“Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength”
Sigmund Freud
IFS Therapy in Fort Collins, CO
IFS-Informed Therapy, Parts Work, and Inner Child Healing Available to All Colorado Residents
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a holistic approach developed by Richard Schwartz. It’s based on the idea that we all have different “parts” within us—each with their own thoughts, emotions, and roles—that make up our internal system.
These parts interact with one another and can shape how we feel, respond, and move through the world. At their core, they’re not the problem—they’re often trying to help or protect us in the best way they know how. At times, though, experiences like trauma or chronic stress can push these parts into more extreme roles, leading to patterns that feel overwhelming, stuck, or hard to change.
At the center of this system is the Self—the core, grounded part of you that is naturally compassionate, curious, and non-judgmental. It’s always there, even if it sometimes feels overshadowed by protective or wounded parts.
IFS helps you access and strengthen this sense of Self, so you can begin to relate to your parts with more understanding and care. Over time, this allows those parts to heal, integrate, and take on less extreme roles—supporting a more balanced, self-led way of being.
Key Core IFS Beliefs:
- All our parts have good intentions even if they engage in harmful or self-destructive behaviors (typically these parts are trying to protect us in some way)
- The main goal is to heal wounded parts and restore mental balance.
- By connecting to our “Self” energy we can lead other parts of ourselves from a place of strength, compassion and love
Who can benefit from IFS?
Almost anyone! The following are some common presenting issues that IFS can help:
- Trauma and PTSD
- Depression and Anxiety
- Relationship Issues
- Low self-worth
- Inner critic/Shame
- Hyperindependence/Burnout
Through IFS, you begin to build a relationship with the different parts of yourself—especially the ones that have had to work the hardest to protect you. As those parts feel seen and supported, they can begin to soften, making space for your true Self to emerge—a place of compassion, strength, and groundedness. From this place, healing can unfold, allowing you to process past experiences and live in a way that feels more aligned with your core values.
Ultimately, IFS supports a deeper sense of wholeness—helping you feel more connected and at home within yourself. If you’d like to learn more, you can visit the IFS Institute website. https://ifs-institute.com/.
“The Mountains that you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb”
Najwa Zebian