Approach
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Parts language sounds odd until you notice you already use it: part of you wants to leave, part of you cannot. IFS takes that seriously instead of treating it as a figure of speech.
You might recognize
Some of this may sound familiar
- You have been having the same negotiation with yourself for months.
- A critical voice starts up the second you do something well.
- You defend yourself in ways that made sense once and cost you now.
- You want to understand whatever keeps pulling the emergency brake.
In the work
What we actually do
Getting to know a protector
Protectors are the ones that step in early: the part that goes quiet, the part that overworks, the part that gets sharp before anyone can get close. We slow down and find out what each of them is trying to prevent. The reason is usually older than whatever is in front of you.
Making room for the critic
The inner critic is often the loudest voice in the room and the least understood. Arguing with it tends to make it louder. We get curious instead about what it thinks would happen if it eased off for an hour.
Leading from somewhere steadier
As protective parts relax, something calmer usually becomes available to take the lead. That is what we work toward: not a personality transplant, just more room between you and the reaction. This moves at whatever speed your system allows, and therapy outcomes are not guaranteed.
“If you've ever felt like you understand your issues but can't seem to change them, that difference matters.”
FAQ
Questions people ask
Is parts language a diagnosis?
No. It describes something ordinary — the internal negotiation many of us run all day without naming it. It is a way of working, not a label for what is wrong with you.
Do you work with people outside New York?
Not for therapy. Weekly therapy takes place via telehealth. I am licensed in New York and can only offer psychotherapy services to people who reside in New York State. Coaching is a separate, non-clinical service offered more widely, and it is not therapy or licensed mental-health treatment.
Do I have to use the word parts?
No. Some people say a part of me, some say that old voice, some just point at their chest. The words matter less than whether we are both tracking the same thing.
What happens on a first call?
A free consultation of 15 to 20 minutes, by video or phone, with no obligation. We talk about what brings you in and whether this is a fit. Ongoing sessions run 50 minutes at $235.
Start with a free consultation
A short conversation to see whether we would be a good fit for working together. Weekly therapy takes place via telehealth. I am licensed in New York and can only offer psychotherapy services to people who reside in New York State.