What Is IFS Therapy? Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a powerful approach that views the mind as an inner community made up of many different “parts.” These parts often carry distinct feelings, needs, and roles. For example, one part of me may want to go out...
Why Trauma Leaves Parts Stuck When trauma or chronic stress happens, and we’re not able to find a sense of safety and wellbeing, parts of us often stay activated or ‘on the ready’ in survival roles. Some parts take on protective jobs—controlling, avoiding, or shutting...
What Is Internal Family Systems (IFS)? Internal Family Systems therapy—often shortened to IFS—is a powerful, evidence-based model that views people through the lens of multiplicity. Instead of seeing ourselves as one fixed identity, IFS recognizes that we are made up...
Editor’s Note: Susan wrote this reflection on a snowy spring day. As we move deeper into the season of growth and light, her words about tending to dark emotions feel even more relevant. On this chilly, snowy day, I find myself revisiting a favorite post on dark...
Mother Hunger is a term coined by Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor Claire Bidwell Smith to describe the deep, insatiable longing for love that arises from a lack of nurturing maternal care. This unmet need can manifest as emotional distress, relational...
