Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy in Chicago & Northbrook IL

What Is Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy?

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based model of psychotherapy developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz that understands the mind as naturally composed of multiple distinct parts, each with its own perspective, feelings, history, and way of trying to protect the person.

IFS is built on the recognition that we all contain multitudes: the part that wants to move forward and the part that wants to hold back, the relentless inner critic, the part that shuts down when things get hard, the part carrying years of old pain. Rather than treating these internal experiences as pathology, IFS approaches them as meaningful and ultimately protective, each part doing its best given the history it carries.

Core Principles of Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapy rests on several interconnected ideas:

Early experiences and relationships leave lasting imprints on how we see ourselves, others, and the world.
We develop patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating that often operate outside our conscious awareness.
Defenses, the ways we protect ourselves from difficult feelings, can become limiting over time even when they were originally adaptive.
Becoming more aware of these patterns, especially within the safety of the therapeutic relationship, creates room for genuine change.
The therapeutic relationship itself offers a new relational experience that can begin to shift old patterns.

“Internal Family Systems therapy is often called Parts Therapy. We all know what it is like to feel an internal battle between different parts of ourselves. For example, if we have a big assignment due at work, one Part of us may want to get working on it right away, while at the same time another Part may want to avoid or procrastinate. In Internal Family Systems Therapy, clients explore the positive intentions of each of their Parts and work toward building a more harmonious inner life.”
– Rachel Baker, LCPC, Midwest Counseling & Diagnostics

What Psychodynamic Therapy Pays Attention To

Psychodynamic therapists are interested in the full texture of your experience. The stories you tell about relationships, the feelings that arise in session, what is difficult to say, and the ways certain patterns repeat across different areas of your life are all treated as meaningful data.

The therapeutic relationship itself becomes a kind of live example. Patterns that originated in early relationships often appear in some form in the therapy room, and a skilled therapist uses that material to illuminate and work with what is happening.

What Does Psychodynamic Therapy Help With?

Psychodynamic therapy is particularly well-suited for:

Longstanding relational patterns that keep repeating
Depression with roots in early loss or experience
Anxiety connected to identity, self-worth, or existential concerns
Grief and mourning
Difficulty accessing or understanding your own emotions
Personality patterns that create friction in life and relationships
Childhood trauma and its ongoing influence
Questions of identity and meaning
Situations where skills-based approaches have not produced lasting change

How Long Does Psychodynamic Therapy Take?

Psychodynamic therapy is often longer-term than approaches like CBT, though brief psychodynamic therapy is also a well-supported option for more focused work. The scope of what you are exploring, the complexity of your history, and your own goals all shape the timeline.

Some people come in with a specific focus and do relatively brief work. Others find the process opens something meaningful and choose to continue for longer. There is no single right answer, and your therapist will work with you to think through what makes sense.

Psychodynamic Therapy in Chicago, Northbrook, and via Telehealth

Our therapists who work psychodynamically bring warmth, rigor, and genuine curiosity to the process. If you have been wondering whether deeper exploration is what you need, we would welcome the chance to talk through what that might look like. Call (312) 291-9570 or book a consultation online.

Frequently Asked Questions About Psychodynamic Therapy

What is psychodynamic therapy in simple terms?
Psychodynamic therapy is a form of talk therapy that focuses on how unconscious thoughts, past experiences, and relational patterns influence current behavior and emotional life. The goal is to bring those patterns into awareness so they can be understood and changed. It tends to be more exploratory and open-ended than structured approaches like CBT.

Is psychodynamic therapy evidence-based?
Yes. Multiple meta-analyses and clinical trials support the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy for depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and somatic symptoms, among other concerns. Research also suggests that the benefits of psychodynamic therapy can continue to grow even after treatment ends, distinguishing it from approaches where gains tend to plateau once sessions stop.

What is the difference between psychodynamic therapy and psychoanalysis?
Psychoanalysis is the original form, developed by Freud, typically involving multiple sessions per week over many years with a focus on free association and the analyst’s interpretations. Modern psychodynamic therapy is a more flexible, adapted approach that can be conducted weekly, is informed by contemporary relational and attachment theory, and is supported by current research. Most practicing therapists today use psychodynamic therapy rather than classical psychoanalysis.

How is psychodynamic therapy different from CBT?
CBT is structured, skills-focused, and typically shorter-term, targeting specific thoughts and behaviors. Psychodynamic therapy is more exploratory, focuses on the underlying patterns and histories that generate those thoughts and behaviors, and often takes longer. Both are evidence-based, and many therapists integrate elements of both depending on what a person needs.

Can psychodynamic therapy be done via telehealth?
Yes. Psychodynamic therapy translates well to telehealth. The core of the work, the therapeutic relationship, attentive listening, and the exploration of emotional patterns, does not require in-person presence. Midwest Counseling offers psychodynamic therapy via telehealth across Illinois and many other states.

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your healing journey today.

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