Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists in 38157
Melanie Spurgeon
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
Verified Verified
Memphis, TN 38157
When you walk into my office, my hope is to meet you wherever you are in your path, and you feel some of the pressure fall off. It is my joy and passion to help women navigate the college and various adult seasons of life. These stages are full of transitions that can be exciting and stressful. You might be experiencing changes in relationships with family and friends, learning how to process and share emotions, discovering identity and belonging, discerning gifting and career paths, or feeling stuck from hurts in the past. But you do not have to walk this journey alone!
When you walk into my office, my hope is to meet you wherever you are in your path, and you feel some of the pressure fall off. It is my joy and passion to help women navigate the college and various adult seasons of life. These stages are full of transitions that can be exciting and stressful. You might be experiencing changes in relationships with family and friends, learning how to process and share emotions, discovering identity and belonging, discerning gifting and career paths, or feeling stuck from hurts in the past. But you do not have to walk this journey alone!
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Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists
What is Internal Family Systems therapy?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a type of talk therapy that focuses on sub-personalities, or “families,” within a person, which may be made up of wounded parts and unpleasant emotions like anger and shame. These sub-personalities can come into conflict with each other and with an individual’s core Self, leaving the person feeling detached from positive traits such as the “8 C’s” of confidence, calmness, creativity, clarity, curiosity, courage, compassion, and connectedness. By healing a patient’s wounded parts, a therapist aims to restore balance and bring on positive change.
How does Internal Family Systems therapy work?
An IFS therapist will work with a patient to identify their particular sub-personalities, recognize the emotions powering them, and release them. By doing so, the patient should become more able to address any underlying problems their sub-personalities may have been trying to protect them from. Ultimately, a patient discovers ways to manage internal and external conflicts on their own, through techniques such as relaxation exercises, journaling, and making charts depicting the relationships between their core Self and their distinct parts.
Does Internal Family Systems therapy work?
IFS therapy has been shown to help people address conditions such as depression, anxiety, panic, fears and phobias, trauma, and substance use disorders. Some research has also found that it can help individuals deal with symptoms of physical health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, such as pain, everyday functioning, depressive feelings, and low self-compassion. There are some conditions for which IFS treatment, specifically discussions of one’s “parts,” may be less appropriate, such as schizophrenia or other states that involve psychosis or paranoia.
How long does Internal Family Systems therapy take?
As with most forms of talk therapy, there is no set duration or end point for IFS therapy. After becoming comfortable with a therapist and the core concepts of IFS, some patients quickly make progress. While experiences vary, most will find that it is a relatively longer-term therapy, involving months and sometimes years of sessions.