IFS

Internal Family Systems

IFS Internal Family Systems is a mental, emotional, and energetic therapeutic model used by non-therapist practitioners and licensed counselors. It is a method derived from the research and learning of Richard Schwartz, a psychotherapist of 40+ years. IFS is rooted as much in Indigenous practices as it is in Richard’s long history of working with clients.

In my experience, what lies at the the heart of IFS is the premise that we all exist as grounded, loving, compassionate, and curious beings, but that this true nature of ours can be, or is often, obscured by “parts” of us who hold past wounds, unmet needs, emotional burdens, internalized beliefs about self and other, and perspectives on the best way to get needs met.

IFS practitioners and therapists are trained to identify these parts and explore their concerns, emotional burdens, strategies, beliefs, and interests with the client, so that the client’s inner system can become less emotionally burdened, and more integrated and self-regulated.

I have been a PA (practice assistant) in many IFS training spaces for over 4 years. My role has been to work with training participants one-to-one, in triads, and in small groups, providing guidance in the use of IFS, answering questions on the philosophy and methodology of IFS, leading practice sessions, and working on the practical level with participants as they learn to explore their own inner family system. This experience, along with many years working with clients, has given me an incredible foundation of strength and skill, as well as a depth of experience with IFS.

My love for this modality lies in its close proximity to my own personal beliefs and practices, my longstanding Buddhist and conflict resolution ways. I have been using IFS for myself in my own growth since 2014 and have found it to be a profound method of deep and lasting healing for me as an individual and a “marginalized” member of our global sociocultural community.

Fees for IFS Sessions

Advantage Tier: $130 per 50-min session $195 per 80-min session

Social Support Tier: $115 per 50-min session $150 per 80-min session

Repair Tier: $90 per 50-min session $125 per 80-min session

IFIO

Intimacy from the

Inside Out

IFIO Intimacy from the Inside Out is a relational therapeutic model that is founded in the tenets of IFS. The cornerstone of IFIO is tracking partner communications to uncover the ways each person’s IFS parts become activated and react. Tracking allows for more awareness within conflict and other interactions. Having a greater awareness of one’s own parts and of one’s partners’ parts can allow for more grounded communication, easier joint decision making, and overall connection. IFIO brings compassion to the surface and creates the spaciousness necessary to create and foster conscious and meaningful relationships.

I have been working with poly-partners for many years. It is not unlike working with IFS individuals or IFIO coupled partners, in that we are always only working with parts of ourselves that are holding emotional burdens. The IFIO model does not currently train practitioners to work with multiple partners, but having lived experience as a poly-partner, I understand many of the issues that arise in relationships and have easily applied IFIO to multi-partnered dynamics. After my own IFIO training, I connected with three of my fellow training cohort members and created an IFIO poly practice group.

When working with more than two partners, my cohort buddies and I practiced ways to help clients become aware of the different IFS parts within each other’s inner systems, holding each person’s inner systems with care and understanding. We found that this allowed for more care, trust, compassion, and patience. This helped us to find easy ways to simplify what seemed like complex conflict and challenge. Through the use of two IFIO/IFS methods, tracking and unburdening, we found that these conflicts and challenges become less charged, and client were able to bring home new skills for navigating complex dynamics.

When financially feasible, it is best to start off with 80-minute sessions for at least the first three sessions to allow for the space necessary for us all to gain a clear mental map of each persons’ inner parts systems. However, it is not required, and there are ways to work within the 50-minute timeframe, such as bringing home some parts work exercises to practice together.

Working with couples is no less complex than working with poly partners. Our inner systems hold their burdens, and the level of complexity is always determined by the complexity of the inner system. To that end, I work similarly with couples as I do with poly partners, getting to know each person’s inner parts, tracking, and unburdening. Couples I have worked with over the years have grown in understanding, compassion, and patience through partswork.

Whether working with poly partners or coupled partners, there are always some sessions in which we may center more on one partner’s inner system as a means to provide support to the overall dynamic. Other times, we weave back and forth between all partners. I always ask for consent from partners if and when one person’s system seems to need more time or attention within a session. I also make sure to balance the attention given to all partners from session to session.

Sometimes it’s necessary for partners to have individual IFS sessions with me, again with the goal of benefitting the entire relationship dynamic. If I meet with one partner, I always make sure everyone is in consent and offer to meet with other partners individually.

There are times when one partner does not want to engage in relationship work. In this case, IFS with one partner can almost always support movement within the relationship situation, but there will be limitations on the work we can do without another partner present to speak for themselves.

fees for IFIO Sessions for POLYPARTNERS

Advantage Tier: $55 per partner 50-min $85 per person 80-min

Social Support Tier: $45 per partner 50-min $75 per person 80-min

Repair Tier: $35 per partner 50-min $65 per partner 80-min

Fees for IFIO SESSIONS FOR COUPLED PARTNERS

Advantage Tier: $145 per 50-min session $195 per 80-min session

Social Support Tier: $130 per 50-min session $170 per 80-min session

Repair Tier: $105 per 50-min session $130 per 80-min session

For more information, or to schedule a free 15-minute initial consultation, click the button below.