Anxiety is a feeling that arises in our bodies and can be incredibly difficult to bear, especially when it is present day after day. The Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach offers a powerful way of understanding anxiety, bringing greater clarity, compassion, and calm to our inner world.

Rather than viewing anxiety as a problem to eliminate, IFS helps us understand what lies beneath it and how it is often created by multiple protective parts working hard within us.

Frequently, many of these parts are active at the same time and may be in strong conflict with one another, each pulling us in a different direction. Some of the protective parts commonly involved in the experience of anxiety include parts that:

• fear engaging in certain activities, relationships, or life experiences

• worry about the future and what might go wrong

• scan for danger or potential threats

• judge and criticize us, telling us we are not good enough or that we are a bad person for the choices we want to make

• try to control situations or suppress the expression of feelings

• attempt to manage others through pleasing, caretaking, or accommodating

• pressure us to meet expectations or achieve certain standards

• intellectualize and rationalize experiences rather than allowing us to feel them

• resent or criticize the above mentioned protective parts in the system

• long to be carefree, spontaneous, and enjoy life

All of these protective parts have good intentions and work hard to prevent us from coming into contact with more vulnerable, exiled parts that carry emotional wounds. These may be parts that feel unlovable, rejected, unseen, disrespected, ashamed, abandoned, or unworthy.

In this group, we will explore anxiety through the lens of Internal Family Systems, creating space to meet your protective parts with curiosity and compassion. Together, we will learn to listen to them, understand their role within your system, and discover why they do what they do.

Rather than fighting anxiety or trying to get rid of it, we will explore the complex network of protective strategies that lies beneath it. As these parts begin to feel seen, understood, and appreciated for their efforts, the system often starts to soften, creating more space for healing, connection, and lasting change.

Alongside Internal Family Systems (IFS), we will incorporate somatic practices to support this exploration. Through breathwork, mindful movement, and body awareness, we will strengthen our connection to the body and cultivate access to our innate healing capacity, the state of Self characterized by compassion, clarity, courage, curiosity, calmness, confidence, creativity, and connectedness.

IMPORTANT! This is a closed group of up to eight participants, beginning once it is full. The initial commitment is three months (12 meetings). After that, if spaces open, new participants may join.

Before committing, there will be a short introductory call to learn more about you and to ensure that the group is the right fit. We foster a welcoming and inclusive environment, celebrating diversity in all forms.

All are welcome regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, age, cultural background, sexual orientation, abilities, language proficiency, education, socio-economic status, or body size.