From Brain to Behaviour: Why IFS Therapy Actually Works (According to Science and Your Inner Teenager)
If you’ve ever walked out of a therapy session thinking, “Well, that was... fine, I guess,” and then immediately gone back to stress-eating hummus in front of the fridge — you’re not alone. Plenty of smart, emotionally savvy women come to me burnt out by therapy that felt more like surface-level pep talks than actual healing.
So let’s talk about something different. Something deeper. Something that actually lines up with how the brain, body, and psyche really work.
Enter: IFS-informed therapy, a modality that might sound a bit left of centre, but has firm roots in the science of healing. And no, it’s not about blaming your parents (though we might get there eventually).
Let’s dig into why Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is such a powerful fit for people seeking more than just “coping strategies” — and how the biopsychosocial model backs it all up.
🔬 First Things First: What Is the Biopsychosocial Model?
It’s a mouthful, but hang in there.
The biopsychosocial model is the gold standard in modern healthcare — especially when we’re looking at mental health. It says that your well-being isn’t just about your brain chemistry (biology), or your thoughts (psychology), or your relationships (social environment).
It’s all three. Interacting. Constantly.
You are a system — a living, breathing network of parts that respond to biology, life experiences, relationships, culture, trauma, and yes, even that teacher from Year 9 who once made you cry in front of the class.
So, if healing needs to happen across these dimensions, doesn’t it make sense to use a therapy that actually works systemically?
Exactly. That’s why IFS-informed therapy is such a match made in biopsychosocial heaven.
🧩 So What Is Internal Family Systems (IFS)?
IFS, short for Internal Family Systems, is a therapeutic approach developed by Dr Richard Schwartz. It’s based on a surprisingly simple idea:
We all have different “parts” inside us — like an internal family — and they each have their own perspectives, jobs, and wounds.
Ever felt like one part of you wants to quit your job and move to Tuscany, while another insists you stay and be “responsible”? That’s IFS in action.
In IFS-informed therapy, we don’t try to shut those parts up. We get curious about them. We help them feel seen and safe. We build a relationship with each part, even the ones that feel like a bit of a trainwreck.
Because (and this is the kicker) every part of you developed for a reason. Even the ones that procrastinate, people-please, binge-watch, or overachieve until burnout.
🧠 Biology: Your Brain & IFS
From a biological perspective, IFS supports nervous system regulation in a way that many traditional talk therapies don’t.
When we work with parts rather than trying to suppress or shame them, we invite the brain out of fight-flight-freeze mode (hello, sympathetic nervous system) and into a state of calm, open curiosity. That’s when your ventral vagal system lights up — the part of your nervous system that helps you feel safe, connected, and regulated.
IFS also gently supports neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire and heal. Instead of reinforcing the old neural loops of “I’m not good enough” or “I have to be perfect,” we create new patterns based on compassion, inner leadership, and self-trust.
💭 Psychology: A Language Your Psyche Actually Understands
IFS is like speaking your psyche’s native language.
Where cognitive therapies often stay in the rational, grown-up, boardroom-brain, IFS drops down into the emotional, symbolic, relational depths — where trauma often lives.
Many of my clients are incredibly self-aware. They know why they feel anxious or stuck. But awareness alone doesn’t always shift the feeling. That’s where IFS-informed therapy really shines.
We don’t just analyse — we relate. We build trust with the parts of you that carry fear, shame, or anger. We listen. We validate. And we help those parts unburden their pain in a way that’s felt, not just understood.
This process can be surprisingly tender — and often, kind of beautiful.
👩👩👧👦 Social: Healing in Relationship (Even With Yourself)
From a social perspective, many of us grew up in environments where our emotional needs weren’t fully met. Maybe you were the “good girl” who kept it together for everyone else. Maybe you learned early on that your big feelings were “too much.”
IFS healing is inherently relational. Not just with your therapist (though that’s important), but within yourself.
We cultivate what IFS calls the Self — the calm, compassionate, curious core of you — and help that Self become the inner leader of your system.
This changes everything. When your anxious part isn’t fighting your avoidant part, and your perfectionist part isn’t steamrolling your creative part, you start to feel more whole. More present. More like you.
💻 But Does It Work Online?
Absolutely. Online IFS therapy is just as effective as in-person sessions — sometimes more so, especially if you're working with parts that find safety and comfort in familiar surroundings (like your dog-saturated sofa or your pyjama pants).
Online IFS-informed therapy also removes barriers like travel time, parking stress, or having to talk about your childhood trauma while fluorescent lights hum above you in a medical-looking office.
Plus, it’s deeply personal work. And doing it in your own space can help that work land more gently.
We also offer face to face session for those who prefer that.
🧘♀️ So, Why Does IFS Work?
Because it’s not just about “fixing” symptoms — it’s about healing the system.
IFS-informed therapy works in alignment with the way your biology, psychology, and social wiring actually function. It’s deeply trauma-informed, emotionally validating, and profoundly respectful of the complexity inside you.
You’re not broken. You’re a system doing its best under pressure. And with the right support, you can heal from the inside out.
💬 Ready to Meet Your Parts?
If you’re curious about exploring IFS healing in a way that’s compassionate, grounded, and tailored to your life, let’s talk.
At OmniTherapy, I offer online IFS-informed therapy that meets you where you are — in your real life, with all its mess, magic, and complexity. You don’t have to do this alone.
👉 Book a free consult or explore more about trauma-informed therapy with me.
Let’s help your parts find their way home.
—
Dr Trish Richards | OmniTherapy
Trauma-informed. IFS-informed. And fully human, just like you.
See you next time!
Dr Trish
Consulting Psychotherapist
BA/GD Psychotherapy
MA/GC Psychology
LLM, MEd/DEd
Accredited: PACFA, Certified Practising
Clinical Somatic Psychotherapist, USABP