Feeling blank or like nothing happens in IFS therapy? This article explores common reasons and how to relate to blankness and blocking parts without pressure.

Many people who stay in therapy for years aren’t stuck because they lack insight. They’re often highly analytical, thoughtful, and self-aware. This post looks at how thinking parts take on the work of healing in IFS, and why that can block change.

This article explores the key parts discussed in Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Managers, Firefighters, and Exiles – and provides real-life examples of how these parts might manifest. It also introduces the concept of the Self, the core essence of who we are, which serves as a compassionate and guiding presence distinct from our parts.

In this article, I've delved into common challenges encountered during IFS therapy and shared insights on how I address them. Beyond specific techniques, what resonates most with me is taking a step back, returning to Self, and reassuring my parts that there's no urgency to reach a particular destination. Instead, being present with the parts that emerge in the current moment is the most crucial work for both myself and my clients.

The beauty of a check-in practice is that the more space we create for parts to be heard and witnessed, the less they feel they need to take us over in extreme ways. A daily check-in helps us to start building trust and a secure attachment with our parts, which in turn enables deeper work to happen during therapy.