One of the approaches that has deeply influenced the way I work as a therapist is Internal Family Systems, or “IFS”. While it is not the only lens I use, it is an important part of my therapeutic toolkit and how I understand clients’ inner world.
At its core, IFS reflects something I see every day: we are made up of many parts, not just one story or one voice. Part of us may feel anxious, another wants to stay in control or incessantly “manage” others or situations, another longs to rest or play, and another might feel deeply reflective. What I appreciate most is that none of these are seen as bad or broken. Basically, each part is understood as trying to help in the best way it knows how, within our own psyche.
What I especially love about IFS is that it is not afraid to include spirituality and a holistic view of well-being. It recognizes that we are not just a brain and a body. And rather than focusing on changing thoughts or getting rid of parts of us, I often draw from the IFS perspective to help people build a different relationship with what is happening inside. When our anxious, protective, or controlling parts are met with curiosity instead of judgment, they tend to soften naturally.
This way of working is deeply human and depathologizing. It invites us into wholeness by helping us relate to ourselves with more compassion, presence, and trust.