Individual therapy

When working with individual clients I use a combination of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) techniques which encourage the client to identify their somatic experiences as they pertain to the material we are working with and I use the language and identification of parts to help the client see their challenges as distinct from their true Self.  Both SP and IFS are trauma-informed approaches and non-pathologizing.  As we state in IFS, "There are no bad parts."  The human experience, beginning in childhood, is often painful and we often do not receive the love and acceptance we need.  We compensate for unmet attachment needs through adaptive behaviors that soothed or protected us from pain.  As adults those same behaviors may have become maladaptive creating their own pain.  We may have a harsh Inner Critic who berates us for mistakes or we may have an Unloved Child part who tells us we are damaged and unworthy of other’s love. Getting to know our internal families can help us access self-compassion and develop different dynamics with and between parts.