Codependency through an IFS Lens

Codependency is a concept that is often misunderstood, and its expression in mental health discussions can be limiting. Traditional approaches to healing codependency can inadvertently pathologize the condition, fostering shame, guilt, and a sense of being "less-than." Internal Family Systems (IFS) offers a compassionate and non-pathologizing framework for understanding and healing codependency. IFS recognizes that we all have parts of ourselves that have developed in response to early-life experiences and external messages from our families, communities, and culture. These parts once served protective functions, but over time, they may have become exaggerated or misaligned, causing distress.