IFS is a gentle and transformative form of therapy that sees your mind as naturally made up of different "parts"—like an inner family. Some parts hold the pain of past experiences, while others have taken on extreme roles to protect you from being hurt again. In a compassionate, collaborative process, we will work together to gain and increase access your core Self—your inner source of wisdom and healing. From this place of strength, you can help your wounded and protective parts unburden their pain, bringing your whole system back into harmony.

What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy for trauma?

Trauma can leave you feeling fragmented, reactive, and overwhelmed, as if your internal world is in constant conflict.

In IFS, we see three primary types of parts:

• Exiles: These parts are often young and carry the wounds, shame, and painful memories of your past trauma. To prevent you from feeling this pain, your system keeps them hidden.

• Managers: These proactive protectors try to keep you in control and prevent your exiles from being triggered. This can result in perfectionism, people-pleasing, overworking, restricting behaviors, or constant anxiety.

• Firefighters: These reactive protectors jump in to numb or distract you when an exile is triggered and overwhelms the system. Common firefighter activities include substance use, binge eating, compulsive behaviors, or angry outbursts.

Why IFS is a powerful approach for trauma healing

• Non-pathologizing: IFS believes there are "no bad parts." Even the most destructive behaviors are understood as coping strategies developed to protect you.

• Empowering: You are in the driver's seat of your healing journey. The therapist acts as a guide, trusting in your innate capacity to heal.

• Gentle and safe: This collaborative approach proceeds at your pace and is specifically designed to avoid re-traumatization by respecting your protectors every step of the way.

• Lasting change: By addressing the root causes of trauma rather than just the symptoms, IFS helps you find deeper, more sustainable healing.