COUNSELLING GUIDE · APPROACHES
Internal Family Systems: working with parts, not against them.
A model of therapy that treats the inner critic, the anxious part and the quiet, steady part of you as separate members of one internal team.
THE SHORT ANSWER
What is Internal Family Systems therapy?
Internal Family Systems, or IFS, is a model of therapy developed by Richard Schwartz in the 1980s. The IFS Institute describes it as a parts-based approach: a person is seen as holding many internal parts, each with its own feelings and intentions, around a core Self that is calm and curious. Instead of trying to silence a difficult part, your counsellor helps you listen to it, understand what it is protecting, and let the Self lead.
Most people already talk about themselves in parts without noticing. One part of me wants to stay in bed. Another part knows I will feel better once I am out the door. IFS gives language to that experience and makes it the working material of therapy. Alexandra Cope and Rita Fung are the two Launch counsellors who name IFS in their own training.
AT A GLANCE
- What it is
- A parts-based, non-pathologising model of therapy
- Common reasons to try it
- Harsh inner critic, long-standing self-conflict, trauma, perfectionism
- Session length
- 50 to 60 minutes
- Where delivered at Launch
- Richmond (Alexandra Cope), North Burnaby (Rita Fung)
THE MODEL
A person holds many parts, around a steady Self
IFS names three kinds of parts: managers that try to keep daily life running, firefighters that step in when distress spikes, and exiles that carry the pain the other parts are protecting from. Behind these parts sits the Self, a core that the IFS Institute describes as calm, curious and compassionate. Therapy does not get rid of parts. It helps them trust the Self to lead.
IN THE ROOM
What an IFS session looks like
An IFS session often starts by picking a part that showed up in the week: the one that wanted to stay in bed, the one that snapped at a partner, the one that could not stop refreshing a work email. Your counsellor helps you turn toward that part, ask what it is worried about, and listen to its answer. The pace is slow by design, because a part that is used to being pushed down needs time to speak.
WHEN IT FITS
When IFS is likely to be the right approach
IFS fits well when a client already senses an internal split: a harsh inner critic that overrides a kinder voice, a perfectionist that will not let anything be good enough, a part that collapses when conflict arrives. It is a common choice for complex trauma, long-standing anxiety, and perfectionism linked to childhood experience. Alexandra and Rita both weave IFS with other approaches rather than running a pure IFS course.
WHO DELIVERS IT
The counsellors who name this approach in their own training.
Each quote below is from the counsellor's own public bio. Choose by travel and schedule and your counsellor will adjust the approach to what you bring in.
Alexandra Cope
RichmondMCP, Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC)
“Her counselling approach is primarily person-centred and trauma-informed, integrating training in focusing-oriented psychotherapy and emotion-focused individual therapy. She also incorporates interventions and resources from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), attachment theory, internal family systems, mindfulness, and narrative therapy.”
Rita Fung
North BurnabyMC, Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC #3402)
“Rita incorporates concepts and techniques from interpersonal neurobiology, polyvagal theory, attachment theory, emotionally focused therapy (EFT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), internal family systems (IFS)/parts model, somatic experiencing (SE), and sensorimotor psychotherapy. She has completed EMDR Basic Training (EMDRIA Approved), earned the Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Certification.”
FAQ
Common questions.
Two Registered Clinical Counsellors on the team name IFS in their own training. Alexandra Cope at the Richmond studio lists Internal Family Systems alongside person-centred, trauma-informed, focusing-oriented, emotion-focused, CBT, attachment, mindfulness and narrative work. Rita Fung at the North Burnaby studio lists the IFS parts model alongside EFT, CBT, ACT, somatic experiencing and sensorimotor psychotherapy.
SOURCES
Where the facts on this page come from.
- British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors · BCACC · Accessed 6 October 2026
- Alexandra Cope, Registered Clinical Counsellor (team page) · Launch Rehab · Accessed 6 October 2026
- Rita Fung, Registered Clinical Counsellor (team page) · Launch Rehab · Accessed 6 October 2026
- The Internal Family Systems Model Outline · IFS Institute · Accessed 6 October 2026
- Launch Rehab rates and FAQ · Launch Rehab · Accessed 6 October 2026
- Clinical Counselling at Launch Rehab (service page) · Launch Rehab · Accessed 6 October 2026
KEEP READING
More counselling guides.
- Everyday approaches
Cognitive behavioural therapy
A structured, short-term approach that works on the links between thoughts, feelings and the things you do.
READ - Working with trauma
Trauma-informed and somatic counselling
Working with difficult experiences through both the mind and the body, at a pace the nervous system can hold.
READ
READY?
Book a counselling session.
Clinical counselling at Launch Rehab is direct-access. Pick the studio that is closest and book online, or send an enquiry first if you want a short email conversation before you commit to a session.