Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists in Ellicott City, MD
If you lack compassion for self or are suffering from repeated patterns that are negatively impacting your life and desire freedom and space to heal and transform, I can help. I firmly believe that you possess the inner strength and self-love to overcome obstacles, and my role is to be your companion on this path to healing and self-discovery. Together, we'll navigate the complexities of life, identify patterns that may be overwhelming you, and work collaboratively towards meaningful change and personal growth.
If you lack compassion for self or are suffering from repeated patterns that are negatively impacting your life and desire freedom and space to heal and transform, I can help. I firmly believe that you possess the inner strength and self-love to overcome obstacles, and my role is to be your companion on this path to healing and self-discovery. Together, we'll navigate the complexities of life, identify patterns that may be overwhelming you, and work collaboratively towards meaningful change and personal growth.
As an IFS trained Psychotherapist, I bring a wealth of experience to my counseling practice.
As a former Program Director of a Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center, I am skilled in working with individuals & families struggling with the impact of substance use/addiction disorder and complex trauma/PTSD. I hold an Advanced Masters Level Certification in Pastoral & Spiritual Care and am trained to provide counseling for all faith and spiritual traditions.
As an IFS trained Psychotherapist, I bring a wealth of experience to my counseling practice.
As a former Program Director of a Drug & Alcohol Treatment Center, I am skilled in working with individuals & families struggling with the impact of substance use/addiction disorder and complex trauma/PTSD. I hold an Advanced Masters Level Certification in Pastoral & Spiritual Care and am trained to provide counseling for all faith and spiritual traditions.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and integrative, drawing from EMDR, somatic and mindfulness-based work, IFS-informed parts work, and practical tools from CBT, ACT, and DBT to help create change that reaches beyond insight alone.
You may sense that something is keeping you from feeling fully present, connected, or like yourself. Maybe you understand your patterns intellectually but cannot change how they feel, or your emotions have become so overwhelming that moving forward feels impossible. I work with adults and adolescents navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment and relationship difficulties, family conflict, low self-esteem, grief, emotional dysregulation, and life transitions.
My approach is warm, collaborative, and integrative, drawing from EMDR, somatic and mindfulness-based work, IFS-informed parts work, and practical tools from CBT, ACT, and DBT to help create change that reaches beyond insight alone.
You may sense that something is keeping you from feeling fully present, connected, or like yourself. Maybe you understand your patterns intellectually but cannot change how they feel, or your emotions have become so overwhelming that moving forward feels impossible. I work with adults and adolescents navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment and relationship difficulties, family conflict, low self-esteem, grief, emotional dysregulation, and life transitions.
You look fine on the outside, but inside you're one "Are you okay?" away from crying in the car. You're the one everyone counts on. The fixer, the dependable one, the one who figures it out. You carry the emotional and practical load at work, at home, and in your relationships. You say yes when you want to say no, keep the peace even when you're upset, and feel guilty when you choose yourself. You're exhausted from thinking about what everyone needs while barely having space to ask yourself what you need. You love the people in your life. You're just tired of carrying so much of it.
You look fine on the outside, but inside you're one "Are you okay?" away from crying in the car. You're the one everyone counts on. The fixer, the dependable one, the one who figures it out. You carry the emotional and practical load at work, at home, and in your relationships. You say yes when you want to say no, keep the peace even when you're upset, and feel guilty when you choose yourself. You're exhausted from thinking about what everyone needs while barely having space to ask yourself what you need. You love the people in your life. You're just tired of carrying so much of it.
Healing often begins with feeling seen and supported in the parts of your life that have been difficult to carry alone. When trauma, grief, or stress remains unresolved, it can leave us feeling stuck, disconnected, and overwhelmed. I’m here to help you better understand patterns shaped by these experiences and develop healthier ways of coping.
Healing often begins with feeling seen and supported in the parts of your life that have been difficult to carry alone. When trauma, grief, or stress remains unresolved, it can leave us feeling stuck, disconnected, and overwhelmed. I’m here to help you better understand patterns shaped by these experiences and develop healthier ways of coping.
My training integrates the practical, skill-building focus of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with the introspective, compassionate methods of Internal Family Systems ( IFS), & EMDR, but ultimately, this is a collaborative process.
I work with adults facing a wide range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, psychosis, and major life transitions. A particular passion for me is working with families who are supporting loved ones living with psychosis. Experiencing these issues can be confusing, overwhelming, and deeply isolating. My goal is to help you feel more equipped and less alone as you find your way through it.
My training integrates the practical, skill-building focus of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) with the introspective, compassionate methods of Internal Family Systems ( IFS), & EMDR, but ultimately, this is a collaborative process.
I work with adults facing a wide range of challenges, including depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship challenges, psychosis, and major life transitions. A particular passion for me is working with families who are supporting loved ones living with psychosis. Experiencing these issues can be confusing, overwhelming, and deeply isolating. My goal is to help you feel more equipped and less alone as you find your way through it.
Informed by neuroscience and trauma-focused training, I use a combination of Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, and Solution-Focused Therapy in trauma work.
Are you tired of your relationships always take you on a roller coaster? Are you tired of people-pleasing/unhealthy boundaries/escalated conflicts/lack of trust in others/feeling distant and disconnected with people?
Most of us never saw healthy communication growing up—and that makes connection feel harder than it should. As a relationship therapist/coach, I help individuals and couples develop relational competence so you can learn to break old patterns, communicate with clarity, and create more secure and nurturing relationships.
Informed by neuroscience and trauma-focused training, I use a combination of Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Somatic Experiencing, and Solution-Focused Therapy in trauma work.
Are you tired of your relationships always take you on a roller coaster? Are you tired of people-pleasing/unhealthy boundaries/escalated conflicts/lack of trust in others/feeling distant and disconnected with people?
Most of us never saw healthy communication growing up—and that makes connection feel harder than it should. As a relationship therapist/coach, I help individuals and couples develop relational competence so you can learn to break old patterns, communicate with clarity, and create more secure and nurturing relationships.
Using a combination of IFS and EFT, I ensure that couples and family therapy with me creates opportunities for emotional connection as well as trust and safety building in your relationship.
Are you in a committed relationship, but you're struggling to heal past wounds, create healthier habits, or strengthen your emotional connection? Maybe you and your partner have tried so hard to make things work, but you just keep getting stuck in the same patterns over and over. Or perhaps you or your partner suffer from addiction, which has caused the trust in your relationship to crumble. As a licensed counselor, I use a person-centered and strengths-based approach, partnered with Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, to empower you and your loved one to make positive changes.
Using a combination of IFS and EFT, I ensure that couples and family therapy with me creates opportunities for emotional connection as well as trust and safety building in your relationship.
Are you in a committed relationship, but you're struggling to heal past wounds, create healthier habits, or strengthen your emotional connection? Maybe you and your partner have tried so hard to make things work, but you just keep getting stuck in the same patterns over and over. Or perhaps you or your partner suffer from addiction, which has caused the trust in your relationship to crumble. As a licensed counselor, I use a person-centered and strengths-based approach, partnered with Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, to empower you and your loved one to make positive changes.
H - I'm so glad you are here! :)
Finding the right therapist makes all the difference in reaching your goals - we might be a good fit if you are a new (or new again) mama adjusting to life's ups and downs and are looking for a fellow mom who gets it, seek support for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (postpartum depression, anxiety, or OCD), are navigating through infertility, miscarriage, or loss, experience anxiety or depression, have survived trauma, whether recent or in the past, and need support in processing.
H - I'm so glad you are here! :)
Finding the right therapist makes all the difference in reaching your goals - we might be a good fit if you are a new (or new again) mama adjusting to life's ups and downs and are looking for a fellow mom who gets it, seek support for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (postpartum depression, anxiety, or OCD), are navigating through infertility, miscarriage, or loss, experience anxiety or depression, have survived trauma, whether recent or in the past, and need support in processing.
Hi there, I'm Jill. If while reading this you think we would be a good fit, please reach out. You may want to get in touch if you are struggling to cope with this hard, confusing and overwhelming life. Maybe you are feeling that in your personal life and/or at a global level. Are the seemingly little everyday things feeling impossible? Let’s talk about ways to manage one piece at a time. Now more than ever, we can work together to identify what is within our control. I work with adult clients who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, and general overwhelm.
Hi there, I'm Jill. If while reading this you think we would be a good fit, please reach out. You may want to get in touch if you are struggling to cope with this hard, confusing and overwhelming life. Maybe you are feeling that in your personal life and/or at a global level. Are the seemingly little everyday things feeling impossible? Let’s talk about ways to manage one piece at a time. Now more than ever, we can work together to identify what is within our control. I work with adult clients who may be struggling with anxiety, depression, and general overwhelm.
Do you feel you are not living your life at its full potential? Are you unsatisfied with the quality and direction of your life? Does self doubt, anxiety, sadness, anger or emotional eating interfere with your personal, professional or social life? Do you still feel the pain of past sexual or physical abuse, bullying, neglect, or feelings of being unloved? Do you cope by overeating? Has a military experience left you with unwanted intrusive thoughts and uncontrollable emotions? It is difficult to go through life with such overwhelming emotions, but there is hope and and I can help.
Do you feel you are not living your life at its full potential? Are you unsatisfied with the quality and direction of your life? Does self doubt, anxiety, sadness, anger or emotional eating interfere with your personal, professional or social life? Do you still feel the pain of past sexual or physical abuse, bullying, neglect, or feelings of being unloved? Do you cope by overeating? Has a military experience left you with unwanted intrusive thoughts and uncontrollable emotions? It is difficult to go through life with such overwhelming emotions, but there is hope and and I can help.
I specialize in supporting clients who are struggling with feeling unheard, invisible, not enough or even "too much", whether in their relationships with others or with themselves. Often what has happened to us can shape our emotional and social blue prints. I can help clients learn to name and acknowledge overwhelming or confusing emotions, while also understanding and honoring the messages and roles these emotions may be communicating to us. I often work with folks who are skeptical, sensitive and question whether it's possible to feel safe enough to be yourself in the world.
I specialize in supporting clients who are struggling with feeling unheard, invisible, not enough or even "too much", whether in their relationships with others or with themselves. Often what has happened to us can shape our emotional and social blue prints. I can help clients learn to name and acknowledge overwhelming or confusing emotions, while also understanding and honoring the messages and roles these emotions may be communicating to us. I often work with folks who are skeptical, sensitive and question whether it's possible to feel safe enough to be yourself in the world.
Mia enjoys working with adolescents, young adults and adults experiencing life transitions to help them navigate a variety of mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, family and childhood trauma, identity and adjustment-related difficulties. She develops a safe and nonjudgmental environment for clients of all backgrounds using a multicultural lens. Mia utilizes a combination of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, internal family systems, and psychodynamic approaches to help clients look inward, identify their needs, and create lasting change to improve overall life satisfaction.
Mia enjoys working with adolescents, young adults and adults experiencing life transitions to help them navigate a variety of mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, family and childhood trauma, identity and adjustment-related difficulties. She develops a safe and nonjudgmental environment for clients of all backgrounds using a multicultural lens. Mia utilizes a combination of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, internal family systems, and psychodynamic approaches to help clients look inward, identify their needs, and create lasting change to improve overall life satisfaction.
I specialize in helping children, teens, and adults work through trauma, anxiety, and depression so they can reconnect with themselves and the people they care about. With close to ten years of experience, I provide a safe, judgment-free space where you can be honest about your struggles and start discovering new ways to cope, heal, and grow. Therapy is vulnerable—but it can also be the most powerful step you take toward a life that feels lighter and more meaningful.
I specialize in helping children, teens, and adults work through trauma, anxiety, and depression so they can reconnect with themselves and the people they care about. With close to ten years of experience, I provide a safe, judgment-free space where you can be honest about your struggles and start discovering new ways to cope, heal, and grow. Therapy is vulnerable—but it can also be the most powerful step you take toward a life that feels lighter and more meaningful.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the pain of wondering whether to leave or stay in your relationship because you've tried everything but nothing really works, I'd like to help. At times, you may feel angry and disappointed that the attraction, admiration or compassion for each other has begun to fade. Or you may sometimes believe things are starting to improve only to feel the tension return once again. It can be a draining dance that leaves you confused, wounded and bitter.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the pain of wondering whether to leave or stay in your relationship because you've tried everything but nothing really works, I'd like to help. At times, you may feel angry and disappointed that the attraction, admiration or compassion for each other has begun to fade. Or you may sometimes believe things are starting to improve only to feel the tension return once again. It can be a draining dance that leaves you confused, wounded and bitter.
Life can be, and is, full of moments when you feel distant from yourself, unsure of what you need, or simply overwhelmed by the weight of it all. Whether you are navigating life transitions, anxiety, grief, self-worth, or a sense of disconnection, something inside you knows there is more to life than just getting by.
That quiet knowing deserves space.
Life can be, and is, full of moments when you feel distant from yourself, unsure of what you need, or simply overwhelmed by the weight of it all. Whether you are navigating life transitions, anxiety, grief, self-worth, or a sense of disconnection, something inside you knows there is more to life than just getting by.
That quiet knowing deserves space.
Does the thought "I’m not good enough" live in your mind rent free? Do you feel ashamed or self-conscious because you seem to do things differently than others? By learning flexibility, cultivating self-compassion, and identifying the values central to your life, you can learn to embrace your authentic self. I enjoy working with teens and adults who are struggling to navigate the neurotypical world that we live in to build self-compassion and implement strategies to improve executive functioning issues. I am especially passionate about the psychological impacts of neurodivergence, and working with people diagnosed later in life.
Does the thought "I’m not good enough" live in your mind rent free? Do you feel ashamed or self-conscious because you seem to do things differently than others? By learning flexibility, cultivating self-compassion, and identifying the values central to your life, you can learn to embrace your authentic self. I enjoy working with teens and adults who are struggling to navigate the neurotypical world that we live in to build self-compassion and implement strategies to improve executive functioning issues. I am especially passionate about the psychological impacts of neurodivergence, and working with people diagnosed later in life.
Are you an adolescent or young adult—or the concerned parent of one—who struggles to cope with academic and social pressures? Or perhaps you're looking for couples counseling to work through betrayal trauma and rebuilt trust and emotional safety in your relationship. Taking a brain-based approach to therapy, my passion is helping teens, couples, and families work through difficult experiences to learn how to thrive instead of survive and get their lives back on a positive trajectory. As someone who has worked at my own healing, I've experienced how powerful and life-changing healing from trauma can be.
Are you an adolescent or young adult—or the concerned parent of one—who struggles to cope with academic and social pressures? Or perhaps you're looking for couples counseling to work through betrayal trauma and rebuilt trust and emotional safety in your relationship. Taking a brain-based approach to therapy, my passion is helping teens, couples, and families work through difficult experiences to learn how to thrive instead of survive and get their lives back on a positive trajectory. As someone who has worked at my own healing, I've experienced how powerful and life-changing healing from trauma can be.
I specialize in offering counseling and educational services for individuals and families dealing with symptoms related to: Anxiety, ADHD, Autism, Sensory Processing Differences, and Trauma. After spending over twenty years in the competitive Equine industry I also offer a niche speciality of psychotherapeutic services to this unique group of athletes, check out my website for more details!
I specialize in offering counseling and educational services for individuals and families dealing with symptoms related to: Anxiety, ADHD, Autism, Sensory Processing Differences, and Trauma. After spending over twenty years in the competitive Equine industry I also offer a niche speciality of psychotherapeutic services to this unique group of athletes, check out my website for more details!
My approach includes aspects of CBT, DBT, IFS & EMDR, mindfulness and meditation, cultivating self-compassion, and the therapeutic use of humor, empathy and human connection.
Seeking therapy requires MOXIE! You sense that a painful experience from your past is affecting your present life. You recognize that you're caught in a cycle, but finding a way out seems impossible. Typically, you're the kind of person who can navigate through any challenge, so it's incredibly frustrating that this time feels different. I specialize in working with adult & adolescents in the treatment of depression, anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, family conflict, self-esteem, trauma, abuse, grief/loss and emotion dysregulation.
My approach includes aspects of CBT, DBT, IFS & EMDR, mindfulness and meditation, cultivating self-compassion, and the therapeutic use of humor, empathy and human connection.
Seeking therapy requires MOXIE! You sense that a painful experience from your past is affecting your present life. You recognize that you're caught in a cycle, but finding a way out seems impossible. Typically, you're the kind of person who can navigate through any challenge, so it's incredibly frustrating that this time feels different. I specialize in working with adult & adolescents in the treatment of depression, anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, family conflict, self-esteem, trauma, abuse, grief/loss and emotion dysregulation.
See more therapy options for Ellicott City
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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.