INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS)
You're not one anxious voice. You're a whole system – and every part of you makes sense.
IFS, or parts work, is a gentle, compassionate way to understand the different parts of yourself and help them find relief.
In person in Encinitas and online across California.
What is IFS?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is built on a beautifully simple idea: we all have parts.
There's the part that pushes you to achieve, the part that people-pleases, the anxious part scanning for danger, the critic, the protector. None of them are bad – each one took on its role at some point to keep you safe.
In IFS, we get to know these parts with curiosity instead of judgment. We listen to what they're protecting, we help them feel less alone, and we let them soften – so they don't have to work so hard. Underneath them all is your core Self: calm, wise, and steady. IFS helps you lead from there.
How I Use IFS
IFS pairs naturally with the rest of my work. It gives us a compassionate language for the inner conflict so many anxious, high-achieving women feel – the sense of being at war with yourself – and it works beautifully alongside somatic and nervous-system approaches.
Harsh inner criticism and self-judgment
The feeling of being "at war with yourself"
Anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing
Trauma and the protective patterns that formed around it
Feeling disconnected from who you really are
Section Styles lined-list
What IFS can help with
Mind, body and everything underneath.Fees & treatment plan
Together we’ll explore if parts work is right to integrate into your treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "parts work" mean?
It's the practice of relating to the different parts of your inner world – the anxious part, the perfectionist, the protector – as understandable pieces of you, rather than problems to eliminate. We help each one feel heard and relieved of the burden it's been carrying.
Is IFS evidence-based?
IFS has a growing research base and is increasingly used for trauma, anxiety, and depression. Many people find its compassionate, non-pathologizing framework deeply relieving.
Is IFS the same as having multiple personalities?
No. Having parts is a normal feature of every mind – it's not a disorder. IFS simply gives us a helpful way to work with the inner complexity we all have.
Does IFS work with trauma?
Yes – gently. We build trust with protective parts first and never force access to anything painful before you're ready.
When you're ready, I'm here
Reaching out is often the hardest part. If you're feeling even a small pull toward this work, let's start with a free consultation – no pressure, no commitment, just a conversation.