Internal Family Systems Therapy in Connecticut and Virginia

Unlock deeper healing and discover your true self

Internal Family Systems Therapy in Connecticut and Virginia

Image of woman looking hopeful to show internal family systems therapy in Colchester, CT and Falls Church, VA for childhood trauma & parentification trauma

The talk therapy you’ve been trying hasn’t been cutting it.

It’s not getting to the root of the problem.

You feel uneasy.

You know all the fancy tools and coping strategies.

But you can still feel your guardedness and defenses working their magic.

Image of woman looking skeptical to show internal family systems therapy in Colchester, CT and Falls Church, VA for childhood trauma & parentification trauma

You wish someone could help you notice the patterns that you can’t see for yourself.

Compassionately work through your shame.

Call you out on your stuff.

Help you nurture yourself.

Work through the discomfort that keeps creeping into your life and relationships.

You’re scared to show someone else the messy parts of you, but you also just want someone to help you heal!

Looking for Internal Family Systems Therapy in Colchester, CT or Falls Church, VA? You are in the right place.

What is Internal Family Systems Therapy?

Online IFS Therapy in Connecticut and Virginia

Image of woman going to therapy to show online internal family systems therapy in Connecticut and Virginia for childhood trauma and parentification trauma

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy is a trauma-informed and evidence-based therapy that helps individuals heal by exploring and understanding different parts of themselves.

IFS therapy looks at your internal world as if it is a family: in a family there are different roles. So, through IFS Therapy in Connecticut and Virginia, we explore your internal self as though it has different roles too, typically called parts. There are many parts of you, each working together, needing and doing something important to keep you safe in the world.

IFS Therapy in Connecticut and Virginia emphasizes building curiosity, capacity, capability, and reparenting through non-judgment and compassion.

Image of woman looking at reflection to show parts within IFS Therapy in Colchester, CT and Falls Church, VA for childhood trauma & parentification trauma

Common Parts Seen in IFS Therapy:

  • Manager: the very functional part of you that gets stuff done. It’s the one you like people to see.

  • Firefighter: When things get too real or too emotional, this part of you cuts that out. Those emotions are too scary because…who knows what is underneath all that?

  • Inner Critic: When you do something wrong, your inner critic is there to relentlessly shame and criticize you. It can be loud and harsh.

  • Exile: This is a wounded part of you. It holds pain and is probably hard to access because all those other parts are working hard to make sure you don’t face the exile’s pain again.

  • Self: Your true, authentic self. You may have gotten a glimpse of your self energy on vacation. You’re at ease. Even when something comes up? It’s okay. You’ve got this.

Ready to Begin Online Internal Family Systems Therapy in Connecticut or Virginia?

What is an Internal Family Systems Therapy Session Like?

In IFS Therapy, we may use art, movement, mindfulness, grounding techniques, imagery, talk exercises, and/or symbolism to support you in getting in touch with your parts.

I may ask questions such as, “what are the qualities of that feeling/part when it is here?” or “when you give that part of you permission to be here, what else comes up, if anything does?” I may ask if you notice or observe a color, texture, or image. I may invite you to tune into these qualities, sensations, and emotions, always giving them space to be present.

When judgment shows up, I may ask if it can step aside. I may invite you to wonder, “what is judgment worried will happen if it stops doing its job?”

These curiosities in Internal Family Systems Therapy allow us to delve deeper into your parts and understand how they connect to and support you in relating to yourself and others.

IFS Therapy Follows These General Steps:

  1. Building safety, trust, and grounding in your body

  2. Understanding your parts

  3. Befriending your protectors (the parts of you that work hard to prevent feeling pain)

  4. Helping protectors unburden themselves (make it okay for them to feel less guarded)

  5. Unburdening exiles (exploring their wounds safely and compassionately)

  6. Reparenting your exiles

  7. Empowering the Self

Who is Internal Family Systems Therapy for?

Image of woman contemplating her future to show internal family systems therapy in Colchester, CT and Falls Church, VA for childhood trauma & parentification

IFS Therapy in Connecticut and Virginia is a good therapeutic modality for those who have survived and/or want to heal from:

  • Childhood trauma

  • Parentification trauma

  • Narcissistic abuse

  • Codependency

  • High-functioning anxiety

  • Generational trauma and/or the impact of immigration

  • Perfectionism

  • People-pleasing

  • Imposter syndrome

  • Cultural trauma

  • Mother wounds

  • Father wounds

  • Attachment

Learn more about IFS Therapy in Connecticut and Virginia through specialties below:

With Internal Family Systems Therapy, You Can…

Image of person looking joyful and hopeful to show online internal family systems therapy in Connecticut and Virginia for childhood trauma & parentification

  • Heal childhood trauma and parentification trauma

  • Put your past in your past

  • Get to the root of your anxiety, panic, depression, and dread

  • Make peace with confusing emotions that feel out of your control

  • Let go of people-pleasing

  • Release perfectionism and grant yourself permission to make mistakes

  • Be comfortable with and get to know your true self

  • Enter relationships and community that feel safe, authentic, and empowering

Internal Family Systems Therapy in Connecticut and Virginia Heals

Image of Alice Zic, IFS Therapist, to illustrate online internal family systems therapy in Connecticut & Virginia for childhood trauma & parentification trauma

As an IFS Therapist in Connecticut and Virginia, I value and welcome all parts of you, even the ones that have:

  • Felt scary to show to others

  • Brought on judgment, shame, or guilt

  • Been labeled “bad” and are deeply protected by parts of you that you hesitate to show to others

If present-day relationships and/or childhood family relationships have felt unnerving, off, or frightening, Internal Family Systems Therapy in Connecticut and Virginia can open the door to compassion and to witnessing the power that you hold to grow and heal.

FAQ About Internal Family Systems Therapy in Colchester, Connecticut and Falls Church, Virginia

  • In general, IFS Therapy is a relational, extremely compassionate and non-judgmental approach, but it is not a quick fix or cognitively-focused.

    If you are looking for deep, trauma-focused therapeutic healing that gets to the root of your story, IFS Therapy may be right for you. And, if you are unsure or have questions, please feel free to reach out to me and schedule a consult call here to ask!

  • I am licensed in Connecticut and Virginia and am able to see clients physically located in those states only.

    I offer online (or virtual) therapy sessions only through a HIPAA-compliant, secure video platform. I do not hold phone or in-person sessions for Internal Family Systems Therapy.

  • My rate is $200 for a 50-55-minute session.

    Therapy is a short-term investment for your long-term healing and recovery. As an out-of-network provider, I am able to offer you an invoice (called a Superbill) for reimbursement. How you get reimbursed depends on your insurance’s specific plan. I am happy to discuss this more with you during a consult call.

  • When beginning Internal Family Systems Therapy, I ask that clients meet weekly. This allows us to build a more solid foundation, specifically with safety and trust in our relationship. This foundation supports us in delving further into working through supporting and understanding your parts. Over time, we can adjust the frequency of how often we meet.

  • I am so excited to get to know you and work with you! Please reach out to me on my contact page or book a consult call with me here. I will respond within 48 hours. 

    Please note that all contacts between Fridays and Sundays will be returned the following Monday.

    I can’t wait to meet you!

Online Internal Family Systems Therapy in Connecticut and Virginia

Image of online IFS Therapist, Alice Zic, to show internal family systems therapy in Colchester, Connecticut & Falls Church, Virginia for childhood trauma

My virtual practice is located in Colchester, CT and I am licensed in Connecticut and Virginia. I specialize in providing online IFS Therapy throughout Connecticut and Virginia.

Want to learn more about online IFS Therapy in Connecticut and Virginia? Learn more below: