What is IFS?
Internal Family Systems
01: You're Not "Too Much" - You're Made of Parts
Past trauma can sometimes leave us feeling like different versions of yourself show up depending on the day - the anxious part, the shut-down part, the part that overreacts. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is built on a simple idea: we all have different "parts" inside us, and none of them are the "bad" you. They're all trying to protect you, often based on things that happened long ago.
02: Every Part Has a Job (Especially After Trauma)
Parts that feel frustrating, anxious, or self-sabotaging usually developed as protection - a nervous system's response to something painful or overwhelming. In our virtual therapy sessions, instead of trying to silence these parts, we get curious about them: what are they afraid would happen if they let their guard down? This is often where trauma healing really begins.
03: Healing Happens From the Inside Out
As we build a relationship with your different parts rather than fighting them, you gain more access to your calm, grounded core Self. This can be paired with EMDR-based trauma recovery work to help both your mind and nervous system fully heal, not just cope. I offer IFS and EMDR therapy virtually to adults across Alberta, based in Calgary.