IFS Therapy in Glendale & Phoenix, Arizona and Minnesota
There’s a reason you feel pulled in so many directions. IFS helps you understand why.
IFS (Internal Family Systems) is an evidence-based therapy that helps you understand and heal the different “parts” of yourself — the anxious part, the critical part, the part that shuts down. Instead of fighting against yourself, IFS helps you build a compassionate relationship with every part of who you are.
Have you ever felt pulled in two directions at once? Part of you wants to rest, but another part feels guilty about it. Part of you craves connection, but another part wants to hide. These aren’t flaws — they’re parts of your internal system, each one trying to protect you in its own way.
IFS, developed by Richard Schwartz, helps you map out these inner parts — understand why they’re there, what they’re protecting, and what they need in order to soften. When parts feel seen and understood, inner conflict quiets, self-compassion grows, and healing happens at a level that insight alone can’t reach.
At the core of IFS is the belief that underneath all the protective layers, you have a “Self” — a calm, compassionate, curious center that has the capacity to heal your internal wounds. This philosophy is at the heart of Healing Within Counseling — the belief that clients have within themselves what they need to heal. IFS helps you access that Self so you can relate to your pain from a place of understanding rather than fear.
In sessions, IFS can look like talk therapy as we explore and get to know your parts. Sometimes I’ll invite you to use objects or drawings to represent them. Other times, I’ll guide you through a more intentional, meditative process to connect with your parts in a deeper way. The approach is always tailored to what resonates with your system — no two people are alike.
How IFS works
A closer look at how IFS works:
IFS may be right for you if…
You feel torn between conflicting emotions — wanting connection but also wanting to withdraw, wanting to rest but also feeling guilty for not being there for others.
You have a loud inner critic that won’t let up — no matter how much you accomplish.
You struggle with anxiety, depression, trauma, or a persistent feeling that something is wrong with you.
You feel emotionally numb or disconnected from yourself — like you’re going through the motions.
You find yourself repeating the same patterns even when you know they aren’t serving you.
You want to understand why you react the way you do — and develop a kinder, more compassionate relationship with yourself.
Hi, I'm Amy
I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor (MA, LPC) and Certified EMDR Therapist with over 20 years of experience — but more than that, I'm someone who knows what it feels like to struggle in silence.
My own journey through depression and anxiety is what led me to this work. I know what it feels like to carry quiet pain that no one around you sees — and I know how transformative it is when you finally get the right support.
I'm not the therapist who just nods along. I help you see the patterns you can't see on your own, notice what's happening beneath the words, and walk with you into the places that feel too scary to go alone.
My clients tell me they feel seen in a way they haven't before — that there's a safety in our sessions that lets them finally let the walls down.
And that's where the real healing begins.
Common questions about IFS
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Honestly — it can seem weird at first! People often ask, “Does that mean I have multiple personalities?” The answer is a strong no. Having parts simply means you have different emotions and impulses that can show up at the same time. IFS puts names to things we already say — like “part of me wants to rest and part of me feels guilty about it.” If you’ve ever argued with yourself in your head, you already have experience with parts work.
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Fear of feeling exposed or overwhelmed is completely normal. You may have been shamed about your emotions in the past, or never taught how to be with them. The parts that learned to suppress and hide are often the first ones we give attention to — gently, at your pace. We don’t force anything. Working with fear and resistance, rather than pushing against it, is what creates safety and allows real transformation.
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That’s really common. There may be a part that thinks needing help is weakness, a part that’s skeptical, or a part that’s afraid of what might come up. That’s okay — your brain’s job is to protect you. Even the part that doesn’t want therapy gets a say. We take it slow, listen to its concerns, and work through them together.
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It varies. Sometimes it looks like conversation as we explore and map out your parts. Sometimes I’ll invite you to use objects or drawings. Other times it feels more like a guided meditation to connect with your parts intentionally. I tailor the approach to what resonates with your system.
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Yes. Many people start IFS from a place of disconnection. The goal isn’t to force feelings but to safely notice and connect with the parts protecting you. Numbness is often a protective part doing its job. IFS works with whatever you’re experiencing — even emptiness or disconnection.
Other approaches I use
Let’s start with a conversation.
Maybe you’re not even sure therapy is the right step. Maybe you’ve been sitting on this for a while. That’s okay. Starting is the hardest part, and you’re already here.
Complete this form to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. No commitment — just a conversation to see if we’re the right fit.
