I am a clinical and counselling psychologist and a BABCP fully accredited CBT therapist who specialises in all kinds of trauma as well as a variety of common mental health conditions.
I have a keen interest in newer, quite creative therapies that facilitate resolution of trauma and many other mental health issues.
I came across ‘parts work’ when training in Brainspotting – as Brainspotting integrates very well with IFS.
Subsequently, I became more interested in core theory behind IFS, which postulates that we are all made up of several parts living within us and that these parts fulfil both healthy and unhealthy roles.
Life events or trauma can force us out of those healthy roles and into extreme roles, where parts of us can be exiled, burdened or become overly controlling.
We can think of all these parts as an inner family circle, and I found this metaphor useful and non-pathologising. IFS fosters self-acceptance and self-compassion, emphasising the need to connect with parts from core self-energy utilising 8 Cs:
- calm,
- clarity,
- connectedness,
- confidence,
- courage,
- creativity
- and compassion.
I find IFS helpful in instilling and holding hope as it emphasises the fact that these internal roles are not static and can change with time and work. The goal of IFS therapy is to find your Self and bring all of these parts together.
About me as an Internal Family Systems therapist
“No matter how much pain or dysfunction you have to deal with in your life, every part of your psyche is doing its best to help you”
~ Jay Earley
IFS therapy can help with general life stressors like grief, relationship, and career issues, and improve resilience and self-esteem. Though it is non-pathologizing (does not reduce a client to their diagnosis), it may treat several mental health issues and conditions, including trauma, shame, anxiety, OCD, depression, bipolar disorder, dissociative identity disorder, hearing voices, eating disorders and substance use d T
IFS is deeply respectful, humanising and all parts of you are welcome in the therapy space. In sessions we engage with your internal system with a sense of curiosity and compassion. We identify the parts of the Self and build connections between all of these components. Promoting trust in the Self and healing.
There are many benefits of IFS therapy but, in particular, it promotes self-compassion and self-leadership in the quest of achieving internal balance. IFS also helps us view symptoms as normal reactions to stressors or trauma, rather than a diagnosis. If enhances our self-knowledge and self-understanding and helps build resilience for the future difficulties.