work deadline, explore that thing your mother said on the phone, and touch on your childhood wounds for good measure. More topics mean more progress, right? Not necessarily. Sometimes in my sessions, we

A hand gently touches the serene water's surface, reflecting a moment of introspection and connection with nature. You can explain your anxiety with remarkable precision. You know exactly when it started, can trace it back to specific childhood experiences, and you've read enough psychology to understand the neuroscience behind it. You can tell your therapist about your attachment wounds, your core beliefs, your defensive patterns. You might even throw around clinical terms l

When we talk about privilege, most people immediately think of the visible forms: race, class, education, able-bodiedness. A white person doesn't get followed in stores. A wealthy person doesn't worry about making rent. Someone born into an upper-middle-class family has access to opportunities - quality education, professional networks, financial safety nets - that others don't. These privileges are well-documented and increasingly acknowledged. But there's another form of p

What if the most important therapeutic tool isn't a technique, but the quality of presence between two nervous systems? For decades, Western therapy has operated under an individualistic model: there's a broken person who needs fixing, and a skilled clinician who provides the fix. The client arrives with symptoms that reside "in" them, and through insight, coping skills, or behavioral change, they heal themselves. It's a hero's journey narrative - the brave client does "the w

Understanding your window of tolerance can transform how you navigate difficult emotions and traumatic experiences. When combined with Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, this powerful concept offers a roadmap for healing and self-compassion. Understanding Your Window of Tolerance: A Guide to Healing Understanding your window of tolerance can transform how you navigate difficult emotions and traumatic experiences. When combined with Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, t

Internal Family Systems Therapy: Choosing the Right IFS Therapist for Your Healing Journey Internal Family Systems therapy, or IFS therapy, has gained significant attention in recent years. It is a powerful approach for healing trauma and addressing complex emotional issues. As IFS becomes more popular, I see more therapists advertising that they offer this modality. While this growing interest in IFS is wonderful, it creates a challenge for those seeking help: how do you kno

When people first encounter Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy and discover they have multiple "parts," a common reaction is fear. Is something wrong with me? Does this mean I have multiple personalities? These concerns are completely understandable- and based on a fundamental misunderstanding of how the human psyche naturally works. The truth is, multiplicity is not pathological. It's human. Havin g different parts of yourself is evidence of your remarkable ability to ad