A short video explaining what IFS is… and what its not!

Some people hear “IFS” and immediately think of the Institute for Fiscal Studies or some kind of financial institution, while others assume IFS therapists are working with whole families to sort out interpersonal dynamics.

Actually, IFS—Internal Family Systems—is an inside job.

In this very short video, I’m going to share what IFS really is: a powerful, compassionate model of healing that helps us understand and relate to the different “parts” within ourselves. You might recognize some of your own parts—like a perfectionist that pushes you to do everything just right, or a harsh inner critic that never seems satisfied. There might be a part that really wants to eat ice cream, and another part that definitely doesn’t. These aren’t just random thoughts or moods; they’re parts of you with stories, roles, and good intentions—even if their strategies sometimes feel confusing or conflicted.

IFS invites us to slow down and meet these parts with curiosity instead of judgment.

When we learn to listen, understand, and befriend them, something amazing happens: the inner chaos starts to settle, the criticism softens, and healing begins—not from the outside in, but from the inside out. That’s the magic of IFS.