Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Getting to Know Your Inner World
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a gentle, intuitive model of therapy that helps you explore the many "parts" that live within you—your inner world. Each of us has different parts that carry emotions, stories, or roles they've taken on to protect us. You might recognise parts like the inner critic, the perfectionist, the people-pleaser, or the part that numbs or withdraws.
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Rather than trying to get rid of these parts, IFS invites us to turn toward them with curiosity and compassion. These parts formed for a reason—often in response to pain, trauma, or unmet needs. By getting to know them, we begin to understand the deeper needs and intentions behind their behaviour.
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IFS is also about accessing your core Self—the calm, compassionate, and wise presence within you. From this place, we can meet each part with respect, build trust, and begin to unburden what they’ve been holding.
In an IFS-informed session, we may:
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Explore specific parts of you that feel activated, reactive, or overwhelmed
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Create inner dialogue between your Self and your parts
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Understand what each part is trying to protect you from
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Invite healing and release for parts that carry pain, fear, or shame
IFS can be particularly helpful for:
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Inner criticism, shame, and self-doubt
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Anxiety and emotional overwhelm
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Relationship struggles rooted in past wounds
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Trauma and protective patterns
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People seeking deeper self-understanding and integration
This work is empowering because it honours that you already have everything you need inside. You are not broken—you’re made up of many parts doing their best to protect you. With care and guidance, these parts can begin to soften, and your Self can lead the way toward healing.
