Internal Family Systems Therapy in New Mexico, Colorado, & Florida

What if the parts of you that you struggle with are actually trying to protect you?

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a compassionate, non-pathologizing approach that helps you understand the different “parts” of yourself and the roles they play in your life. IFS invites us to become curious about these parts rather than judging them or trying to get rid of them.

Your protective patterns make sense.

Many of our parts developed in response to experiences we had and the ways we learned to stay safe, connected, or in control. A perfectionistic part may be trying to protect you from failure or rejection. A people-pleasing part may have learned that keeping others happy helps maintain connection. An anxious part may believe that anticipating every possible problem can keep you safe.

While these once helped keep you safe, they may not always be helpful now. Our work is building a relationship with these parts and and ask, “What is this part trying to do for me?”

IFS can be particularly supportive when you're struggling with childhood trauma, CPTSD, grief, perfectionism, people-pleasing, shame, anxiety, relationship patterns, inner criticism, or feeling caught between different wants and needs.

There is a reason your parts learned what they learned. We can get curious about those reasons, connect with the younger parts of you that may still be carrying old wounds and protective strategies, so we can offer them the care and compassion they needed back then. Through this work, we can begin to soften the patterns that once helped you survive while making room for more choice, self-trust, and connection with yourself.