Internal Family Systems Therapy
I wonder if you’ve found yourself wanting to get rid of some aspect of yourself?
Most of us would probably say yes.
It might be some sort of habit that causes suffering in your life, or that critical voice in your head that keeps telling you you’re not good enough, or that busy mind that just won’t stop, or feeling at the mercy of difficult emotions….
maybe it’s led you to secretly believe that there’s something wrong with you, that you should be different.
It’s no surprise that we end up entangled in self -improvement projects, in the desperate attempt to change ourselves,
to be more, to be better, to do more….
But what if there was a uniquely different way to relate to yourself
that will lead you towards true healing, instead of the constant inner struggle?
I am an IFS practitioner, a qualified mindfulness, and yoga teacher. I have worked in the field of body-centred therapeutic approaches for the last 23 years…
I offer a genuine and trusting relationship, allowing you to mindfully explore, gain clarity and healing on what feels like it’s holding you back from living the life you really long for.
Internal Family Systems therapy – or IFS therapy – is a powerfully transformative evidence-based model of therapy that can support you to understand yourself more deeply, and ultimately liberate you from past wounds, narratives and adaptations that impact your present.
How is IFS different to other counselling modalities?
We all have a system of parts inside of us…
Our inner system consists of many parts; some that use adaptive strategies in service of our protection, and others parts that have been exiled and buried for safety early on in our life.
Together, we’ll grow your capacity to turn within and meet your inner family of parts with care and curiosity. Over time this will enable you to build compassionate, wise relationships with and between parts to create more wholeness and peace inside.
Experience true Self-leadership…
A basic assumption of IFS is that everyone at their core, has a Self that is characterised by qualities such as compassion, clarity, connectedness, curiosity, courage, and calmness. This Self we refer to is similar to what others have described as the higher Self or the Soul, and remains undamaged, regardless of our early life experience.
Together, we’ll build your capacity to access this Self more frequently, so that you can lead your life from a place of compassion, curiosity, and courage.
A body-centred approach to healing…
In IFS we get curious about what your body knows, not only what you think and feel.
Unlike classical talk therapy modalities you may have tried in the past, IFS is an embodied practice, which means it incorporates your whole body.
It’s common for parts of the psyche to manifest somatically, in different areas of your body. For example, an anxious part might manifest as a churning feeling in your stomach. Mindfulness sets the container for this work and allows us to tune into the unspoken voice of the body to allow for deeper healing.
Perhaps you’re feeling stressed, stuck or overwhelmed?
Or plagued by constant worry of what might be around the next corner?
Or you’d like to make a change in your life?
Perhaps you long to feel more at ease within yourself, or to grow and expand into more of who you really are in your deepest essence…
Through the lens of IFS we understand that each part of us,
even the troublesome parts,
are trying to support the system in the best way they know how.
Our work together will help you to become mindfully curious, so that you can come to know these parts of yourself better.
This will enable these parts to heal and transform and you will naturally uncover more of who you truly are at your deepest essence
IFS can help you to…
develop a relationship with yourself that is supportive, warm, kind and loving.
work with that critical voice in your head so it doesn’t take over your life!
create and maintain healthy boundaries.
explore your saboteurs and shadows, and the ways they hold you back from fully expressing yourself and living your life.
honour your own needs as sacred gifts.
learn how to care for others, without becoming burnt out and depleted in the process.
experience an intimate, alive, trust-filled connection with yourself.
cultivate a gentle, peaceful inner landscape that nourishes rather than punishes you
deepen your own self-trust and inner resource
be more authentically YOU, and lead your life from a place of true power.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) works best when you commit to a minimum of three months of consistent work. This allows your system ample time to explore, and begin trusting the process.
While my IFS sessions are available for booking on an ad-hoc basis, I encourage anyone looking to truly understand their inner world through the lens of IFS to make an ongoing commitment to the work.
I offer 60-minute sessions that can take place either online via zoom, or face-to-face from where I practice in North Devon.
If you’re interested in exploring whether we’re a good fit to work together, I invite you to book a call with me. During this call, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions you might have and get a feel for what is involved in this process.
Sending warm wishes to you and your beautiful inner family, and I look forward to the opportunity to work together.
Testimonials……
“Working with Claire on Internal Family Systems has been a gentle yet profoundly impactful experience for me. Through Claire's insightful guidance, I've been able to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying dynamics of my thoughts and feelings. As a result, I now feel more connected to myself and better equipped to navigate the challenges I face.”
~ Karen, Accountant
“Working with Claire is a truly rewarding experience. Seeing through the IFS lens, combined with her calm and reassuring presence, makes a space where I can safely explore my inner world. Each session brings a sense of greater integration and openness, a deeper connection with my inner wisdom, and renewed hope for the future."
~ Laura, therapist
‘Claire provides a wonderfully safe space for me to explore and gain a deeper understanding of myself. I am finding the insights and revelations that these sessions provide absolutely fascinating and invaluable in helping me to move forwards on my life’s journey of self discovery, self acceptance and self love…
Thank you, thank you, thank you Claire, I really appreciate this offering alongside your kind, warm and gentle approach.
— Kate
‘I just wanted to drop you a line after our session today to say I feel such peace and joy. Becoming more conscious of my Self helps me come closer to that spark of divine energy in each of us that can never be destroyed. And as I realise that, I see that there can be nothing to fear’.
— Holly, GP
“I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.”
― Hafiz
