Individual Telehealth Counseling To Residents in IL and FL
What is IFS (Internal Family Systems)?
Shannon Franco is a Certified Internal Family Systems Therapist, Level 3 Trained
How Does IFS Therapy work?
It has been my experience both personally and working with clients, that IFS helps in many, many ways. IFS helps us begin to identify and learn about ourselves – all the different ‘parts’ of us. Through spending time learning how to let go of any agenda, and just ‘be’ with the parts to ‘listen and notice’ them, we can then begin to learn what each parts’ positive intention is. When we realize and learn how a part is actually trying to help us and see how big of a job it has to ‘help’ our system, it brings on an automatic and spontaneous reaction of care and compassion for the part. The part can feel this compassion from us and begins to create a connection between us (our Self) and each part. The parts will then start to trust us more and allow us to get closer to the wounded parts (exiles) where deep healing can be experienced and releasing any burdens.
When we can engage in these internal experiences with our parts, it creates a healing and positive shift inside which we can then begin to see on the outside of us in ways of feeling more happiness, enjoyment in life, more confident, breaking dysfunctional patterns, more connection in relationships, less anxiety, etc.
I am a trauma therapist and using IFS has helped myself and my clients work through and heal from many traumatic experiences. I believe, ‘all’ our answers and healing is inside – if we can show up and listen/validate our parts, they will begin to trust us and share more.
Healing is a journey; it’s hard work, but the payoff is worth it a million times. We cannot fully change what happened in the past, but we can change the emotions and pain connected to them.
"IFS and parts work has allowed me to make more progress over the last year than a decade of talk therapy. While this is the most challenging therapy I have done, it has also been the most beneficial. I have learned that protectors can be very strong and cannot be bypassed. I must meet them, acknowledge them, and hear how they are keeping me safe without desperately wanting to change them. Meeting and releasing the exiles has helped me change how I view who I am at my core. Without IFS, I would continue to try and force positive affirmations and cover up the hurt of the past. I definitely feel how I view who I am and how I manage the messiness of life has changed for the better with my work with Shannon and IFS. " JS
