What is IFS?
IFS (Internal Family Systems) is an evidence-based, compassion-centred therapeutic model designed to help you understand and heal your inner world. It is especially helpful for people navigating anxiety, overwhelm, burnout, emotional reactivity including suppressed or uncontrolled anger, depression, loneliness, or the sense of being “stuck” in familiar patterns.
At its core, IFS offers a clear, respectful way of working with the different emotional and psychological components of who we are — the parts that worry, the parts that criticise, the parts that shut down, and the parts that still carry pain from earlier experiences. It is a gentle, non-pathologising approach that treats these inner experiences not as symptoms, but as signals pointing to what needs attention, care, and understanding.
Why People Choose IFS
Who is IFS for?
IFS can support anyone, at any stage of life, who wants to understand themselves more deeply or cultivate a healthier relationship with their emotions. People often seek IFS when they are experiencing:
IFS resonates for several reasons:
- It is non-pathologising. Instead of labels, IFS helps you understand your emotional experience with clarity and compassion.
- It is experiential. Change happens not only by talking about emotions, but by learning to relate to them differently.
- It works with real, day-to-day struggles. Anxiety, burnout, overthinking, shame, loneliness, and emotional overwhelm all have clear internal dynamics. IFS helps you understand those dynamics and shift them.
- It is impactful but not overwhelming. The approach is gentle, collaborative, and paced according to your comfort.
- It meets you where you are. Whether you’re navigating life transitions, identity complexity, work stress, spiritual or existential crises, or emotional fatigue, IFS adapts to your lived experience.
The Core Idea: We All Have Parts
IFS begins with a simple but powerful observation: the mind is not a single voice, but a community of different parts. You might recognise some of these already:
- the anxious part that anticipates everything that might go wrong
- the overwhelmed part that wants to withdraw or shut down
- the perfectionist part that pushes you to perform
- the inner critic that comments on everything you do
- the lonely or homesick part that longs for closeness or belonging
- the tired, burnt-out part that feels stretched beyond capacity
The Role of the Self
Beneath all of your parts, IFS holds that there is a deeper centre called the Self — a place of clarity, calm, curiosity, compassion, and inner leadership.
Beneath all of your parts, IFS holds that there is a deeper centre called the Self — a place of clarity, calm, curiosity, compassion, and inner leadership.
IFS therapy helps you reconnect with this Self so that you can approach your emotional world not from fear or urgency, but from steadiness. With practice, this becomes a reliable inner resource for navigating anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, or periods of emotional disorientation.
Self-energy is not something you have to force or fabricate — it’s something already present within you. IFS simply helps clear the way.
What an IFS Session Looks Like
IFS sessions are collaborative and gentle. A typical session involves:
IFS sessions are collaborative and gentle. A typical session involves:
- Slowing down
- Turning attention inward
- Noticing what thoughts, emotions, or body sensations are present
- Meeting the parts of you that show up — with curiosity instead of judgement
- Listening for what those parts need
- Creating more space around difficult emotions such as anxiety, shame, anger, or overwhelm
Who is IFS for?
IFS can support anyone, at any stage of life, who wants to understand themselves more deeply or cultivate a healthier relationship with their emotions. People often seek IFS when they are experiencing:
- chronic anxiety or emotional reactivity
- burnout, stress, or exhaustion
- persistent shame, harsh inner criticism, or low self-worth
- patterns of overthinking or perfectionism
- loneliness, isolation, or a sense of disconnection
- unresolved experiences from the past
- difficulty navigating transitions or feeling directionless
- relationship patterns that repeat themselves
- value emotional depth and self-inquiry
- have lived across cultures or moved frequently
- work remotely and feel the psychological pressure of always-on productivity
- identify with creative, contemplative, or non-traditional pathways
- feel they “don’t quite fit” typical therapy environments
An Invitation
IFS is a powerful framework for understanding your inner world with clarity and compassion. If you’re curious about how this work might support you — whether you’re dealing with anxiety, burnout, loneliness, emotional overwhelm, or simply wanting to reconnect with yourself — you’re welcome to reach out.
I work online with clients across Europe and internationally.
For those in the Paris or Seine-et-Marne area, I also offer in-person appointments in Melun.
Home visits can also be considered for residents of Fontainebleau, Avon, Bois-le-Roi, Melun, and Paris, with an extra travel fee.
For those in the Paris or Seine-et-Marne area, I also offer in-person appointments in Melun.
Home visits can also be considered for residents of Fontainebleau, Avon, Bois-le-Roi, Melun, and Paris, with an extra travel fee.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based, non-pathologising approach that helps you understand and transform your inner emotional world. Instead of analysing problems from a distance, IFS guides you to connect with the “parts” of yourself that carry anxiety, shame, overwhelm, anger, loneliness, or past wounds — and to meet them with clarity and compassion.
Sessions begin by slowing down and turning your attention inward. With supportive guidance, you notice what thoughts, emotions, or body sensations are present. You then meet the “parts” of you that arise — such as a worried part, a perfectionist part, a shutdown part, or an inner critic — and explore what they’re trying to protect.
The process is gentle, respectful, and collaborative. You set the pace, and nothing is forced.
The process is gentle, respectful, and collaborative. You set the pace, and nothing is forced.
No. IFS is not dependent on recounting your entire history.
You are welcome to share whatever feels helpful, but therapy focuses primarily on your present-moment experience — how your emotions, reactions, and internal patterns show up right now.
This is often a great relief for people who find long life-story explanations exhausting or overwhelming.
You are welcome to share whatever feels helpful, but therapy focuses primarily on your present-moment experience — how your emotions, reactions, and internal patterns show up right now.
This is often a great relief for people who find long life-story explanations exhausting or overwhelming.
Many people feel lighter, calmer, or more connected to themselves. Others leave with a sense of insight or relief around patterns that previously felt confusing or stuck.
Sometimes strong emotions surface — especially if a part of you finally feels heard — but this almost always leads to greater clarity and steadiness.
Sometimes strong emotions surface — especially if a part of you finally feels heard — but this almost always leads to greater clarity and steadiness.
Yes. IFS translates exceptionally well to online work because the heart of the method is internal attention and emotional attunement.
Many clients find online sessions even easier: they can settle into the work from a familiar, comfortable environment without the stress of travel or transition.
Many clients find online sessions even easier: they can settle into the work from a familiar, comfortable environment without the stress of travel or transition.
IFS can benefit absolutely anyone seeking emotional clarity, balance, or self-understanding, at any stage of their life, regardless of their identity or current circumstances.
It can be especially helpful if you experience:
- anxiety, worry, or emotional overwhelm
- burnout, exhaustion, or chronic stress
- overthinking or mental loops
- loneliness or a feeling of disconnection
- shame or a harsh inner critic
- patterns that repeat in relationships or work
- the sense of being “stuck,” directionless, or out of alignment
- unresolved experiences from the past
IFS adapts to your pace, your sensitivity, and your lived experience — whether simple or complex.
It can be especially helpful if you experience:
- anxiety, worry, or emotional overwhelm
- burnout, exhaustion, or chronic stress
- overthinking or mental loops
- loneliness or a feeling of disconnection
- shame or a harsh inner critic
- patterns that repeat in relationships or work
- the sense of being “stuck,” directionless, or out of alignment
- unresolved experiences from the past
IFS adapts to your pace, your sensitivity, and your lived experience — whether simple or complex.
Yes — I provide online therapy in English and French. I am based in CET / UTC+1 timezone, but am available for clients based both in Europe and across the globe.
You can choose 60, 75, 90, or 120-minute sessions.
Yes — IFS is a clinically proven, evidence-based approach supported by peer-reviewed research, including studies on PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Yes. IFS is well-suited to people struggling with pressure, fatigue, or emotional overload. By working directly with the parts of you that are overwhelmed, pushing too hard, or shutting down, IFS helps you restore balance, reduce stress, and reconnect with your own inner stability.
Reimbursement depends on your country and insurer. Some plans cover therapy or counseling in English. I provide invoices if needed.
Yes. Overthinking usually comes from protective parts that are trying to keep you safe by analysing, planning, or anticipating.
IFS helps you meet those parts with understanding rather than frustration. As they feel less pressured, their intensity naturally softens — reducing mental loops and creating more inner space and calm.
IFS helps you meet those parts with understanding rather than frustration. As they feel less pressured, their intensity naturally softens — reducing mental loops and creating more inner space and calm.
Extensively.
Anxiety is often driven by parts of you that carry fear, urgency, or the sense that something could go wrong.
IFS gives these parts a safe relationship with your deeper Self, which helps them relax, trust, and release their burden of constant vigilance.
Many people experience a significant reduction in anxiety, reactivity, and stress after even a few sessions.
Anxiety is often driven by parts of you that carry fear, urgency, or the sense that something could go wrong.
IFS gives these parts a safe relationship with your deeper Self, which helps them relax, trust, and release their burden of constant vigilance.
Many people experience a significant reduction in anxiety, reactivity, and stress after even a few sessions.
Yes. IFS is one of the leading trauma-informed therapeutic approaches available today.
It works gently and safely by helping you connect with the protective parts of you that have carried the impact of past experiences.
Instead of forcing exposure or retraumatisation, IFS supports healing at a pace that feels stabilising and empowering.
Research shows strong outcomes for PTSD and trauma-related emotional patterns.
It works gently and safely by helping you connect with the protective parts of you that have carried the impact of past experiences.
Instead of forcing exposure or retraumatisation, IFS supports healing at a pace that feels stabilising and empowering.
Research shows strong outcomes for PTSD and trauma-related emotional patterns.