Internal Family Systems Therapist Online and In-person in Orange County, CA
IFS Certified Therapist, IFS Institute
Online therapy for IFS in California and Florida
All parts of you are welcome here
Do you hear a critical voice inside your head?
Are you someone who…
Often hears a voice telling you, “You’re stupid” or “You’re worthless”?
Feels frustrated at yourself for reacting to others?
Feels conflicted inside when it comes to making decisions?
Feels puzzled about why you behave the way you do?
Feels a lack of harmony and peace within?
Then IFS Therapy may be just the therapy for you!
All of us have different parts inside of us that think, feel. and behave differently. This is completely normal and we all have parts. Some of us can have parts that conflict with one another which causes us to feel stuck and confused about ourselves and how to move forward in life. We often also have critical parts that say unkind things to us.
Have you been wanting to go to the gym to focus on your physical health? You feel motivated and really want this and you devise a whole plan. But then your alarm goes off, you groan, say to yourself, “maybe tomorrow”, and roll back to sleep? In this example, you have a part that really is motivated to go to the gym but you also have a part that tells you not to go to the gym. Together, we would uncover how all the parts have some good intensions for you, even the behavior does not make sense right now.
Heal your inner world
What is IFS?
IFS stands for Intern Family Systems. It is an evidence-based modality that helps people get to know and understand all parts of themselves, including parts that hold wounds. By getting to know these parts and understanding the memories that shaped them, we can uncover how each part within has a positive intention for you. Through this understanding, you can have greater compassion for the parts that aim to protect you and the parts that hold the hurt. In doing so, you will have greater awareness of when parts are activated and how to be there for them. Thus, you will have more harmony internally between parts and in relationships with other people due to you being less emotionally activated.
One of the compelling qualities of IFS is that this modality is permission-focused. This means in order to get to know a part, other parts must give us permission. Additionally, IFS offers relief for generational trauma and cultural burdens. Another hallmark of IFS is that you are the one who is the healing agent; “the one you have been waiting for”. Think of me as your guide and let’s journey together into learning and befriending your beautiful internal system.
What can IFS Therapy do for you…
● Heal hurt/traumatized parts
● Increase self-compassion
● Befriend critical parts by understanding their positive intention
● Increase ability to make decisions
Healing your inner world is worth investing in
FAQs
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IFS Therapy is a therapeutic model that looks at how all of us have parts inside of us that have their own beliefs, thoughts and feelings. With IFS, we work on getting to know, heal and unburden these parts to improve internal harmony.
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Yes, by NREPP (National Registry for Evidence Based Programs and Practices). Clinical trials have shown IFS to decrease PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, increase healing and increase personal growth.
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IFS focuses on getting to know the parts that are involved in a given situation. We gain permission from other parts to work with one part exclusively. The hope is that you in Self energy can be compassionate and curious about this part so that it feels connected to you, less alone, and less pressured to behave the way it does. Through getting to know these protective parts, we then hope to gain permission to work with the hurt parts to heal them.
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Most individuals can benefit. Some individuals may have more protective systems than others which means the pacing may be slower so that parts can feel comfortable granting permission to heal wounded parts. Some IFS providers state that IFS may not be suitable for highly dissociated individuals or those with psychosis, however this is debated within the IFS community of practitioners.
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Yes. IFS has been integrated with EMDR as they naturally meld together to heal wounded, traumatized parts. I am EMDR Certified and able to combing the two, giving us further pathways for healing.
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IFS addresses trauma in that parts inside our system become more rigid and extreme due to painful events in our life. By getting to know these parts and why they do what they do through our Self energy, we can offer compassion and connection to allow them space to be healed and unburdened.
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Full IFS Training is only recognized and conducted through the IFS Institute. There are three Levels of training and Level 1 is nearly 90 hours and is considered the full training. Level 2 and 3 are considered advanced training. Given the popularity of IFS, it may be beneficial to find an IFS Therapist or Practitioner through the IFS Institute.
Learn more about the IFS Provider Directory on the IFS Institute
Video about IFS Therapy