IFS for Anxiety & Depression
IFS Therapy for Anxiety and Depression: A Compassionate Approach
If you live with anxiety or depression, you may know the feeling of being at war with yourself — one part of you pushing to do more, another part exhausted and shut down, and a quiet voice underneath wishing things felt different. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy offers a different way of relating to all of these experiences.
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS)?
IFS is an evidence-informed approach built on a simple but profound idea: the mind is naturally made up of different "parts," each with its own perspective and role. Some parts work hard to protect us. Some carry pain from past experiences. And beneath them all is a core Self — calm, curious, and compassionate — that can lead the way when given the chance. Rather than trying to silence or fix difficult feelings, IFS helps you turn toward them with understanding.
Dr. Richard Schwartz, founder of IFS, explains the model.
How IFS helps with anxiety
Anxiety often comes from parts of us that are trying to keep us safe. A part might worry constantly, scan for danger, or push you toward perfectionism — not to torment you, but because at some point it learned that vigilance was protective. In IFS, instead of fighting that anxious part, you get curious about it. As it feels understood rather than overridden, its grip often begins to loosen, and a greater sense of calm becomes possible.
How IFS helps with depression
Depression can involve parts that carry heaviness, hopelessness, or numbness — often protecting deeper places of hurt. IFS gently helps you build a relationship with these parts and, over time, access and heal the burdens they carry. Many people find that as this work unfolds, they feel less stuck and more connected to themselves and their lives.
Why people find IFS meaningful
It's compassionate rather than critical — you're not "broken," and no part of you is the enemy.
It builds lasting self-trust and inner steadiness, not just symptom management.
It honors the reasons your mind developed its patterns in the first place.
It can reach the deeper roots of anxiety and depression, especially when they're tied to past experiences.
Working with an IFS therapist in Utah
I'm trained at IFS Level 2 through the IFS Institute, with additional training from IFS founder Dr. Richard Schwartz. I integrate IFS with EMDR and a trauma-informed lens to support clients navigating anxiety, depression, and the experiences underneath them. Sessions are available in person in Holladay, Utah, and via telehealth across the state.
Curious whether IFS might be a fit for you? Get in touch and we can talk it through.
This article is educational and isn't a substitute for individualized care. If you're in crisis, call or text the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
