Internal Family Systems Therapy in Columbus, Ohio with Telehealth Available
A new way of relating to yourself
Feeling pulled in different directions
You may feel like you’re carrying a heavy load. Always moving. Always striving. Wanting to set things down, yet unsure what would happen if you stopped.
Unresolved trauma, difficult childhood experiences, or ruptures in important relationships can leave you feeling unsteady inside. You want change at a deeper level, but the approaches you’ve tried may have felt like temporary fixes rather than shifts in how you experience yourself.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy helps you turn toward these experiences rather than fight or override them. It invites a new relationship with yourself, built on curiosity instead of control.
Making room for every part of you
Many people come to this work feeling at odds with themselves. Wanting change, yet feeling blocked or unsure why it feels so hard.
You might notice patterns like these:
Wanting to make a change, but feeling held back by self-criticism or procrastination
Being surprised by the intensity of your reactions and later thinking, “That didn’t feel like me”
Staying constantly busy or distracted, fearing what might surface if you slow down
Coping in ways you worry could be judged or misunderstood
Carrying a loud inner critic that pushes you toward perfection
IFS offers a way to understand these experiences.
The focus shifts from “What’s wrong with me?” to curiosity about what each part of you is trying to protect and why.
Step One: Getting to know your parts
We begin by gently noticing the thoughts, emotions, and patterns that most often show up. Instead of trying to change them, we get curious about their role and what they are trying to protect.
How IFS works
Step Two:Shifting your relationship with yourself
Rather than controlling or arguing with your inner experience, we focus on building a different relationship to it. One rooted in curiosity, compassion, and clarity.
Step Three:Understanding where the patterns came from
As trust develops, we explore the history behind certain parts. This allows old burdens to be acknowledged and released, rather than repeated.
Step Four:Living with more internal alignment
Over time, parts no longer need to pull in opposite directions. Decisions feel clearer. Self-trust grows. You begin to live more in alignment with your values instead of fear or self-criticism.
IFS is non-pathologizing and compassionate
IFS doesn’t see parts of you as problems to fix. Every part is understood as having a positive intent, even when its strategies feel outdated or painful.
Instead of challenging thoughts or forcing coping strategies, we work with what’s already present. This approach often feels radically different for people who are used to managing themselves through effort or control.
For many, it becomes the first time their inner experience feels understood rather than corrected.
What IFS therapy can support
IFS therapy can help you:
Develop self-understanding and self-compassion
Understand the root causes of distress rather than managing symptoms
Change patterns that feel automatic or out of your control
Live in alignment with your values instead of fear
Relate to yourself with more steadiness and trust
A short introduction to Internal Family Systems
If you’re new to IFS, this video offers a clear, compassionate overview of how parts work and why turning toward them can create real change. It’s a helpful way to get oriented before or after sessions.
Cultivate a radically different relationship to yourself
I’m here to guide you.
FAQS
IFS therapy questions you might have
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Internal Family Systems, or IFS, is a therapeutic approach that helps you understand and relate to the different “parts” of yourself. These parts hold thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and protective strategies that developed over time, often in response to stress or overwhelming experiences. IFS therapy invites curiosity rather than control, helping you build a more compassionate relationship with your inner world.
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Many approaches focus on changing thoughts or managing symptoms. IFS focuses on building an internal relationship based on understanding and curiosity. Instead of trying to override emotions or urges, you learn to turn toward them and understand their purpose, which often leads to more lasting change.
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No. While IFS is often used with people who have experienced trauma, it can be helpful for anyone who feels stuck, conflicted, or overly self-critical. IFS can support people who feel disconnected from themselves, struggle with perfectionism, or notice intense emotional reactions that feel hard to explain.