Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists in Courtenay, BC
Katharine De Santos
Registered Psychotherapist
Healthy Minds Psychotherapy was founded in 2018 with the mission of providing psychotherapeutic care to individuals from diverse backgrounds, fostering resilience in each person and our community as a whole.
Molly McBride
Registered Clinical Counsellor
EMDR therapist offering online and walk and talk sessions in Chilliwack, BC
Li Li
Registered Psychotherapist
Li offers relational psychoanalytic and trauma-focused somatic/EMDR/IFS therapy, to support clients in communities such as immigrants, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent (ADHD), and professionals, whose experiences resonate with her own life journey the most. She holds a compassionate, culturally attuned space where clients can explore how early wounds, cultural expectations, and identity intersect.
Erin Ibrahim
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), BA
Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, relationship stress, self-esteem struggles, or just feeling stuck, we can work through it together. Pulling from a variety of frameworks to instead suit your unique needs instead of making it feel one-size-fits-all, I have interest in anxiety, depression, relationships, attachment, neurodiversity, and self-esteem. I look forward to connecting!
DeRoux Jones
Registered Psychotherapist
I’m DeRoux Jones, a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario with a Master of Counselling Psychology specializing in Marriage & Family Therapy. I serve individuals, couples, and families, helping with anxiety, depression, grief, relationships, and Christian counselling. My approach is collaborative, evidence-based, and client-centered, creating a safe space for growth and healing.
Mohamad Shabib
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Mohamad Shabib is a trauma-informed counsellor specializing in PTSD, addiction, and complex trauma. He integrates CBT, EMDR, and evidence-based approaches with a culturally responsive lens shaped by refugee and public health experience. He supports vulnerable populations, including refugees and first responders, in healing, resilience, and recovery.
Eric Proulx
Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)
Are you feeling stuck in the same unhelpful patterns? Is it becoming more and more difficult to live through anxiety, depression or emotional overwhelm? Reaching out can be hard, but it's the first step towards living a more intentional, fulfilling and joyful life.
Emma Hartley
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), BA (she, her)
Are you looking for a therapist that knows what it's like to feel lost or overwhelmed and how to find your footing again? Noticing yourself feeling more anxious, "just tired", and craving a space to slow down and reconnect with a sense of meaning or purpose? Trying to make sense of shifts in mood, questioning careers, exploring relationships, parenting and identity, or a major life transition?
Debra (Debbie) Airth
Registered Therapeutic Counsellor
Come as you are. Let's begin from there. I support individuals and couples navigating grief, chronic illness, trauma, identity exploration, LGBTQ+ experiences, polyamory/ENM, and life transitions. My approach is warm, trauma-informed, and rooted in genuine human connection, helping you reconnect with your strengths and move forward with greater clarity and self-compassion.
Emma Laughlan
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I am a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) working with youth and young adults navigating anxiety, perfectionism, self‑worth concerns, relationship challenges, and life transitions. My approach integrates Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic practices, and CBT-informed strategies to support emotional regulation and identity development.
Zarifa Andani
MPCC-P, RTC-C
This work isn’t about fixing your parts—it’s about helping you feel more like your whole self again. We can work together to slow down, get curious, and listen deeply. Our internal body wisdom is an integral source of information that speaks more significantly than words. Real change is possible when ALL of you feels safe enough to be seen and supported, just as you are.
Maria Yaglovski
Registered Psychotherapist/ Canadian Certified Counsellor
Hi, I’m Maria, a Registered Psychotherapist and Canadian Certified Counsellor. I provide a supportive, non-judgmental space to explore patterns, beliefs, and challenges. Through mindfulness and evidence-based approaches, I help you gain clarity, shift perspective, and create meaningful, lasting change.
Colombe Mazerolle
Licensed Counselling Therapist - C
Are you struggling with intense emotions that feel overwhelming, ongoing conflict or disconnection in relationships or feeling stuck in survival mode or repeating self-sabotaging patterns? I'm Colombe, therapist at Ember Counselling Therapy, and I help individuals and couples build emotional balance, heal from past pain, and create healthier relationships.
Dr Teesha Morgan
Psychotherapist, Couples Counsellor, Sex Therapist
Hi, my name is Dr. Teesha Morgan (she/her) and I’ve been a Sex Therapist and Couples Counsellor for over 15 years. Most people, when you mention you’re a Sex Therapist, wonder how you got that title and what it is you do, day to day. Well, I received a Bachelor of Science, a Masters in Counselling (specializing in Sex Therapy), and a Doctorate in Human Sexuality. Day to day, I see individuals a…
Renata Roma
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
I offer support for individuals dealing with anxiety, including high-functioning anxiety, OCD, intrusive thoughts, and phobias, including animal-related fears. Many of my clients come in with relationship struggles. I also specialize in pet loss, and anxiety related to pets.
Aida Retta
Registered Psychotherapist
You’ve always been the one others count on—the thoughtful one, the steady one. But under the surface, you might feel anxious, resentful, or quietly overwhelmed. You say yes when you want to say no. You shrink your needs to keep the peace. You care deeply, but sometimes feel like you’re disappearing in the process. These patterns often begin in relationships where love felt conditional, conflict w…
Taylor Davis
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
If you constantly overthink, struggle to say no, or feel overwhelmed trying to keep everyone else happy, you’re not alone. I support adults navigating anxiety, depression, and people-pleasing using IFS, somatic therapy, and attachment-based approaches to help you reconnect with yourself, regulate emotions, and build more authentic relationships. Reach out to schedule a free consultation.
Stacey Sanderson
Registered Psychotherapist, Registered Social Worker, Subject Matter Expert
I am Subject Matter Expert in complex, relational trauma, narcissism and high conflict divorce. If you are in a toxic relationship, I can help you navigate the process while learning the powerful boundaries and strategy you need to get to the next chapter in your life feeling confident and empowered. I will help you understand the attachment patterns that are keeping you stuck.
Amelia Traer
Pre-Licensed Professional, BA, PsiChi
My work is shaped by CBT, ACT, DBT, ERP, and trauma-informed, mindfulness-based approaches. I support clients with anxiety, burnout, OCD and phobias, ADHD, grief, life transitions, women's health, and chronic health concerns. Our therapy space adapts, with a focus on connection, emotional regulation, and practical strategies that fit your life.
Abby Tait
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
You might come to therapy feeling stuck in familiar patterns - ways of coping, thinking, or relating that once made sense but now feel hard to shift. You may be thoughtful and self-aware, yet find yourself overthinking, avoiding certain emotions, or feeling disconnected from who you are or where you’re headed. Questions about identity, values, and purpose often sit quietly underneath these experi…
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Frequently Asked Questions About Internal Family Systems (IFS)
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a model of psychotherapy developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz that views the mind as made up of multiple "parts" — sub-personalities or inner voices that each carry their own feelings, beliefs, and motivations. IFS also posits the existence of a core "Self" — a calm, compassionate, and curious centre that can lead the inner system toward healing. Therapy involves building a relationship between the Self and various parts, including protective parts and wounded "exile" parts, to create greater inner harmony.
What conditions does IFS therapy help with?
IFS is used for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, relationship difficulties, chronic pain, and general personal growth. It is particularly valued for complex or developmental trauma, where multiple protective patterns and deeply buried wounds need to be addressed with care. IFS has a growing evidence base and is recognized as an empirically supported treatment for PTSD.
What does an IFS therapy session look like?
IFS sessions typically involve the therapist guiding you into a focused inner state where you can turn attention inward and notice different parts — often felt as emotions, thoughts, physical sensations, or inner voices. You might be invited to "get curious" about a part, ask it questions, and understand its role and fears. The tone is gentle and exploratory rather than confrontational. Many people find IFS deeply validating because it treats all parts of the self as having good intentions, even when their behaviour is problematic.
Is IFS therapy evidence-based?
IFS has a growing body of research and has been recognized as an evidence-based practice by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in the United States. Studies show effectiveness for PTSD, depression, rheumatoid arthritis symptom management, and personal resilience. IFS is widely practised and taught across Canada, and many therapists incorporate it alongside other evidence-based approaches.
How long does IFS therapy typically take?
IFS therapy is often a longer-term process, particularly when addressing complex trauma or deeply entrenched protective patterns. Many people work with an IFS therapist for six months to several years, though some use IFS-informed approaches as part of shorter-term therapy for specific concerns. The depth of the work tends to make IFS particularly meaningful for people who want not just symptom relief but genuine inner transformation.