What is Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) and how can it help you?

A Fresh Way to Understand Yourself
Have you ever noticed that part of you wants to rest, but another part insists on pushing through? Or that you feel confident one moment and self-critical the next? Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy starts with the idea that this is completely normal — in fact, it’s how your mind is designed.
Rather than treating these “voices” as problems to silence, IFS helps you understand and work with them.

The Inner Team – Parts and Self
Imagine your inner world as a community. Some parts are protectors, stepping in to keep you safe when life gets rough. Others hold deep feelings from past experiences, waiting for the chance to be heard and healed. At the centre of it all is your “Self” — the calm, confident, compassionate leader that’s always there, even if hidden under layers of stress or pain.
IFS helps you connect with that Self so it can guide your parts toward balance.

Why This Approach Works
IFS is particularly helpful if you’ve tried other forms of talking therapy but still feel “stuck.” It’s effective for:

• Healing from trauma or complex PTSD

• Managing anxiety and depression

• Navigating identity exploration (including gender and sexuality)

• Reducing inner conflict and self-sabotage

A Gentle, Collaborative Process
In an IFS session, we’re not forcing change — we’re building trust with your parts. You might visualise a protective part as a watchful guard, or hear a wounded part speak for the first time. It can be deeply moving work, and you’re always in the driver’s seat.

Taking the First Step
If this sounds different from the therapy you’ve experienced before, it’s because it is. IFS isn’t about “fixing” you — it’s about helping all parts of you feel safe, valued, and understood.

More info: IFS Institute – About IFS