Counselling + IFS

Counselling offers a supportive and confidential space to explore difficult experiences, emotions, relationships and patterns that may be affecting your life.

The therapist’s approach is collaborative, warm and tailored to each person. Her work is increasingly informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS) together with an understanding of trauma, attachment and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

Understanding our different parts

IFS is a respectful and non=pathologising approach that recognises that we all have different parts of ourselves.

We may have parts that are anxious, critical, fearful or angry; parts that work hard to keep life under control; and parts that carry difficult emotions or experiences from the past. Even patterns that cause difficulties may have developed as ways of protecting us or helping us cope.

Rather than trying to eliminate these parts, IFS encourages curiosity and compassion towards them. Understanding why patterns have developed and what they may be trying to protect can create greater space for self-understanding, choice and change.

Integrating IFS and Art Therapy

IFS and art therapy work naturally together. Both offer ways of approaching inner experience with curiosity rather than judgement.

Creative processes can make inner experience more tangible. A part may emerge through an image, colour, shape or symbol, opening another way of becoming curious about it and understanding its role. For some people, this provides access to experiences that are difficult to reach through conversation alone.

Art therapy and IFS-informed work can be used separately or integrated, depending on the needs and preferences of each person.