Internal Family Systems Therapy

Internal Family Systems Therapy (or IFS) is a transformative approach which views the mind as a system of interconnected parts, much like a family unit. Each part carries its own perspectives, preferences and needs, and certain parts may take on the role of being “protective” in nature while others may be more vulnerable and innocent in nature. Symptoms arise when a part is too burdened, or multiple parts have become polarized in their views. IFS also views each of us as having a core, unchanging and loving inner Self (with a capital “S”) that is indestructible and ever-present. Part of healing is getting in touch with this higher Self and allowing the Self to interact with any other parts of us that need its loving and wise attention.

Coherence Therapy

Coherence Therapy is an inherently non-pathologizing therapeutic approach. From this lens, symptoms are merely the result of deep and often unconscious emotional learnings that were adaptive at one time in our life. The goal is to discover the coherent internal beliefs that are maintaining these symptoms and bring them into conscious awareness. We can then resolve the symptom by reappraising and updating our beliefs.

Experiential Therapy

Experiential Therapy is a general term that encompasses any therapeutic approach or exercise that works directly with present emotions, sensations and thoughts as they arise, rather than just talking about something intellectually or abstractly. An experiential exercise might be mentally and emotionally reinhabiting the moment in which you were triggered during the week and then describing it out loud in the present moment in session. It could also be imagining your ideal parent, for example, and then imagining how it would feel to hear certain things be told to you.

Open book on the table with a mug for therapy with Nina

One primary guidepost I hold to be true is the concept that regardless of what we think our external experiences are telling us, we have much more power to determine how we feel, act and think than we often take advantage of. Ultimately I want to help you feel empowered to influence your state of being at any time and in any relationship, rather than feeling powerless and helpless. When you change yourself, your life changes.

“Sit, be still, and listen.”
~ Rumi