IFS Therapy in Broomfield, CO and Online Across CO and FL
Some days, simply getting through the day feels like a silent battle no one else can see.
On the outside, you might look like you’re holding it together… but inside, it’s a completely different story.
Part of you wants to heal, grow, and finally feel at peace.
And another part of you feels terrified of what might happen if you slow down enough to really look inside.
Maybe you can relate.
You get a text message… and suddenly your mind is racing.
Did I say something wrong? Are they upset with me? Should I respond differently?
You replay conversations over and over, analyzing every word, every tone, every tiny shift… wishing you could go back and say it differently.
Sometimes you “overreact” in the moment… and afterward, the shame hits hard.
“I always ruin things.”
“I’m too much.”
And underneath it all… a quieter, more painful fear:
I’m going to push people away.
I’m going to end up alone.
Those thoughts don’t just pass through, they stick. They shape how you see yourself… and what you start to expect from others.
There’s a constant inner dialogue: one part of you pushing, criticizing, trying to keep everything under control… and another part feeling overwhelmed, reactive, or completely shut down.
It can feel like you’re stuck in a loop, bracing for impact, expecting things to go wrong, never fully able to relax.
Life becomes a balancing act: holding it all together on the outside… while quietly falling apart on the inside.
How Can IFS Therapy in Broomfield, CO Help Me?
In our work together, we begin to understand the different parts of you that carry pain, fear, and the protective strategies you’ve developed over time.
Instead of trying to shut these reactions down or push past them, we slow things down enough to actually notice what’s happening inside.
For example, the part of you that gets activated when you receive a text and immediately assumes something is wrong.
The part that replays conversations for hours afterward, trying to figure out what you said or did “incorrectly.”
And the part that shows up later with harsh self-judgment: “I always ruin things” or “I’m too much.”
In IFS, we don’t treat these responses as problems to eliminate. We understand them as protective parts that developed in response to past experiences.
As we begin to work with them more directly, you learn to recognize these patterns as they arise… without immediately becoming consumed by them.
Instead of feeling like you are the reaction, you begin to notice: a part of me is activated right now.
And in that moment, something important often shifts.
There’s a bit more space. A bit more distance.
And for many people, the first sign of that shift is subtle but clear. A sense of relief… or an exhale they didn’t realize they were holding.
From there, we can begin to understand what these parts are trying to protect, what they’ve been carrying for you, and why they’ve been working so hard for so long.
Over time, this allows for something important to emerge: a more grounded internal presence that can relate to your emotions with clarity rather than overwhelm.
And as that relationship with yourself changes, the intensity of these cycles begins to soften… not through force or self-control, but through understanding.
All your parts are welcome here.
- Richard Schwartz, creator of IFS
How Does IFS Therapy Work?
In IFS, we work with that exact gap between understanding something intellectually and experiencing real internal change.
Instead of staying at the level of insight alone, we focus on what is happening in the moment the reaction gets activated.
Creating a Safe, Compassionate Space
From the moment we begin, I focus on creating a safe, non-judgmental space where you can feel fully accepted. You don’t need to hold anything back or worry about being judged or misunderstood. We move at a pace that feels manageable for you.
Understanding Your Internal System
As we explore your story, we begin to notice the different “parts” of you that show up in your thoughts, emotions, and reactions. These might be protective, emotional, or self-critical parts. Over time, we start to understand how these parts developed in response to earlier experiences, and how they’re still shaping your present-day patterns.
Supporting Emotional Regulation in the Present
We also focus on what you’re experiencing right now. This includes learning ways to steady your nervous system, work with intense emotions as they arise, and feel more grounded in moments that usually feel overwhelming or reactive.
Working Directly With Protective Parts
From there, we gently begin to work with the parts of you that carry old pain or have taken on protective roles. Instead of trying to get rid of them, we get curious about what they’re protecting and what they need in order to soften and shift.
Integration and Lasting Change
Over time, many people notice they’re less easily overwhelmed by their emotions and more able to pause before reacting. There’s more space internally, more clarity in decision-making, and a greater sense of self-compassion. Change becomes less about “fixing yourself” and more about relating to yourself in a new way.
“I’ve tried therapy before and nothing really changed.”
This is one of the most common reasons people hesitate to try again.
You’ve done therapy before. You’ve talked about what happened. You may even understand your patterns very clearly.
And yet… your day-to-day emotional experience hasn’t changed in the way you hoped it would.
That can feel discouraging, especially when you weren’t just looking for insight, but for something inside you to actually feel different.
In IFS, we don’t assume that change happens just because something is talked about or understood.
We pay close attention to whether the different parts of you actually feel safe enough to soften, open, or shift.
Because often, there’s a part of you that understands everything logically… and another part that still reacts as if nothing has changed.
When that protective system is still carrying a lot of intensity, people can leave therapy thinking, “I did this right… so why do I still feel the same?”
Especially if you’re someone who is sensitive, intuitive, or processes things deeply.
You might notice:
you understand your patterns clearly
you can even see your triggers in real time
but your reactions still feel automatic when they happen
Not because you’re doing something wrong, but because different parts of you are still holding different levels of fear, protection, or emotional memory.
This is where an IFS approach matters.
We don’t measure progress by insight alone.
We look at what is actually happening inside your system in real time: what parts are activated, what they’re protecting, and what they need in order to stop carrying so much alone.
That means we slow down when needed, stay close to your present-moment experience, and work directly with the parts of you that are reacting – not just the story you’re telling about them.
Because for many people, lasting change doesn’t come from trying harder or understanding more.
It comes from your internal system finally feeling understood enough to respond differently.
And if therapy hasn’t changed much for you before…
That isn’t a failure of the process… or of you.
It may simply mean your parts haven’t yet experienced the kind of pace, attention, and internal safety they need in order to shift.
Even the parts of us that feel the most hopeless or stuck are not beyond healing.
-Richard Schwartz, creator of IFS
Ready to Begin?
If something in this resonates with you, it may already be a sign that a part of you is ready for things to feel different.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out. And you don’t need to explain your experience perfectly in order to begin.
We’ll take things one step at a time… at a pace that feels steady and manageable for you.
In our first session, we’ll simply start by getting to know what’s been showing up for you internally, and begin understanding the parts of you that have been carrying so much on their own.
If you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like insight alone hasn’t been enough… this can be a place to slow down and work with things in a different way.
When you’re ready, you can reach out to schedule a session.
We’ll go from there - gently, and without pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions About IFS Therapy in Broomfield, CO
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Many women I work with have already tried talk therapy, journaling, or self-help, but still feel stuck. IFS (Internal Family Systems) takes a different approach: instead of analyzing your thoughts or pushing through your symptoms, it helps you connect with the parts of you that carry pain, shame, or fear – and builds a relationship with them from a place of compassion, not judgment. Healing happens from the inside out.
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Yes. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is widely used and well-supported for working with trauma and PTSD. It helps you understand and gently relate to the different parts of you that carry pain, fear, protection, or overwhelm, rather than trying to suppress or push symptoms away.
Many people with PTSD find that IFS reduces symptoms like emotional reactivity, intrusive memories, hypervigilance, and inner conflict. It also helps build a stronger sense of internal safety and self-compassion over time.
IFS is especially helpful when trauma feels complex or when traditional talk therapy has felt too intense or not fully effective. A trained therapist will guide the process at a pace that supports stability and safety throughout the work.
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This is such a common fear. Many women I see have survived by staying strong, busy, and in control. IFS honors those protective parts of you – it doesn’t try to tear down your defenses, but gently invites them to soften at their own pace. We move slowly and safely, always respecting your inner system's readiness. You’ll never be pushed to go deeper than you feel prepared to.
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That’s very common, especially when you are new to IFS or when trauma has made inner experiences feel distant, confusing, or overwhelming.
In IFS therapy, you are not expected to already know how to connect with your “parts.” Part of the therapist’s role is to help you slow things down and gently develop that awareness over time. Many people start by simply noticing thoughts, emotions, body sensations, or patterns in their reactions, even if they do not yet feel clearly separate or distinct.
If connecting feels difficult, that is often important information in itself. It can reflect protective parts that have learned to keep things contained or out of awareness. Rather than forcing connection, IFS meets this with patience and curiosity so that safety can build first.
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Yes. IFS can be supportive for people with autism, ADHD, or bipolar symptoms, but it often needs to be paced and adapted to fit your nervous system.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we focus on what feels safe, manageable, and grounded for you in each session. This may mean going slower, staying more present-focused, and avoiding overwhelm or over-interpretation.
IFS can be especially helpful for neurodivergent clients because it does not pathologize your experience. It helps you understand different internal states like overwhelm, shutdown, impulsivity, or intensity as parts that are trying to help in their own way.
For bipolar symptoms, we also prioritize stability, pacing, and appropriate support, which may include coordination with other providers when needed.
The most important factor is not the diagnosis but whether the work is being done in a way that respects your system and feels workable for you.
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If you’re tired of holding everything together on the outside while quietly falling apart inside… if you crave real, lasting healing instead of just coping… and if you’re ready to explore your inner world with compassion instead of criticism, IFS could be the path you’ve been searching for. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to be willing to begin.
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The first step is to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if we are a good fit. You can ask me any questions you have and decide if this is the right step forward for you.