THERE ARE NO BAD PARTS. EVERY PART OF YOU IS WELCOME HERE.
Internal Family Systems
Therapy (IFS) in San Antonio
and Virtually Across Texas.
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a gentle, evidence-based approach to therapy that helps you understand the different parts of yourself that show up in your thoughts, emotions, and reactions.
We all have parts that developed to help us cope. Some may feel anxious, self-critical, emotionally shut down, or focused on keeping the peace. These parts aren’t broken. They formed in response to life experiences and are still trying to protect you, even when their efforts leave you feeling exhausted or stuck.
IFS helps you build a compassionate relationship with these parts so they don’t have to work as hard. At the core of this work is your Self—the calm, grounded presence within you that can lead healing with clarity and care.
This approach is respectful, non-judgmental, and moves at a pace that feels right for you.
How Internal Family Systems (IFS) Works
IFS is based on the idea that we all have different parts of ourselves, and each part has a reason for being there. Some parts try to protect you by staying on guard, being self-critical, or keeping emotions contained. Other parts may hold pain from past experiences.
In therapy, we get curious about these parts rather than pushing them away. As they begin to feel understood and supported, they don’t have to work as hard, and things naturally start to shift.
At the center of this work is your Self, which is the calm, compassionate part of you that can lead healing at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
IFS is gentle, respectful, and focused on helping you feel more at ease within yourself.
Internal Family Systems Can Help you…
Feeling anxious, on edge, or overwhelmed
Carrying the effects of trauma or long-standing stress
Low mood, emotional numbness, or shutting down
A harsh inner critic, shame, or constant inner conflict
People-pleasing and trouble setting boundaries
Perfectionism and fear of getting things wrong
Burnout and emotional exhaustion
Grief or loss that still feels heavy
Relationship struggles or attachment wounds
Big emotional swings or feeling easily flooded
Low self-worth or feeling disconnected from yourself
Patterns that keep repeating even when you understand them
Feeling torn inside, like part of you wants one thing and part of you
doesn’t
Stress during life transitions or identity shifts
Emotional reactions that feel bigger than the moment
Wanting deeper healing when talk therapy hasn’t been enough
Frequently asked questions about Family Internal Systems
FAQs
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IFS sessions are typically calm, reflective, and collaborative. We move at a pace that feels comfortable for you, focusing on curiosity and compassion rather than pressure or intensity. Many clients describe sessions as grounding and relieving, even when working with difficult emotions.
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No. IFS does not require you to retell painful experiences in detail. The focus is on creating safety and understanding your internal experience, not reliving the past.
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Instead of only talking about problems, IFS helps you build a relationship with the parts of you that are connected to them. This often leads to deeper, more lasting change, especially when insight alone hasn’t been enough.
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Parts are aspects of you that carry emotions, beliefs, or roles developed over time. Some parts try to protect you, others may hold pain from earlier experiences. None of them are bad, they all have a reason for being there.
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The Self is the calm, compassionate, grounded part of you that exists beneath stress and coping patterns. IFS helps you reconnect with this inner steadiness so healing can unfold naturally.
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Yes. IFS is often very effective for anxiety, chronic stress, and feeling overwhelmed, especially when these experiences are tied to long-standing patterns or inner conflict.
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IFS is considered a gentle, trauma-informed approach. The work focuses on safety and consent, and nothing is forced or rushed.
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Many people find IFS helpful when other forms of therapy haven’t gone deep enough. It can be especially useful if you feel stuck in patterns you understand but can’t seem to change.
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Yes. IFS works very well through telehealth and can be just as effective as in-person sessions.
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This varies depending on your goals and what you’re working through. Some people notice shifts relatively early, while others choose to engage in deeper, ongoing work.
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The first step is scheduling a consultation. From there, we’ll talk about what’s bringing you in and decide together if IFS feels like a good fit.
“When we approach ourselves with curiosity instead of judgment, everything begins to change.”
— Richard Schwartz