Parts Work & IFS

Parts work and Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a powerful and compassionate approach to therapy that helps you understand and heal the different “parts” of yourself that show up in your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Think of yourself like a 100-piece jigsaw puzzle. Each piece, or “part” of you, carries specific feelings, goals, and beliefs. You may have one “part” of you that wants to make a change, but another part of you that wants to keep things status quo. Or there’s a part of you that feels calm and wise, and another part of you that feels chronically anxious and overwhelmed. In IFS, all of these parts put together (aka the completed jigsaw puzzle), is what IFS refers to as your “inner system” ~ and everyone has one. 

In Parts Work, it is believed that every part of you ~ even the ones you struggle with or may not really like ~ has a purpose and is trying to help you in some way. Some parts try to protect you by controlling, avoiding, or numbing. Other parts carry pain from past experiences and need care and attention. Other parts try to make good decisions to help you towards your goals. Through gentle curiosity and guided exploration, IFS helps you “meet” these parts and work with them to create harmony amongst all of the ways they show up and try to help you. Through this transformative work, you may shed old patterns of self-sabotage, ineffective coping skills, internal criticism and self-loathing, and fear-based anxiety or avoidance. 

IFS is especially helpful for people who have experienced trauma, struggle with eating issues, or feel torn by inner conflict and anxiety. For example:

• If you binge eat to cope with stress, IFS helps you understand the protective part that turns to food ~ and what it’s trying to soothe.
• If you’re constantly criticizing yourself or people-pleasing, IFS helps you uncover the vulnerable part that feels unsafe or not good enough ~ and gives that part permission to take up space with your feelings and needs. 
• If you feel stuck in repeating patterns or overwhelmed by emotions, IFS helps you connect to your Authentic Self ~ the calm, grounded center of who you are ~ so you can lead your system of parts with more clarity, compassion, and confidence.

At A New Beginning, we love using Parts Work and IFS with clients because it’s deeply respectful, trauma-informed, and empowering. It’s not about fixing you. It’s about helping you listen to your inner world, heal what hurts, and reconnect with the wholeness that’s always been there.

Your parts are not the problem. They’re trying to help. We’ll help you build a relationship with them ~ and with yourself ~ that feels healing and whole. To learn more, please contact our friendly Client Care Coordinator, Lauren, at (480) 941-4247 or contact@anewbeginning.com.