IFS is a transformative tool that conceives of every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts led by a core Self. We believe the mind is naturally multiple and that is a good thing. Just like members of a family, inner parts are forced from their valuable states into extreme roles within us. Self is in everyone. It can’t be damaged. It knows how to heal. 

IFS is frequently used as an evidence-based psychotherapy, helping people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts. IFS creates inner and outer connectedness by helping people first access their Self and, from that core, come to understand and heal their parts.  

But IFS is much more than a non-pathologizing evidence-based psychotherapy to be used in a clinical setting. It is also a way of understanding personal and intimate relationships and stepping into life with the 8 Cs: confidence, calm, compassion, courage, creativity, clarity, curiosity, and connectedness.

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This is a great article explaing how IFS came to be:

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Evolution of The Internal Family Systems Model By Dr. Richard Schwartz, Ph. D.

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Anger Management

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I really like angry people, to me there is little in this life as wonderful as helping someone struggling with intense anger get to a place of peace and seeing the transformational effect that has on their life.  I firmly believe that there is a direct correlation from the amount of anger a person is expressing to the amount of pain that anger is covering up.  By using Internal Family Systems (IFS) we will go on a journey to find the source of pain driving the Anger.  Then by using compassion, curiosity and understanding we will help to process through and bring healing to that pain which in turn frees up the persons system to no longer have to react in an angry manner.  I can speak both from personal experience and having worked with a multitude of individuals that this is a transformative experience and I can't wait to go on that journey with you.

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Addictions

Every addiction, from drugs, sex, alcohol, video games, exercise, food, ect. is driven by a desire to not feel something uncomfortable to our system. The tendency to try and avoid the uncomfortable feeling often starts at a very early age and then evolves as we grow up.  Our minds are opportunistic in the sense that when we find something that numbs the pain better, we will adapt and incorporate that new method into our day to day lives.  Once a substance or behavior has been adapted by our system as a way to numb the pain it is very difficult to extinguish by most methods.  This is where Internal Family Systems comes to the rescue!  We will work together to identify, get to know and build trust with the system of parts connected to the addiction.  From there we follow the trail internally to the "power source" (pain, hurt, fear, ect) and help process/heal it in a compassionate way.  Once that happens there is no longer a "need" to numb the pain and those parts of us are free to focus on different behaviors, greatly reducing or eradicating addictive behavior.

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