Therapeutic approach
Understanding the different parts of yourself with compassion.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a transformative, evidence-based therapy that helps you understand the many 'parts' of your inner world — and develop a compassionate relationship with all of them.
Developed by Dr Richard Schwartz, IFS is based on the idea that the mind is naturally made up of multiple 'sub-personalities' or 'parts'. Some parts protect us; others carry burdens from past experiences. At the core of every person is a 'Self' — a place of calm, curiosity, and compassion.
In IFS therapy, your therapist helps you get to know your various parts — their roles, their fears, and the burdens they carry. Rather than trying to eliminate difficult parts, you learn to understand and care for them, which allows the whole system to come into balance.
IFS is highly effective for trauma, anxiety, depression, self-criticism, relationship difficulties, eating concerns, and any pattern where you feel 'at war with yourself'. It is a gentle, deeply respectful approach.
You'll be guided to turn inward and notice what's present — thoughts, feelings, sensations, images. Your therapist will help you approach each part with curiosity rather than judgment. Sessions often feel both insightful and deeply settling.