Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)
available in-person in Montpelier, VT and statewide via telehealth
Part of you wants to change. Another part of you is terrified to. Part of you wants to scream at your partner. Another part of you goes silent and stares at the floor.
When you feel grounded and centered you can see the way forward: set the boundary, leave the relationship, stop the habit.
But when some other part of you is in the driver’s seat everything looks impossible, or feels terrifying.
Healing Leads to Wholeness
Using the IFS model I will first help you to get to know all the parts of you that are keeping things stuck in your life. You might meet the anxious part of you, that inner critical voice in your head, the part of you with all the anger, or the one that makes you freeze up or shut down. I will help you focus your attention inwards so that you can get to know the anxiety, the rage, and the shutdown, rather than try to get rid of them. Once there is enough internal trust, your system will let you go to the vulnerable parts of you that hold the grief, pain, and shame so that you can heal them. Through this healing process you will shift the stuck patterns that have held you back for so long.
I want to help you live from the calm, grounded version of yourself that can handle it all.
FAQs
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy?
IFS is a therapy model that views the mind as made up of different "parts," each with its own role, and works to help a person's core Self lead with compassion and clarity rather than being overwhelmed by any one part.
How much does IFS therapy cost?
IFS sessions are billed the same as all psychotherapy session at $250 per 50 minute session.
Is IFS evidence-based?
Yes. IFS is listed as an evidence-based practice and has a growing body of clinical research supporting its effectiveness, particularly for trauma and PTSD.
How is IFS different from traditional talk therapy?
Rather than focusing only on discussing problems, IFS actively works with a person's internal "parts" system, aiming to resolve the root cause of a pattern rather than just its symptoms.
What does "unblending" mean in IFS?
Unblending refers to creating enough distance from an overwhelming part's emotions or beliefs that the calmer, clearer sense of Self can be present and lead.
What is an "exile" in IFS terms?
Exiles are the most vulnerable parts of a person, often holding old pain or shame from earlier experiences, which other parts work hard to protect and keep hidden.
How long does IFS therapy typically take?
This varies significantly by person and history, but IFS is generally a longer-term, depth-oriented therapy rather than a short-term, symptom-focused intervention.
Is IFS available via telehealth in Vermont?
Yes. IFS therapy is offered via secure telehealth to adults anywhere in Vermont, in addition to in-person sessions in Montpelier.
Can IFS help with anxiety and self-criticism?
Yes. IFS reframes anxiety, perfectionism, and self-criticism as protective parts rather than problems to eliminate, working to understand and unburden what's driving them.
Is IFS therapy available in Spanish?
Yes. Bilingual services in Spanish are available.
Do I need to believe in "parts" for IFS to work?
No. Most clients come to understand the parts framework naturally through the process itself rather than needing to accept it beforehand.
Can IFS be combined with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy?
Yes. IFS is frequently used as the framework for KAP integration work.