Internal Family Systems Informed Therapy (IFS)
One part of me wants to... but another part of me wants to....
We all have different parts and that is a good thing. They are there to help, even when we sometimes would like to banish them from our internal world.
When completing therapy through an IFS informed lens we examine you as a system of protective and wounded inner parts led by a core Self. We believe that just like members of a family, inner parts are forced from their valuable states into extreme roles within us. Self is in everyone. It can’t be damaged. It knows how to heal and by connecting with that inner Self you can find a path towards healing.
But IFS is much more than a non-pathologizing evidence-based psychotherapy to be used in a clinical setting. It is also a way of understanding personal and intimate relationships and stepping into life with the 8 Cs: confidence, calm, compassion, courage, creativity, clarity, curiosity, and connectedness.
Listening Therapy- The Safe and Sound Protocol
Music as a path to healing
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) involves listening to specially filtered music through headphones alongside a provider in person or remotely. When appropriate it can also be utilized at home between therapy sessions. It is suitable for children and adults, and the the SSP has demonstrated benefits for individuals with trauma, anxiety, sensory processing differences (such as with ADHD), and more.
Highlights of the SSP:
- A 5-hour auditory intervention developed and patented by Dr. Stephen Porges, author of the Polyvagal Theory
- Designed to reduce sound sensitivity, and improve auditory processing and behavioral state (emotional) regulation
- Activites the client's social engagement system, helping to accelerate and enhance therapeutic outcomes
- Supports physiological state regulation, allowing for greater resilience
More information can be found at the Safe and Sound Protocol website
Mindfulness for Everyone
Let's find what works for you!
If you have been to therapy before or read anything on self-care you will have encountered the term Mindfulness. It is a practice of focusing your attention on the present moment in a way that is open, accepting and nonjudgmental. It involves becoming more aware of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment without getting caught up in them. This increased awareness can help you gain insights into your automatic patterns of thought and behavior and develop healthier ways of coping with difficult emotions
Unfortuantely, the traditional approach of sitting quietly does not work for everyone. So, we like to offer alternatives. For example, we embrace various forms of moving meditations that are often helpful for neurodiverse individuals. We also provide support for alternative types of breath work for those that find the typical box breathing unsettling.
Other Common Modalities Used
In addition to the above listed therapy approaches we can also incorporate:
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Narrative Therapy
- Somatics
- Others as appropriate
