IFS Therapy
in Chicago, IL & Phoenix, AZ
What Is Internal Family Systems (IFS)?
In everyday life, many of us use the language of parts to describe our feelings. We might say: “Part of me wants to go to that social event tonight, but another part wants to stay home,” or, “Part of me wants to make things right with an old friend, but another part is too scared to reach out.”
Internal Family Systems, or IFS, draws on the language of parts to help clients work through inner conflicts. IFS operates on the idea that each of our personalities is made up of a family of parts. Many of these parts develop protective roles in the wake of trauma, and sometimes these protective tendencies can go too far. For instance, a “people-pleaser” part may encourage us to sacrifice our own needs for the sake of others, while an “inner critic” part may use criticism to prevent us from getting our hopes up.
In IFS therapy, we don’t try to get rid of these parts—we listen to them with compassion and curiosity. As we gradually build trust in our parts, we can start the process of accessing our True Self, which is the wise, calm, and compassionate center within all of us. From that place, lasting healing can happen and we can achieve change from the inside out.
Questions About IFS Therapy? Contact Us!
Who Can IFS Therapy Help?
At Compassionate Healing Psychotherapy, many of our clients seek IFS when they feel stuck, overwhelmed by internal conflict, or burdened by past trauma. They’re often looking for deep, lasting healing—not just symptom relief—and are drawn to IFS for its compassionate, non-judgmental approach to working with all parts of themselves.
Thankfully, they are able to find just that when they try IFS with us. IFS supports them in building a stronger relationship with themselves and finding internal clarity and peace. It is a powerful, evidence-based approach that has been shown to help with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and complex trauma.
How Effective Is The IFS Model Of Therapy?
Research supports the effectiveness of IFS. A 2013 pilot study published in The Journal of Rheumatology found that IFS significantly reduced depression and improved overall well-being in individuals with chronic illness (1). A 2021 study conducted by The Foundation for Self-Leadership found that IFS had overwhelmingly positive effects on survivors of childhood trauma (2).
Ultimately, there are too many studies corroborating the positive effects of IFS to list here. Suffice it to say that at Compassionate Healing Psychotherapy, numerous clients have expressed how IFS has helped them change—not just in how they think, but in how they live their lives and relate to others.
Our practice founder, Iwona Florianowicz, trained under Richard Schwartz, the founder of IFS. Over years of using IFS as our central approach, we have seen clients experience profound shifts—not only in symptom relief but in their overall relationship with themselves and others. IFS is more than a therapy; it’s a journey toward wholeness that supports lasting growth and deeper self-understanding.
How Does IFS Therapy Work?
IFS therapy offers a unique and transformative path to healing by honoring all parts of the self with compassion and curiosity. Its non-pathologizing approach empowers you to access your core Self, fostering resilience and self-leadership. Rather than look at the negative beliefs and behaviors in your life as things to be overcome or suppressed, IFS seeks to understand them.
In other words, the goal of IFS is to get to know yourself by starting a dialogue with all of your inner parts. None of these parts are bad, but some of them may have taken on negative functions over the course of your life.
For instance, if you grew up in a home with emotionally or physically abusive parents, you may have developed a people-pleasing part to protect against being hurt like you were as a child. In IFS counseling, your therapist can help you explore how this part has impacted your ability to form relationships and what you can do to “update” this part so that it no longer holds you back in a state of fear.
The ultimate goal of IFS is self-leadership. In the context of IFS, self-leadership refers to your ability to lead your parts instead of being led by them. When you have achieved self-leadership, you can shift the way your parts function so that a people-pleasing part becomes a compassionate part, an inner critic part becomes a wise and cautious part, etc. This experience leads to increased self-trust, emotional freedom, and a sense of inner peace.
How Can IFS Practically Benefit Your Life?
If you haven’t found relief through conventional approaches to therapy, then IFS may be right for you. Unlike approaches that focus mainly on behavior and cognition, IFS works by healing the underlying parts holding onto fear, trauma, and self-criticism.
Some of the many benefits of Internal Family Systems include:
Reduced anxiety
Less inner conflict
Better boundaries in relationships
A more balanced lifestyle
Choices that are more aligned with your values
Greater confidence in yourself
In the end, the greatest benefit of IFS is the strong connection to your True Self that comes about through the process of unburdening the parts that carry fear and shame. You can relate to your parts with understanding and compassion and harness them in ways that serve your goals and values.
Experience Deeper Harmony Through The Power Of IFS Therapy
No matter how deep the pain, healing is within reach. IFS can help you discover the strength and compassion that are already inside you. Each session is a step toward freedom from old wounds and the beginning of a new, empowered you.
Trust that your True Self—calm, wise, and resilient—can lead you to lasting peace and joy. Your journey to wholeness starts here, and hope shines brighter with every step you take.
To learn more about the life-changing power of IFS therapy, call 602-715-0501, or use the contact form. We look forward to taking this journey with you!
Shadick, et al. (2013)
https://ifs-institute.com/resources/research/internal-family-systems-ifs-therapy-posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd-among
IFS Therapy Phoenix
13421 S 37th Pl,
Phoenix, AZ 85044
IFS Therapy Chicago
25 E Washington St Ste 1206,
Chicago, IL 60602