IFS Informed Therapy
San Francisco, CA
When Different Parts of You Want Different Things
Part of you wants to set a boundary.
Another part worries you'll disappoint someone.
Part of you wants to speak up.
Another part tells you to stay quiet.
Part of you knows you need rest.
Another part pushes you to keep going.
Many women come to therapy feeling frustrated by these internal conflicts. They wonder why they keep repeating patterns they want to change, why they struggle to follow through on what they know is best for them, or why they feel stuck despite their efforts to move forward.
IFS-informed therapy offers a different way of understanding these experiences.
Instead of seeing these conflicting feelings as a problem, we begin to understand them as different parts of you trying to help in the only ways they know how.
The Parts of You Make Sense
Many of the coping strategies that create difficulties today originally developed for a reason.
The part of you that constantly worries may be trying to protect you from making mistakes.
The part that puts everyone else's needs ahead of your own may be trying to keep relationships safe.
The part that criticizes you may believe that being hard on yourself will prevent failure or disappointment.
Even the parts that create the most frustration are often trying to protect you from something.
IFS-informed therapy helps us approach these parts with curiosity rather than judgment.
What Happens When You Stop Fighting Yourself?
Many women spend years trying to get rid of certain feelings, silence certain thoughts, or force themselves to be different.
IFS takes a different approach.
Rather than asking, "What's wrong with me?"
We begin asking:
"What is this part trying to do for me?"
That shift often creates space for greater understanding, self-compassion, and lasting change.
When you better understand the different parts of yourself, you can respond to them differently instead of feeling controlled by them.
How I Use IFS-Informed Therapy
Using a trauma informed perspective, I integrate Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, psychodynamic therapy, and mind-body approaches.
Together, we'll explore the parts of you that feel anxious, overwhelmed, self-critical, people-pleasing, perfectionistic, or stuck.
Rather than trying to eliminate these parts, we'll work to understand them, build a healthier relationship with them, and help them take on less extreme roles.
Many women find that this process helps them feel less conflicted, less reactive, and more connected to themselves.
A Different Relationship With Yourself Is Possible
Imagine approaching yourself with curiosity instead of criticism.
Imagine understanding why certain patterns developed rather than judging yourself for having them.
Imagine feeling less stuck in the same cycles and more able to respond to yourself with compassion.
IFS-informed therapy can help you better understand yourself, respond to yourself with greater compassion, and feel less pulled in different directions.
You don't have to figure it all out on your own. I invite you to schedule a free consultation to see whether working together feels like the right fit.
What If You Didn't Have To Keep Fighting With Yourself?
Part of you wants things to be different. Part of you may feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin.
IFS-informed therapy offers an opportunity to better understand the different parts of yourself, the roles they've been carrying, and the reasons they developed in the first place.
When you stop fighting against yourself and begin approaching yourself with curiosity and compassion, meaningful change becomes possible.
You don't have to figure it all out on your own. I invite you to schedule a free consultation.to see whether working together feels like the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions About IFS Informed Therapy in San Francisco
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IFS is a type of therapy that helps you understand the different “parts” of yourself—like the part that worries, the part that criticizes, or the part that feels overwhelmed. Instead of fighting these parts, we get to know them and understand why they’re there.
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IFS helps you see anxiety as coming from protective parts of you, rather than something that’s “wrong.” By understanding these parts and helping them feel safer, anxiety often becomes less intense and easier to manage.
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Not necessarily. We focus on what’s coming up for you in the present moment. Sometimes that connects to past experiences, but we move at your pace and only go where it feels helpful and manageable.
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Sessions are usually calm and conversational. We slow things down, notice what’s happening internally, and gently explore your thoughts and feelings. There’s no pressure—you don’t have to have the “right” words or figure everything out.
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FS can be helpful if you feel stuck in overthinking, self-doubt, or emotional overwhelm, and want a more compassionate way of working with yourself. It’s especially useful if being hard on yourself hasn’t actually helped you feel better.
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It depends on what you’re wanting support with. Some shifts happen gradually, and deeper patterns usually take time to work through. We’ll move at a pace that feels right for you, with the goal of helping you create meaningful, lasting change.
