Internal Family Systems Informed Therapy

My approach contains several elements: mindfulness, somatic, behavioral coaching, and Motivational Interviewing. However, the model that orients my work and the one that I’ve seen have the greatest benefits for my clients is Internal Family Systems therapy.

Have you ever felt like you're having an internal argument? Part of you wants to take that risk, while another part holds you back? One voice pushing you to achieve, another wanting to rest? (IFS) offers a way to understand and work with these different aspects of yourself that's both practical and transformative.

As someone with ADHD, I was especially drawn to how IFS makes sense of internal complexity without judging it. Instead of seeing myself as scattered or inconsistent, I learned to recognize different parts of me, each trying to help in its own way.

The Basic Idea

Think of your psyche as a family or team. You might have:

A part that protects you through procrastination
A part that uses humor to deflect pain
A part that pushes you to perfection
A part that knows how to play
A part that carries old hurts

Each part has good intentions. Even the ones that seem to cause problems - the inner critic, the anxious one - they're all trying to protect or help you somehow. They're like family members who sometimes clash but ultimately care about your wellbeing.

Your True Self

Beneath all these parts, you have a core Self - naturally calm, curious, and compassionate. This isn't another part; it's your essence, always there even when clouded by intense emotions or protective patterns.

When you're connected to Self, you instinctively know how to help your parts. It's like becoming a wise, loving presence to all aspects of yourself.

What This Actually Looks Like

In our sessions, we:

Get curious about patterns that trouble you
Notice what you're feeling in your body
Listen to what different parts want you to know
Understand what they're protecting you from
Help them see you're capable of handling life now
Find healthier ways for them to help

For example, if procrastination is an issue, we don't try to eliminate it. We get curious: What's it protecting you from? Fear of failure? Overwhelm? Once we understand its positive intention, we can address the real need underneath.

Why This Works

IFS honors the wisdom in your system. Your anxiety isn't broken - it's a part trying to keep you safe. Your inner critic often learned early that self-criticism might prevent outside criticism.

Often, this shift in perspective can bring immediate compassion and relief. Then, over time, our systems increasingly cooperate. Instead of internal war, you develop internal understanding. Instead of shame about your struggles, you develop curiosity about what your parts need. We go from suffering internal conflict and strife to operating from a state of inner calm, coherence, and harmony.

My Approach

With 30 years of meditation practice alongside training in multiple approaches, and over 13 years experience working with teens and adults, I bring a contemplative quality to IFS work. that is grounded in the body.

This is especially helpful for:

ADHD minds navigating multiple impulses
Anxiety that seems to come from nowhere
Relationship patterns that keep repeating
Creative blocks or life transitions
Anyone feeling stuck or at war with themselves

An Invitation

If any of this resonates with you,I'd be happy to schedule a complementary meeting to talk about IFS and to consider working together.