Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based approach that works with aspects of our personality within our mental system. Have you even noticed when someone pushes your buttons your personality changes? It is almost like we become a different person. It may be easier to notice this in other people. Have you ever noticed friends or family members may be friendly and loving sometimes but other times they act irrationally and seem to lose the ability to reason? Later, you notice another aspect of his or her personality that feels badly and may apologize. We all have different aspects of ourselves – fun loving, caretakers, thinkers, trapped parts, angry critics, get the job done parts, some that act out and others that feel guilty about this behavior. It’s as if we have a team inside of us that argues with each other about how to handle life situations. Have you ever noticed these inner conflicts within yourself? Do you ever act in ways that your mature self regrets? Maybe later, when you feel more like yourself, you wonder why you over reacted. These aspects of ourselves are often in conflict with each other and with our core Self. Our higher Self is described as curious, confident, and compassionate, creative, calm, connected and courageous and knows how to handle life’s challenges. The Self is the whole person that is at the core of every individual. IFS focuses on healing the wounded parts and restoring mental balance and harmony by changing the dynamics that create discord among these aspects of ourselves. IFS also strengthens our consciousness to our higher (spiritual) Self to lead our lives in more satisfying ways.