Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Families
Fostering Healing and Harmony by Understanding Every Voice in the Room
Available at Pillars of Wellness: In-person and Telehealth (Indiana-wide)
What Is Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps individuals and families understand the complex emotional systems within each person—and how those systems interact. Developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz, IFS recognizes that everyone has multiple “parts” within them, such as protectors, critics, or wounded inner children. When we understand these parts, we can relate to ourselves and each other with more compassion and clarity.
In family therapy, IFS helps each family member better understand themselves and others. Instead of trying to control behaviors or solve surface-level conflict, IFS works at a deeper level to restore emotional safety and mutual respect.
The heart of IFS is this: When each person is heard and supported in their inner world, the whole family becomes more connected, resilient, and capable of healing together.
Why Choose IFS for Family Therapy?
IFS helps families move from blame and misunderstanding to empathy and effective communication. It supports healing within each person—and between people—by helping families:
✅ Understand and calm intense emotional reactions
✅ Recognize protective behaviors and the vulnerable parts beneath them
✅ Interrupt generational patterns with curiosity instead of shame
✅ Foster emotional safety and respectful communication
✅ Repair ruptures and strengthen trust over time
Who Can Benefit from IFS Family Therapy?
IFS is ideal for families who are:
- Navigating conflict, distance, or repeated communication breakdowns
- Experiencing the impact of trauma, grief, or loss
- Struggling with parenting differences or adolescent behavior challenges
- Managing stress from life transitions (divorce, moves, illness, etc.)
- Seeking to break patterns of control, silence, or emotional reactivity
- Hoping to heal after years of hurt or disconnection
IFS is also helpful for blended families or adult family systems trying to reconnect in healthier ways.
The IFS Approach in Family Work
Rather than identifying one “problem person” in the family, IFS views every member as having their own internal world that influences how they show up. By helping each person explore their parts—and by staying grounded in Self-energy (curiosity, calmness, compassion)—IFS allows healing to happen from the inside out.
As family members become more attuned to their inner systems, they begin to:
- Notice which parts are being activated
- Respond from a place of Self rather than reactivity
- Relate to each other with more patience and presence
What IFS Family Sessions Are Like
In IFS family therapy, your therapist will:
- Create a safe, non-blaming environment for open dialogue
- Help each family member explore their own “parts” that react or protect
- Slow down tense moments to uncover what’s really going on underneath
- Support families in healing emotional wounds and rebuilding trust
- Guide the family toward healthier relational patterns rooted in empathy
Sessions may include:
- Mapping out family dynamics and individual inner systems
- Practicing ways to communicate from Self-energy rather than parts
- Exploring family legacies and emotional burdens
- Rehearsing new ways of responding to stress or conflict together
IFS vs. Traditional Family Therapy
Whereas traditional family therapy often focuses on rules, roles, or problem-solving, IFS focuses on the emotional experiences that drive behavior—without blame or shame.
Think of it this way:
Traditional = “What’s happening between family members?”
IFS = “What’s happening within each family member—and how does that affect the system?”
IFS honors each person’s inner world while building stronger, more compassionate relationships between them.
Getting Started
📞 To learn more or schedule your first session, contact our administrative team. We’re here to support your family—through conflict, growth, and everything in between.