Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
There are no bad parts of you. Only parts that have been working hard to protect you.
Maybe part of you wants to change while another part keeps you stuck. Maybe there’s an inner critic that won’t let up, or a part that numbs out, overworks, or people-pleases to keep you safe.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an approach that understands the mind as made up of different parts, each with its own feelings and role. Some parts protect us, and some carry pain from the past.
IFS helps you get to know these parts with curiosity instead of judgment, so the wounded ones can heal and the protective ones no longer have to work so hard.
Telehealth for NY, FL, MI residents
“Why do I keep doing things I don’t want to do?”
Because different parts of you are trying to meet different needs.
IFS may help if you notice:
A harsh inner critic or constant self-judgment
Feeling torn between wanting one thing and doing another
Patterns like people-pleasing, overworking, or numbing out
Strong reactions that feel bigger than the moment
Shame or pain that seems to come from a younger part of you
Feeling like you’re at war with yourself
Those parts aren’t the enemy. They’re trying to help.
HOW IFS WORKS
Getting to know yourself from the inside.
In IFS, protective parts are understood as doing their best to keep painful feelings from overwhelming you. Underneath them are more vulnerable parts, often younger, that still carry hurt, fear, or shame from earlier experiences.
Everyone also has a core Self: a calm, curious, compassionate presence that isn’t damaged by what happened. From that place, you can listen to your parts, understand what they need, and help them let go of old burdens.
Healing happens through understanding, not force.
Telehealth for NY, FL, MI residents
WHAT IFS CAN HELP WITH
Wherever you feel divided inside.
IFS is especially helpful for complex trauma, depression, anxiety, and relationship patterns, anywhere inner conflict or self-criticism keeps you stuck.
WHAT THE PROCESS LOOKS LIKE
Meet your parts. Listen. Let them heal.
IFS is gentle and paced by your system. We never push past a protective part. Instead, we earn its trust.
PHASE 1
Getting to Know Your Parts
We notice the parts that show up most, like the critic, the worrier, or the one who shuts down, and learn what they’re trying to do for you.
PHASE 2
Building Trust
With your protectors’ permission, we approach the more vulnerable parts they’ve been guarding and listen to what they carry.
PHASE 3
Unburdening
Parts can release old pain and beliefs, and protectors can take on new, easier roles, leaving more room for your calm, confident Self.
Often combined with: EMDR Therapy · Somatic Therapy · Attachment & Relational Therapy
New to therapy, or not sure which approach fits? Explore my holistic approach →
One method may guide our work, but it’s never the only one. Your past lives in your mind, body, and relationships. I combine evidence-based and mind-body approaches to help you work through the past and move forward with more support, clarity and confidence.
WHAT A SESSION FEELS LIKE
Curious, compassionate, and never forced.
Sessions take place by secure telehealth, from a space where you feel comfortable. We might slow down to notice a part that’s reacting, ask what it’s worried about, or simply sit with it. Nothing is pushed, and every part of you is welcome.
Even the parts that are skeptical of therapy are welcome here.
WHAT CHANGES AS THE WORK UNFOLDS
Less inner conflict. More you.
A softer, quieter inner critic
Fewer reactions that take over
More compassion for yourself
Feeling more whole and less divided
Clarity about what you need and want
More access to calm, confidence, and curiosity
Telehealth for NY, FL, MI residents
MEET YOUR THERAPIST
Lisa Kent, LCSW
CCTP-II · EMDR-C
I use IFS to help you get to know the protective parts that formed to keep you safe, with curiosity instead of judgment. It pairs naturally with somatic and trauma-focused work, helping you heal wounded parts while building a steadier, more compassionate relationship with yourself.
QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
IFS therapy FAQs
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Parts are distinct aspects of your personality, each with its own feelings, beliefs, and role. Everyone has them. You might notice them when you say things like “part of me wants this, but part of me doesn’t.”
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Not at all. Having parts is a normal part of being human. IFS simply gives you a way to understand and work with them.
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The Self is your core: calm, curious, compassionate, and confident. It’s always there, even when parts take over. Much of IFS is about helping your parts trust the Self enough to let it lead.
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Research on IFS is still growing, but it’s promising, including studies with people living with PTSD, depression, and chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. I use it alongside other well-established approaches.
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Yes. IFS is well suited to trauma because it respects the protective parts that formed to help you survive, and it approaches painful memories only when your system is ready.
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No. I’ll guide you through it. Most people find the language of parts feels intuitive once they begin.
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It’s a free, no-pressure 15-minute video call. We’ll talk briefly about what’s bringing you to therapy and what you’re hoping for, I’ll answer your questions about how I work, fees, and out-of-network reimbursement, and together we’ll decide whether we’re a good fit. You don’t need to prepare anything, and there’s no obligation to book.
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Sessions are $200 per hour of work together. I am in-network with BCBS and BCN plans for Michigan residents. For New York and Florida residents, I partner with Mentaya to help you use your out-of-network benefits. Depending on your plan, up to 80% of your session cost can be reimbursed, and all of your claims are handled for you. You can check your benefits here (opens in a new window), or we can review them together during your free consultation.
HEALING THROUGH RECONNECTION
Every part of you belongs.
Healing reaches every part of you: your mind, your body, your relationships, and your sense of meaning. You deserve care that sees all of it.
Telehealth for NY, FL, MI residents
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Essays on shame, protective responses, and the parts of us that learned to survive.
