Internal Family Systems

Is internal family systems therapy right for you? 

Internal Family Systems is an evidence-based psychotherapy and counselling approach founded in the early 1990s by Richard Schwartz. IFS is a successful tool in the therapy-based exploration of trauma, depression, compulsive behaviours, body image, anxiety, phobias and substance dependence. If you experience a strong inner critic, inner judge, self-sabotage, shame, fear or anger then IFS might be the right psychotherapy and counselling process for you. 

What is IFS (internal family systems)? 

IFS is a transformative tool that conceives every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts led by a core self. IFS believes individuals have a multiplicity of internal parts that interact and influence their thoughts, feelings and sense of self – and that is a good thing. Just like members of a family, inner parts are forced from their valuable states into extreme roles within us. Self is in everyone. It can’t be damaged. It knows how to heal. 

IFS is frequently used as an evidence-based psychotherapy, helping people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts. IFS creates inner and outer connectedness by helping people first access their self and, from that core, come to understand and heal their parts. 

Source: IFS Institute

What to expect

IFS is a gentle and compassionate approach to healing trauma that can be used as a standalone practice or combined with other modalities such as somatic therapy, mindfulness and meditation, psychodrama, shadow work and inner child work. 

Using the techniques provided by Dick Schwartz, I will help guide you in: 

• Discovering your wise, compassionate essence of goodness that is a source of healing and harmony. 
• Accessing the self, working with challenging protector parts, identifying triggers and more. 
• Befriending the inner critic, the saboteur and turn these parts into powerful allies.
• Learning why your parts become distorted and stuck in childhood trauma and cultural beliefs. 

My internal family systems therapy qualifications

I have completed the 'Embracing all of you' program by the internationally recognised systemic family therapist, Dick Schwartz and Gabor Mate.