How to find an IFS therapist

1. Start with the IFS Institute directory

The IFS Institute keeps the official register of trained and certified practitioners. You can filter by country, state, language, and whether the therapist offers online sessions. Search the IFS Institute practitioner directory.

2. Understand the training levels

• Level 1 trained: has completed the foundational IFS training and can work with parts in session.
• Level 2 and 3: further training in areas such as trauma, addiction, or working with extreme protectors.
• Certified (CIFS): has met the Institute's consultation and assessment requirements. Certification is a good signal, but a Level 1 therapist you trust can be the better fit.

3. Look beyond the directory

Many capable therapists use IFS without being listed. Search general directories such as Psychology Today for "Internal Family Systems", check local trauma therapists' websites, and ask about IFS directly. Online sessions widen the pool considerably if you live outside a large city.

4. Questions to ask in a consultation

• How much of your practice is IFS, and what training have you completed?
• How do you work with protectors before going near younger, exiled parts?
• What happens if I get overwhelmed between sessions?
• What are your fees, and do you offer a sliding scale?

5. What it usually costs

Rates vary widely by region, roughly in line with other therapy in your area. Some practitioners hold low-fee slots, and IFS-informed group programmes are typically cheaper than individual work. Insurance coverage depends on the therapist's licence rather than on IFS itself.

Using Parts of Us between sessions

Parts of Us is a self-guided companion, not a replacement for therapy. It gives you a structured way to notice which part got activated during the week, walk the six Fs at your own pace, and keep a record you can share with your therapist. People often use it as homework between appointments, and to arrive at a session already knowing which part wants attention.