Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists in Richmond, VA
In our society it is often acceptable to just live life in survival mode. It is my hope that my clients can surpass feelings of survival, and live a life in which they are not only surviving, but thriving. As your therapist I will honor you and meet you where you are on your mental health journey. In our sessions, I will collaborate with you to ensure we are meeting your needs and goals. I use trauma informed and person-centered approaches which focus on strengths and holistic wellness. I strive to create a space where you can show up just as you are and feel heard, validated, and respected.
In our society it is often acceptable to just live life in survival mode. It is my hope that my clients can surpass feelings of survival, and live a life in which they are not only surviving, but thriving. As your therapist I will honor you and meet you where you are on your mental health journey. In our sessions, I will collaborate with you to ensure we are meeting your needs and goals. I use trauma informed and person-centered approaches which focus on strengths and holistic wellness. I strive to create a space where you can show up just as you are and feel heard, validated, and respected.
An LCSW with 36 years in the Behavioral Health Field. EMDR Trained. I strive to motivate and facilitate my clients goals utilizing evidenced-based interventions, a broad range of experience, humor, a bit of intuition, and a few tricks of my own. People who struggle with depression and anxiety have had less than perfect life experiences. These experiences frequently result in life-interrupting, automatic responses that impair everyday functioning. Also, I've developed a unique working style for those of us who are highly-sensitive and intuitive.
An LCSW with 36 years in the Behavioral Health Field. EMDR Trained. I strive to motivate and facilitate my clients goals utilizing evidenced-based interventions, a broad range of experience, humor, a bit of intuition, and a few tricks of my own. People who struggle with depression and anxiety have had less than perfect life experiences. These experiences frequently result in life-interrupting, automatic responses that impair everyday functioning. Also, I've developed a unique working style for those of us who are highly-sensitive and intuitive.
Living with chronic illness, pain, or infertility can feel isolating, exhausting, and deeply misunderstood. When your body feels unpredictable or life isn’t unfolding the way you hoped, it can bring grief, anxiety, anger, and disconnection. I offer a compassionate space to process those layers without judgment. My approach is warm, honest, and grounded in both professional expertise and personal understanding of how heavy these experiences can be. Together, we’ll make room for your pain, rebuild trust in yourself, strengthen resilience, and help you reconnect with hope, meaning, and joy even in the middle of uncertainty.
Living with chronic illness, pain, or infertility can feel isolating, exhausting, and deeply misunderstood. When your body feels unpredictable or life isn’t unfolding the way you hoped, it can bring grief, anxiety, anger, and disconnection. I offer a compassionate space to process those layers without judgment. My approach is warm, honest, and grounded in both professional expertise and personal understanding of how heavy these experiences can be. Together, we’ll make room for your pain, rebuild trust in yourself, strengthen resilience, and help you reconnect with hope, meaning, and joy even in the middle of uncertainty.
Therapy is a journey of self-discovery, healing, and growth. We may explore your attachment patterns, life transitions, or how past experiences still shape the present. I help you make sense of emotions, relationships, and the challenges that prevent you from thriving. In therapy we’ll build tools for resilience, balance, and self-compassion so you can move forward feeling more connected and at peace with yourself and others.
Therapy is a journey of self-discovery, healing, and growth. We may explore your attachment patterns, life transitions, or how past experiences still shape the present. I help you make sense of emotions, relationships, and the challenges that prevent you from thriving. In therapy we’ll build tools for resilience, balance, and self-compassion so you can move forward feeling more connected and at peace with yourself and others.
You might be managing daily life just fine, yet still feel anxious, overwhelmed, or on edge more often than you’d like.
My ideal clients are adults and adolescents who feel worn down from holding everything together. Many adults are parents or professionals who overthink, feel constantly “on,” or struggle to slow their minds while juggling daily life. Adolescents I work with are often navigating school pressure, social stress, or big emotions. Clients come to therapy wanting relief from anxiety, more balance, and practical tools that make day to day life feel more manageable.
You might be managing daily life just fine, yet still feel anxious, overwhelmed, or on edge more often than you’d like.
My ideal clients are adults and adolescents who feel worn down from holding everything together. Many adults are parents or professionals who overthink, feel constantly “on,” or struggle to slow their minds while juggling daily life. Adolescents I work with are often navigating school pressure, social stress, or big emotions. Clients come to therapy wanting relief from anxiety, more balance, and practical tools that make day to day life feel more manageable.
I will tailor our work together to meet your specific needs based on my training in Polyvagal Theory, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Ego States, Internal Family Systems, Attachment Based, Strength Based, Trauma and Abandonment, Eye Movement and Desensitization (EMDR), and Couples Therapy.
I have worked with clients with a variety of concerns including anxiety, dissociation, trauma and abuse, PTSD, religious/spiritual trauma, sex work/trafficking and eating issues. I have a special interest in working with LGBTQIA+ clients with specialized training for supporting transgender clients as well as cult recovery/religious deconstruction. My therapy style is warm, interactive and person centered. I believe everyone has the ability to find healing. It takes courage to reach out and ask for support. That courage will serve you well as you work towards feeling better. I'm here to support you in your process of healing.
I will tailor our work together to meet your specific needs based on my training in Polyvagal Theory, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Ego States, Internal Family Systems, Attachment Based, Strength Based, Trauma and Abandonment, Eye Movement and Desensitization (EMDR), and Couples Therapy.
I have worked with clients with a variety of concerns including anxiety, dissociation, trauma and abuse, PTSD, religious/spiritual trauma, sex work/trafficking and eating issues. I have a special interest in working with LGBTQIA+ clients with specialized training for supporting transgender clients as well as cult recovery/religious deconstruction. My therapy style is warm, interactive and person centered. I believe everyone has the ability to find healing. It takes courage to reach out and ask for support. That courage will serve you well as you work towards feeling better. I'm here to support you in your process of healing.
I earned a B.A. in Psychology from Maryville College, an M.A. in Counseling from Liberty University, and an Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University American School of Professional Psychology. With more than 25 years of experience in the mental health field, I have worked as a Juvenile Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist, and clinician/counselor for incarcerated youth. I have also supported individuals with a wide range of clinical mental health concerns through individual, group, and family counseling. I am committed to creating a supportive, compassionate environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered.
I earned a B.A. in Psychology from Maryville College, an M.A. in Counseling from Liberty University, and an Ed.D. in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University American School of Professional Psychology. With more than 25 years of experience in the mental health field, I have worked as a Juvenile Psychologist, Forensic Psychologist, and clinician/counselor for incarcerated youth. I have also supported individuals with a wide range of clinical mental health concerns through individual, group, and family counseling. I am committed to creating a supportive, compassionate environment where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered.
I am an integrative therapist who is attachment-focused and strengths-based and support clients through combining techniques such as NARM, Somatic Experiencing, Parts Work/ IFS, and Brainspotting.
At our group practice, HeartMind Resiliency, we are honored to witness people's return to their unique expression of wholeness. The essence of our work lies in meeting you with an attitude of heartful curiosity so that you may safely explore stressors and renegotiate traumas. We utilize integrative body-based modalities incorporating latest discoveries and research in mind-body psychology that do not require reliving intense emotions or detailing painful memories. We will work to discover new resources and truths so that you may experience a newfound sense of well-being and trust in the unfolding process of your life's journey.
I am an integrative therapist who is attachment-focused and strengths-based and support clients through combining techniques such as NARM, Somatic Experiencing, Parts Work/ IFS, and Brainspotting.
At our group practice, HeartMind Resiliency, we are honored to witness people's return to their unique expression of wholeness. The essence of our work lies in meeting you with an attitude of heartful curiosity so that you may safely explore stressors and renegotiate traumas. We utilize integrative body-based modalities incorporating latest discoveries and research in mind-body psychology that do not require reliving intense emotions or detailing painful memories. We will work to discover new resources and truths so that you may experience a newfound sense of well-being and trust in the unfolding process of your life's journey.
As your therapist, I will provide a safe and supportive environment for growth and healing. Taking a strengths-based, person-centered approach, I work with clients who are at all stages of their therapeutic journey. I utilize an eclectic approach in my practice, understanding that every person is unique in what they are going through and what they need. In our time together, we will focus not only on mental health but the various external factors that influence you and your journey.
As your therapist, I will provide a safe and supportive environment for growth and healing. Taking a strengths-based, person-centered approach, I work with clients who are at all stages of their therapeutic journey. I utilize an eclectic approach in my practice, understanding that every person is unique in what they are going through and what they need. In our time together, we will focus not only on mental health but the various external factors that influence you and your journey.
I support clients in understanding their emotional experiences, reconnecting with their inner strengths, and moving toward meaningful change. I bring a calm, grounded presence to the therapeutic relationship and is committed to providing a safe, affirming, and nonjudgmental space, including for individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+. I work with teens (12+), young adults, and adults who are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, identity exploration, and major life transitions. I have a particular interest in working with clients who feel overwhelmed, emotionally stuck, or impacted by early life experiences.
I support clients in understanding their emotional experiences, reconnecting with their inner strengths, and moving toward meaningful change. I bring a calm, grounded presence to the therapeutic relationship and is committed to providing a safe, affirming, and nonjudgmental space, including for individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+. I work with teens (12+), young adults, and adults who are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, identity exploration, and major life transitions. I have a particular interest in working with clients who feel overwhelmed, emotionally stuck, or impacted by early life experiences.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or just tired of carrying everything on your own, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. I’ve spent my career helping individuals, couples, and families work through anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and life transitions. My goal is to create a space where you feel understood, supported, and able to make real, lasting change!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or just tired of carrying everything on your own, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself. I’ve spent my career helping individuals, couples, and families work through anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and life transitions. My goal is to create a space where you feel understood, supported, and able to make real, lasting change!
I draw from bottom-up approaches including parts work (ego states/ IFS), polyvagal theory, and somatic skills.
I work adults age 25+ who are navigating trauma, attachment wounds, identity shifts, and relationship patterns that are no longer working. Many of my clients find they have spent years being the “strong one” for others, often while feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected on the inside. I have extensive experience supporting clients in the perinatal and postpartum period, as well as those who may have tried therapy before and are now ready to slow down, go deeper, and understand not just what they’re feeling, but why—and how to heal it on a body and nervous system level.
I draw from bottom-up approaches including parts work (ego states/ IFS), polyvagal theory, and somatic skills.
I work adults age 25+ who are navigating trauma, attachment wounds, identity shifts, and relationship patterns that are no longer working. Many of my clients find they have spent years being the “strong one” for others, often while feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or disconnected on the inside. I have extensive experience supporting clients in the perinatal and postpartum period, as well as those who may have tried therapy before and are now ready to slow down, go deeper, and understand not just what they’re feeling, but why—and how to heal it on a body and nervous system level.
Life can be challenging at times. Do you feel like you keep experiencing the same challenges over and over again? Do you feel stuck in the same cycle and don’t know how to change the setting. This can cause anxiety and depression and affect your relationships and all other areas of your life. I work with families, individuals and couples to help deal with those challenges. I offer a safe and nonjudgmental place to work through issues or struggles that you might be experiencing.
Life can be challenging at times. Do you feel like you keep experiencing the same challenges over and over again? Do you feel stuck in the same cycle and don’t know how to change the setting. This can cause anxiety and depression and affect your relationships and all other areas of your life. I work with families, individuals and couples to help deal with those challenges. I offer a safe and nonjudgmental place to work through issues or struggles that you might be experiencing.
In my practice, I strive to create a space—both emotionally and physically—that allows you to explore, process, and interact with the many dynamic and complicated parts of life. Together, we might ask: Who do you want to be? How do you want to show up in your relationships and daily life? What kind of life are you longing to build, and what steps will move you toward it?
In my practice, I strive to create a space—both emotionally and physically—that allows you to explore, process, and interact with the many dynamic and complicated parts of life. Together, we might ask: Who do you want to be? How do you want to show up in your relationships and daily life? What kind of life are you longing to build, and what steps will move you toward it?
Using EMDR, ERP, and IFS therapy, I offer a calm, supportive space to understand your patterns, heal old wounds, soothe your nervous system, and create lasting emotional freedom.
You get things done. You push through. You handle what others can’t. But lately the pressure, anxiety, and old patterns are catching up. You want more than “holding it together.” You want clarity, calm, and the freedom to stop performing and actually feel good again. You’re ready to understand what’s happening inside, break the cycles that drain you, and step into a steadier, more grounded version of yourself.
Using EMDR, ERP, and IFS therapy, I offer a calm, supportive space to understand your patterns, heal old wounds, soothe your nervous system, and create lasting emotional freedom.
You get things done. You push through. You handle what others can’t. But lately the pressure, anxiety, and old patterns are catching up. You want more than “holding it together.” You want clarity, calm, and the freedom to stop performing and actually feel good again. You’re ready to understand what’s happening inside, break the cycles that drain you, and step into a steadier, more grounded version of yourself.
My approach is deeply rooted in a person-centered perspective, drawing from Internal Family Systems, Motivational Interviewing, and psychodynamic theories.
I work with adults and teenagers, from high school through late adulthood. I have worked in multiple settings, including outpatient private practice, college counseling, community mental health, and jail diversion. I have worked with clients facing a range of issues, including substance use, serious mental illness, PTSD, domestic violence, depression, grief, life transitions, LGBTQIA+ issues, and anxiety.
My approach is deeply rooted in a person-centered perspective, drawing from Internal Family Systems, Motivational Interviewing, and psychodynamic theories.
I work with adults and teenagers, from high school through late adulthood. I have worked in multiple settings, including outpatient private practice, college counseling, community mental health, and jail diversion. I have worked with clients facing a range of issues, including substance use, serious mental illness, PTSD, domestic violence, depression, grief, life transitions, LGBTQIA+ issues, and anxiety.
My approach is collaborative and tailored to your needs, drawing from EMDR, Internal Family Systems ( IFS), Solution-Focused Therapy, mindfulness, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Seeking therapy is a courageous step, and I am here to provide a safe, supportive space where you feel heard and valued. With six years of experience providing individual mental health therapy, I specialize in working with individuals facing substance use challenges and those healing from trauma, among other concerns including mood disorders, personality disorders, and anxiety.
My approach is collaborative and tailored to your needs, drawing from EMDR, Internal Family Systems ( IFS), Solution-Focused Therapy, mindfulness, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Seeking therapy is a courageous step, and I am here to provide a safe, supportive space where you feel heard and valued. With six years of experience providing individual mental health therapy, I specialize in working with individuals facing substance use challenges and those healing from trauma, among other concerns including mood disorders, personality disorders, and anxiety.
I believe the key for successful therapy is finding someone you can fully trust and feel completely comfortable with. If you are seeking a warm, inclusive and compassionate therapist to help you on your journey, I’d love to meet with you! Most people who come to see me hope to find clarity on relationships, figure out how to set boundaries, give their life a better sense of direction, or find themselves. Whether you are looking for relief from anxiety and worry, or you are trying to regain joy and rhythm of life, I’d be honored to help you on that journey.
I believe the key for successful therapy is finding someone you can fully trust and feel completely comfortable with. If you are seeking a warm, inclusive and compassionate therapist to help you on your journey, I’d love to meet with you! Most people who come to see me hope to find clarity on relationships, figure out how to set boundaries, give their life a better sense of direction, or find themselves. Whether you are looking for relief from anxiety and worry, or you are trying to regain joy and rhythm of life, I’d be honored to help you on that journey.
Sarah Degaraff
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW
2 Endorsed
Richmond, VA 23229
Waitlist for new clients
Sarah provides confidential and supportive services from a trauma-informed and attachment-based approach, focusing on the whole person, integrating the mind/body/spirit connection. She also teaches mindfulness practices to help bring compassion and presence to each moment. Other modalities Sarah utilizes are play therapy techniques, relational, positive psychology, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Sarah is passionate about helping others become more self-aware in order to practice greater self-acceptance and self-responsibility to lead more fulfilling, and meaningful lives.
Sarah provides confidential and supportive services from a trauma-informed and attachment-based approach, focusing on the whole person, integrating the mind/body/spirit connection. She also teaches mindfulness practices to help bring compassion and presence to each moment. Other modalities Sarah utilizes are play therapy techniques, relational, positive psychology, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Sarah is passionate about helping others become more self-aware in order to practice greater self-acceptance and self-responsibility to lead more fulfilling, and meaningful lives.
Hello! How can I help you find joy today? Finding small joys for people is one of my passions. I find laughter to help manage stress. No matter how stressful life gets, I enjoy helping individuals find the small joys that strengthen their connection with themselves & others. I strive
Hello! How can I help you find joy today? Finding small joys for people is one of my passions. I find laughter to help manage stress. No matter how stressful life gets, I enjoy helping individuals find the small joys that strengthen their connection with themselves & others. I strive
See more therapy options for Richmond
Nearby Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists Searches for Richmond
- Ashland
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- Chester
- Chesterfield
- Colonial Heights
- Glen Allen
- Henrico
- Mechanicsville
- Midlothian
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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.