About IFS Therapy
When parts of you pull in different directions, change can feel out of reach.
You are smart, self-aware, work hard, care deeply, and try to do everything right. You want to change, end destructive behavioural patterns, and heal. But inside, it can sometimes feel like a battle.
Perhaps one part of you pushes to achieve while another part self-sabotages. Maybe an inner critic never gives you a break. Or you may have a part that numbs out with food when it all becomes too much.
What if these weren't problems to fix, but parts of you trying to help you in some way?
I offer online Internal Family Systems therapy to help you understand and work with these different parts, so your inner world feels less like a battle field and more like a team working together.
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-informed model of psychotherapy that understands you as having many "parts" inside, alongside a core Self that is naturally calm, clear, and compassionate.
You might already recognise some of your parts:
A planner part that organises, plans, and keeps you on track
An inner critic that comments on everything you do
A caring part that looks after everyone else first
A part that withdraws or wants to eat, scroll, or zone out when it all feels too much
Younger feeling parts that carry old fear, shame, hurt, or loneliness.
In IFS therapy, these are not seen as flaws, weaknesses, or mental health diagnoses. They are understood as parts of you that have taken on protective roles to help you manage pain, uncertainty, and relationships over time.
The aim of IFS is not to get rid of parts, but to help them work together under the leadership of your Self so your life feels less conflicted, more aligned, clear and calm.
To explore if IFS is right for you, you are welcome to book an obligation-free 20 minute connection call.
How does healing and change happen in IFS therapy?
In IFS, change does not come from pushing yourself harder or trying to get rid of parts you dislike. It comes from building a different kind of relationship with your inner world.
We usually move through a few broad stages, at a pace that suits you.
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We pay attention to the parts that are most present or speak the loudest. That might be the inner critic, a very tired part, a part that feels ashamed, or a part that shuts everything down. Together we get to know how these parts show up in your thoughts, body, and behaviour, and what they are trying to manage for you.
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Many protective parts expect to be judged or pushed away. When they are listened to with real curiosity, they often start to soften. They may still be wary, but they do not have to work quite as hard. Over time they may even allow us to meet younger parts that hold old fear, grief, or hurt.
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Self in IFS is the quality in you that is naturally calm, clear, compassionate, and curious. It is not something you have to manufacture. As protectors start to trust that Self, they often relax their extreme roles. You may notice more space around your reactions, more choice in how you respond, and a kinder tone in how you speak to yourself.
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When there is enough safety, we can gently turn toward those younger parts that protective parts have been working to keep safe. You begin to be with them in a new way, rather than bracing against them or leaving them to manage on their own. In IFS this is sometimes called “unburdening” work, where old beliefs, emotions, and body states are gradually released or held differently.
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Between sessions you are encouraged and supported to continue to work with your parts in manageable, everyday ways. You might pause before saying yes, notice a familiar trigger and respond slightly differently, or catch your inner critic and be able to stay with it rather than collapse into it. I support you so the new patterns become more familiar over time.
Healing in IFS is not about becoming a different person. It is about your parts no longer needing to work so hard so to have a clearer, kinder relationship with yourself and others.
“With IFS Corene helped me understand why I could feel multiple competing things at once. Having permission to be complex was healing in itself.”
IFS is used with a wide range of concerns and life situations. My clients often seek IFS therapy for:
Repeating patterns in relationships and attachment, including always choosing the wrong person, pushing people away, or feeling anxious or insecure in love.
Feeling torn between parts when making decisions about work, relationships, or life direction.
An inner critic or long-standing sense of not being good enough, no matter what you achieve.
Body image, eating, and self-worth struggles that feel stuck.
Self-sabotage, procrastination, or avoiding things that matter even when you want to move forward
Overworking, over-caring, or feeling guilty or unsafe when you're not productive.
The ongoing impact of trauma experiences, even when your life now looks "fine" on the outside.
Anxiety, depression, or emotional numbness that hasn't responded well to other approaches.
You do not have to fit a particular diagnosis or have a "serious enough" problem. What matters most is that you are curious about your inner world and would like to work with it.
What can IFS therapy help with?
Let’s work together
If you are curious about IFS therapy and would like to explore whether it is right for you, I would love to hear from you.
Option 1: Book a free 20-minute connection call
Book your free call here . We'll talk about your situation, answer your questions, and see if IFS therapy feels like the right next step.
Option 2: Join the waitlist for IFS group work
Register your interest here . IFS group therapy offers a powerful way to explore parts work in community, with the added benefit of witnessing others' inner work and feeling less alone in your struggles. I will be in touch when new groups are forming.
Still not sure? That is completely okay. You can read more about my approach, FAQs, or reach out with questions.