Internal Family Systems

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a cutting-edge, evidence-based, therapy that considers various parts of a person, as opposed to a one-sized-all evaluation. It assumes that it’s our basic nature to subdivide our mind into parts or subpersonalities. We create various parts of our psyche in order to respond to difficult situations.

None of your parts are bad, although they may go about meeting their needs in ways that don’t serve you!

An IFS therapist can help you understand parts of your psyche in this way, empowering you to change your inner system.

There is an understandable rationale for your behavior, feelings, and attitudes! Through IFS therapy, it’s possible to better understand the parts that make up your sense of self. As you understand these parts more deeply, you understand yourself better and facilitate inner healing. Through a curious and compassionate exploration with your IFS therapist, all of your parts can harmoniously behave in ways that align with your intentions, values, and goals.

Past experiences of failure, criticism, abandonment, anger, confused love and other stressors can result in our inner psyche responding in ways that are not healthy for us.

Maybe you have problems with mood swings, depression, anxiety, feeling insecure in relationships, or struggle to control your anger. Parts of us take on dysfunctional roles because of what has happened to them in the past. Your IFS therapist can help you uncover the parts of you that impact your daily thoughts, feelings, and motivations - releasing the burdens that they carry from the past and heal the system so you can function in healthy ways.

What does IFS therapy treat?

Although IFS is a relatively new form of therapy, research has quickly demonstrated its effectiveness across many conditions, including:

• PTSD
• Relationship Trauma
• Childhood Trauma
• Sexual Abuse
• Disturbing Memories
• Generalized Anxiety
• Phobias
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Panic Attacks

Initial meetings with your IFS therapist will be primarily oriented to building understanding of you and trust in the therapeutic relationship. Your therapist will want to get to know you better, learn about your past, what’s bothering you currently, and fully understand how they can help. The therapist will then help you to identify the parts that impact you and their role (e.g., the exile of pain; a protector of feelings of pain, etc.) within your inner world. Using an experiential approach, you and your IFS therapist will then explore each part, its perspectives, feelings, memories, goals, motivations, needs, and wants. In doing so, you can feel more calm, more self-loving, and more centered.

If you're looking for a therapist in Chicago for IFS therapy (Internal Family Systems), you’re in the right place. Tandem Psychology has a team of experienced, highly effective IFS therapists available in-person at our Lakeview offices or via telehealth. Contact us today to set up an individual therapy appointment.