In traditional therapy, when addressing trauma, we often approach it from a place of trying to fix or rescue the parts of us that are stuck in the past. These parts might still be angry, frustrated, or in pain, and while they’re doing their best to protect us, they aren’t always the most effective at helping us heal. As a result, therapy might leave us feeling unsettled, like things haven’t really improved.
In Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, the focus shifts. Instead of diving into trauma with those same protective parts in charge, IFS helps clients unblend from these parts and connect with their Self-energy—a state of being that’s calm, compassionate, and curious. From this place, the client can witness their trauma in a way that feels safe and nonjudgmental.
This compassionate witnessing is key. When we approach our traumatized parts with Self-energy, we’re not trying to fix them or push them away. Instead, we’re creating space for them to be seen and heard, just as they are. This presence is deeply healing because it’s what these parts have been yearning for all along.
Over time, as these parts feel truly understood and supported, they begin to release the burdens they’ve been carrying. The result is a profound sense of healing, where the client feels more at peace and whole, having transformed not just the trauma itself, but their relationship with the parts that have held onto it.
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