At Monima Wellness Center, we specialize in trauma treatment for women, offering a range of evidence-based therapeutic approaches to support healing and recovery. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is one of our core treatment modalities, providing a powerful framework for understanding and healing trauma responses, internal conflicts, and emotional wounds.
As trauma specialists, we’ve found IFS therapy to be particularly effective for women navigating complex trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression, helping to restore a sense of wholeness and inner harmony.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapeutic approach based on the idea that the human mind is made up of multiple sub-personalities (“parts”), each with its roles and thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Our inner parts interact much like family members might, wanting to be heard and understood. According to the IFS model, healing occurs when we understand and integrate our parts, leading to greater harmony in our internal system. IFS is a non-pathologizing approach, treating all parts as having positive intentions, even if their methods are unhelpful. The focus is on understanding, integrating, and harmonizing our parts, not judging them.
Do you ever hear yourself say ‘a part of me wants ABC, but another part of me wants XYZ?’ Have you noticed a voice inside you that tells you to be perfect to avoid being criticized? Have you ever been upset and had the uncomfortable sense that you were a vulnerable child again? After periods of stress, have you ever had a voice say, ‘you deserve a treat, or to blow off some steam?’ If so, you’re already bringing awareness to the different parts operating inside you.
"Through IFS, we help clients access their Self—the innate source of healing—so the parts impacted by trauma can be witnessed, understood, and gently transformed."
Understanding the fundamental concepts of Internal Family Systems therapy helps provide a framework for the healing process. IFS therapy recognizes that our internal experience is organized into distinct parts, each with its perspective, feelings, and purpose. Getting to know these different aspects of ourselves with compassion and curiosity allows us to transform our relationship with difficult emotions and experiences. Below are the key elements that make up the IFS approach to healing.
The IFS model identifies three distinct categories of parts that exist within every person’s internal system. Like members of a family, these parts interact with each other and play specific roles in our psychological and emotional experiences. Understanding the nature and purpose of each type of part is crucial for the healing process in IFS therapy. By recognizing how these parts function within you, you can begin to develop a compassionate relationship with all aspects of yourself, even those that may seem problematic or painful.
Vulnerable parts hold painful emotional states, memories, and negative beliefs, typically from early life experiences and trauma. In IFS, these parts are typically called “exiles.”
Exiles are usually overwhelmed, wounded, and associated with feelings such as shame, fear, grief, or sadness. These parts are often suppressed or buried to protect the system from experiencing overwhelming pain. Through IFS, individuals reconnect with and heal exiles, allowing for a more balanced and integrated sense of self.
Examples: The Abandoned, The Abused, The Grieving, The Helpless or Powerless, The Rejected, The Bullied, The Fearful
Protective parts try to protect vulnerable parts from being activated and work to prevent the system from being flooded and overwhelmed by the pain that vulnerable parts hold. IFS therapy always begins by working with the protective parts of an individual’s internal system.
Managers are highly protective, strategic parts that attempt to control the environment and relationships to keep things safe. Their primary goal is to keep any exiled parts out of mind. Managerial parts live in fear that exiles will escape, and they’ll use various behavioral strategies to keep exiled parts separated from the greater system. Like parentified children, managerial parts are not equipped to lead but feel they have no choice but to hide their vulnerabilities and sacrifice themselves for the system. The more competent a managerial part becomes, the more the system relies on it. Managers may come to believe that they alone are responsible for the individual’s success and safety, which can make them wary of relinquishing leadership to the Self.
Examples: The Perfectionist, The Inner Critic, The People Pleaser, The Rationalizer
Firefighters are protective parts that distract, anesthetize, and stifle the feelings of any exiles that come to the surface of the internal system. Firefighter parts will react powerfully and automatically to an exiled part’s distress, without concern for consequences to one’s health, relationships, etc. These parts tend to be highly reactive, impulsive, and unthinking in their efforts to fight the flames of exiled emotions. In traditional therapy, firefighter behaviors are seen as pathological. IFS recognizes the protective intent of firefighters and negotiates with them to allow the individual’s Self to assist with the underlying problem of exiled emotions.
Examples: The Addict, The Self-Harmer, The Workaholic, The Binge Eater, The Rageful, The Dissociative Part
The Self is the leader of the internal system, helping a person navigate the world in a balanced and grounded way. It is not a part but rather a person’s true, authentic essence, characterized by inherent compassion, curiosity, courage, clarity, creativity, connectedness, confidence, and calm. In IFS, healing occurs when the Self leads the internal system and creates harmony among various parts.
In IFS therapy, we recognize how parts can interact with your conscious awareness in different ways. These two key processes help explain how parts can either take over your experience or be observed from a place of calm curiosity.
Blending occurs when a part becomes so active that it takes over a person’s thoughts and behaviors. For example, if a person is overwhelmed by fear, an “exiled” part may temporarily take over their thoughts, making them feel like the entire world is dangerous.
Unblending is the process of creating space between the core Self and parts to enable healing. Unblending allows a person to recognize that the part’s thoughts and feelings are separate from their core identity. It helps them access inner resources (such as empathy, curiosity, and calmness) to respond more effectively. Unblending is not a process of getting rid of parts but instead trying to develop a more harmonious relationship with them. Through unblending, a person can better integrate a part’s energy and wisdom without being overwhelmed by it, fostering healing and personal growth.
Managers are highly protective, strategic parts that attempt to control the environment and relationships to keep things safe. Their primary goal is to keep any exiled parts out of mind. Managerial parts live in fear that exiles will escape, and they’ll use various behavioral strategies to keep exiled parts separated from the greater system. Like parentified children, managerial parts are not equipped to lead but feel they have no choice but to hide their vulnerabilities and sacrifice themselves for the system. The more competent a managerial part becomes, the more the system relies on it. Managers may come to believe that they alone are responsible for the individual’s success and safety, which can make them wary of relinquishing leadership to the Self.
Examples: The Perfectionist, The Inner Critic, The People Pleaser, The Rationalizer
At Monima Wellness Center, our trained IFS therapists guide clients through a healing process that honors all aspects of the inner experience as part of our comprehensive intensive outpatient (IOP) and partial hospitalization (PHP) programs. The IFS therapy journey typically involves the following:
The next phase of IFS treatment involves accessing and healing exiled parts, which are often the source of emotional pain.
In the final phase of IFS therapy, you learn to maintain a more balanced internal system in which the Self takes the lead in managing emotions, behaviors, and relationships.
In the integration phase, the various parts of your system begin to function more cohesively. These parts no longer act in extreme or protective roles but rather in a balanced way that contributes to your overall well-being. Parts that were once in conflict learn how to work together under the guidance of the Self.
As your internal system becomes more balanced, you can begin to reconnect more fully with the external world. At this stage of treatment, many clients find they are better equipped to handle relationships, work, and life stressors in adaptive ways.
In order to sustain the changes achieved through IFS therapy, you’ll develop ongoing strategies for self-awareness and self-regulation that prevent old patterns from re-emerging and ensure that the Self remains the leader of your internal system.
Internal Family Systems therapy offers numerous advantages for women seeking healing from trauma and mental health challenges. At Monima Wellness, we’ve witnessed firsthand how this approach can transform our clients’ relationships with themselves and others. By working with the different parts of your internal system, IFS therapy creates pathways to lasting healing that address root causes rather than just managing symptoms.
Research and clinical practice suggest that IFS therapy can effectively treat a range of mental health conditions and psychological challenges. Current research indicates that IFS may be most effective for treating PTSD, complex trauma, depression, and anxiety—conditions that many women seeking treatment at Monima Wellness are navigating.
At Monima Wellness Center, Internal Family Systems therapy integrates seamlessly with our other evidence-based and holistic approaches. As part of our Intensive Outpatient Program or Partial Hospitalization Program, you may experience the benefits of IFS therapy through group sessions and individual therapy components tailored to your unique needs and healing journey.
Our women-focused approach recognizes women’s unique challenges and creates a safe, supportive environment for exploring internal parts and healing deep emotional wounds. Through IFS therapy at Monima, you can develop a compassionate relationship with all aspects of yourself, leading to better internal harmony and improved mental well-being.
If you’re interested in exploring comprehensive outpatient mental health treatment that includes the transformative benefits of Internal Family Systems therapy, our team at Monima Wellness is here to help. Our skilled clinicians are experienced in guiding women through the IFS process with compassion and expertise.
Contact us today at (858) 500-1542 or request that we contact you to learn more about how IFS therapy at Monima Wellness can support your healing journey.
Find out if Monima is the right treatment center for you or your loved one. Please note: we are an insurance-friendly organization.
