What Can IFS Help With?

IFS can be helpful in treating a wide range of issues, including:

  • Trauma and PTSD

  • Anxiety and depression

  • Relationship challenges

  • Grief and loss

  • Eating disorders

  • Substance use

  • Self-esteem and identity struggles

By working with all the parts of yourself, IFS helps you move toward balance, healing, and greater emotional freedom.

Our IFS Trained Clinicians Trained via IFS Institute are:

EAC Clinicians who have received training in IFS:

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What is Internal Family Systems (IFS)?

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a compassionate, evidence-based type of therapy which facilitates a greater understanding of oneself and healing of one’s inner emotional world.

As beautifully stated by EAC therapist Elizabeth Bowen, “IFS is rooted in a non-pathologizing view of the mind. Instead of labeling thoughts, feelings, or behaviors as “bad” or “disordered,” IFS understands them as natural responses that developed to help you cope and protect yourself. Every part of you—even the ones that feel overwhelming or stuck—has a purpose and carries wisdom.

As a clinician, I hold this same perspective: I see each client through a lens of inherent goodness and meet their experiences with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment. This non-pathologizing approach creates space for deep healing, greater self-understanding, and lasting change.”

IFS is based on the belief that everyone has a "Self" that can lead and heal parts that are in conflict when given the chance. By connecting with your true Self, which IFS believes is connected to your Higher Power, you can help these parts find harmony.

What to Expect in an IFS Session

In an IFS session, your therapist will guide you to explore your internal system of parts, helping you connect with your true Self to lead the healing process. The goal is not to "get rid" of any parts, but to understand their roles and work towards a more harmonious relationship between them. This process encourages deep self-compassion and allows clients to heal wounds that have long affected their emotional well-being. IFS believes every human has a core, loving Self, and that every person already has what they need in them to heal themselves. You may just need a therapist as a guide to help you connect to it.

Is IFS Right for Me?

If you’re feeling stuck, confused by your own thoughts and behaviors, or find yourself repeating patterns despite wanting change, IFS could be a transformative tool. It's particularly powerful for individuals looking to heal trauma, develop self-compassion, and create deeper self-understanding. We find that those who have been in therapy before and are ready to now “go deep” often highly benefit from IFS, though many newcomers also find IFS to be an excellent approach to inner healing, too!