BEING AND BECOMING COUNSELLING AND WELLNESS SERVICES
Internal Family Systems Therapy in Burnaby and Across BC
Understand and heal the parts of yourself that are holding you back, and lead your life from a place of clarity, compassion, and calm.
Internal Family Systems Therapy can help you:
UNDERSTAND YOUR PATTERNS
RELEASE WHAT HOLDS YOU BACK
RECONNECT WITH WHO YOU TRULY ARE
You're Trying So Hard — So Why Does It Feel Like You're Getting in Your Own Way?
Do you find yourself caught between a part of you that wants to change and another part that holds you back? Do you struggle with a relentless inner critic, or find yourself reacting in ways you don't fully understand?
IFS therapy helps you understand and work with these inner parts, so that you — your truest Self — can lead.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a powerful, evidence-informed approach that recognizes the natural multiplicity of the mind. Rather than viewing inner conflict as a flaw, IFS understands it as a sign that different parts of you are trying to help — often in ways that no longer serve you. IFS therapy offers a compassionate path toward understanding these parts, healing the wounds they carry, and restoring balance within your internal system.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based approach that recognizes the mind as naturally made up of multiple parts. It has been shown to help with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, trauma, self-criticism, and more.
INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS THERAPY IN BURNABY AND ACROSS BC
What is IFS Therapy and How Does it Work?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is based on the idea that the mind is naturally made up of multiple parts, each with its own perspective, feelings, and role. These parts are not pathological — they are a normal feature of human psychology. However, when parts carry the weight of difficult or traumatic experiences, they can become stuck in extreme roles that cause distress and interfere with daily life.
IFS identifies three main types of parts. Exiles are parts that carry pain, shame, fear, or trauma from past experiences and are often pushed out of awareness to protect the system. Managers are parts that work proactively to keep painful feelings at bay — through perfectionism, people-pleasing, over-thinking, or control. Firefighters are parts that react when exiled emotions break through, often through behaviours like numbing, eating, avoidance, substance use, or self-criticism.
Alongside these parts, IFS recognizes the Self — a core state of being that is calm, curious, compassionate, and clear. The goal of IFS therapy is not to eliminate parts, but to help them unburden the pain they carry so that the Self can take its natural place as the leader of the internal system. When parts feel seen, understood, and no longer alone in their pain, profound healing becomes possible.
Learning to relate to your inner world with curiosity and compassion can change everything.
Internal Family Systems Therapy Can Help You With:
Anxiety, worry, or persistent fear
Depression or persistent low mood
Trauma and PTSD
Low self-esteem or chronic self-criticism
Perfectionism or people-pleasing
Emotional overwhelm or dysregulation
Relationship difficulties
Grief and loss Shame and self-blame
Feeling stuck or unable to change
Eating and body image concerns
Stress and burnout
Benefits of IFS Therapy
As you engage in IFS Therapy, you may begin to notice improvements such as:
Greater self-awareness and understanding of your internal patterns
Reduced intensity of your inner critic
Increased ability to regulate emotions and respond rather than react
Deeper compassion for yourself and others
Relief from the weight of past trauma or painful experiences
Greater clarity in making decisions
Improved relationships
A stronger, more stable sense of identity and self-worth
A greater sense of inner calm, even in the presence of difficulty
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IFS has research support for a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, PTSD, eating disorders, substance use, relationship difficulties, and chronic pain. It is also well suited for individuals who feel stuck, struggle with self-criticism or shame, or feel conflicted about change. Your therapist can help you determine whether IFS is a good fit for your specific situation and goals.
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IFS may be a good fit if you find yourself struggling with an inner critic, feeling pulled in different directions, or sensing that past experiences are affecting your present life in ways that are hard to understand or shift. If you are unsure whether IFS is right for you, a free consultation with one of our therapists is a great place to start.
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No prior knowledge of IFS is required. Your therapist will guide you through the approach at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Many people find the IFS framework intuitive and resonant from the very first session.
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The length of IFS therapy varies depending on the complexity of what you are working on and your individual goals. Some people notice meaningful shifts within the first several sessions. Deeper healing — particularly around trauma or longstanding patterns — often takes longer, and many people engage in IFS therapy over the course of several months to a year or more. Your therapist will work with you to develop a plan that meets your needs and will regularly review your progress together.
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You may notice that your inner critic feels less overwhelming, that you are better able to pause before reacting, or that emotions that once felt unbearable have softened. Over time, you may find yourself responding to difficult situations with more clarity and calm, experiencing greater self-compassion, and feeling more connected to a stable sense of who you are.
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Your therapist may suggest practices to support your IFS work between sessions, such as journaling, self-reflection exercises, or brief check-ins with your parts. These are always tailored to your goals and what feels manageable for you. Bringing curiosity to your inner experience between sessions can deepen the work done in therapy.
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IFS therapy is not covered by MSP in BC. However, many extended health benefit plans cover sessions with a Registered Psychologist and/or Registered Clinical Counsellor. Coverage varies by plan, so we recommend checking with your insurance provider to confirm whether these designations are covered and what your coverage limits are. We provide receipts at the time of payment that you can submit for reimbursement.
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Yes — we offer IFS therapy online to anyone in British Columbia. IFS is well suited to online delivery, and many clients find that working from the comfort and privacy of their own space actually supports the inward focus that IFS requires. All virtual sessions are conducted through a secure, confidential platform.
Below are commonly asked questions about IFS Therapy:
FAQ about IFS Therapy
Therapists Offering IFS Therapy
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Margaret Noel
Registered Clinical Counsellor
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Morgan Loewen
Registered Clinical Counsellor
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Dr. Margaret Brennan
Registered Psychologist
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Makayla Freeman
Doctoral Practicum Therapist & Registered Clinical Counsellor
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Eugene Chi
Doctoral Practicum Therapist & Registered Clinical Counsellor
