Protective strategies
Explore what criticism, control, overworking, avoidance, numbing, or people-pleasing may be trying to prevent.
Curiosity instead of judgment
Internal Family Systems-informed therapy
Internal Family Systems offers a compassionate way to understand the different parts of you—especially the parts that protect, criticize, avoid, or carry pain. The goal is not to get rid of them, but to build a more respectful and flexible relationship with your inner experience.
What it is
Every part has a reason for being there
IFS understands the mind as a system of parts with different feelings, beliefs, and ways of trying to help. A perfectionistic part may work hard to prevent criticism. An avoidant part may create distance from overwhelm. A vulnerable part may hold fear, grief, or experiences that still feel close.
Anita incorporates IFS-informed ideas within individual therapy. Together, you can approach these patterns with curiosity, understand what they are trying to protect, and make room for a steadier, more compassionate perspective. IFS is offered as a flexible framework—not a rigid formula or a promise of a particular result.
What parts work can illuminate
Understanding the conflict beneath a pattern
What looks inconsistent from the outside may make sense when the different needs inside the pattern are heard.
Vulnerable experiences
Approach fear, shame, grief, or old hurt at a pace that respects your boundaries and readiness.
Internal polarization
Make sense of competing impulses—such as wanting closeness while also needing distance—without reducing either side to a problem.
The process
What IFS-informed work can involve
You do not need special language or a clear map of your parts before beginning. We notice what is already present.
- 1
Notice what shows up
Begin with a thought, feeling, body sensation, reaction, or familiar pattern that you would like to understand.
- 2
Create a little space
Rather than becoming overwhelmed by the reaction or pushing it away, you practice observing it with enough distance to stay present.
- 3
Understand its purpose
With curiosity, explore what the part is trying to accomplish and what it fears might happen if it stopped doing its job.
- 4
Build more choice
As the pattern becomes clearer, you consider new responses and practice carrying that awareness into daily life.
How it fits
One framework within personalized care
IFS-informed work can be conversational, experiential, practical, or combined thoughtfully with other approaches.
Personalized foundation
Individual therapy
Use parts-informed exploration within a plan shaped around your history, strengths, goals, and pace.
Explore individual therapyFocused processing
Brainspotting
Learn about a body-aware approach that may be integrated when it fits your care.
Explore BrainspottingSecure video
Telehealth
IFS-informed exploration can be incorporated into online individual therapy across California.
Review telehealth requirementsFor general information about the model, visit the IFS Institute.
Begin with your experience
Curious whether parts work fits?
You do not need to identify every part or arrive with the right words. A brief conversation about what you want to understand is enough to begin.