Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a compassionate and powerful approach to therapy that helps you understand the many “parts” within you — the thoughts, emotions, and inner voices that can sometimes feel at odds.Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, IFS teaches that we are not one single, fixed self, but a system of inner parts, each carrying its own story, emotion, and purpose.
These parts are not problems to eliminate — they are protectors, trying in their own way to keep you safe. But when life’s stress, trauma, or pain intensifies, some parts take on extreme roles — becoming anxious, angry, controlling, withdrawn, or self-critical.
IFS helps you meet these parts with curiosity instead of judgment, allowing you to understand their good intentions and gently heal the wounds that drive them.
The Core Idea: Every Part Has a Purpose
At the center of every person is the Self — the calm, compassionate core that holds our wisdom, creativity, and capacity for connection.IFS helps you access that Self and lead your internal system from a place of confidence, clarity, and care.
As you learn to listen to and heal your parts, you begin to experience more harmony inside — and that harmony naturally extends to your relationships with others.
How IFS Helps
Reduces anxiety, depression, and self-criticism
Heals the effects of trauma by addressing emotional wounds safely and gently
Improves relationships by strengthening compassion and communication
Builds self-trust and inner peace
Why I Use IFS in My Practice
At Two Currents Counseling, I use IFS to help clients slow down and reconnect with what’s happening beneath the surface — to notice the inner currents that shape how they feel, think, and respond.
When we bring kindness to those inner parts, even the ones that seem harsh or reactive, we create space for healing and wholeness.IFS aligns beautifully with my Relational Life Therapy (RLT) work — both honor truth, compassion, and accountability as pathways toward lasting change.
Together, they help you find steadiness within yourself and deeper connection with those around you.