“Those who do the most growing in this life are those who offer the most compassion to the parts of themselves that have not yet grown.”

ANDREA GIBSON

A cozy living room with a dark gray armchair, a white fringed blanket, a small white coffee table with tissues, a bookshelf with colorful books, a potted plant on top of the shelf, a window with sunlight, and a vase with dried flowers.

Sometimes we come to therapy carrying the belief that something in us is broken. In IFS, we begin with a different understanding: that every part of us holds wisdom and an impulse toward healing. Rather than trying to fix or silence what hurts, we learn to listen. Healing begins as we develop a deeply trusting relationship with our Self — the steady, compassionate center within us that knows how to navigate life’s challenges and joys.  

IFS invites us to recognize that we are made up of many parts, each with an important self-protective role. Some of the ways our parts protect us align with our values and positive self-image, while others unintentionally create suffering or stuckness. At times, we may feel caught between parts with conflicting points of view — for example, one part that wants to stay in a relationship and another that’s ready to move on. IFS helps transform these inner conflicts without needing to suppress or choose between sides. By listening with compassion, we uncover the vulnerability beneath the tension and can bring healing to that place. 

Black background with concentric semi-circles in shades of gray, symbolizing growth.

In this work, we hold that there are no bad parts. Even the ones that create chaos or shame are doing their best to meet a need. When we approach them with curiosity and care, their protective strategies soften, and the system as a whole becomes calmer, more confident, and more clear. Over time, the inner noise quiets, and we experience greater choice, clarity, and spaciousness — both within ourselves and in our relationships. An IFS therapist serves as a guide in this process, helping your parts come into alignment with your greater wellbeing through compassion and trust. 

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