Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS is an accelerated approach, rooted in neuroscience, that applies inner resources and self-compassion for healing emotional wounding at its core.

Understanding IFS

One of the most popular and effective treatment technique, "parts work" is the informal way that IFS therapy is referred to by most IFS therapists and clients... but why?

"there's a part of me..."

We can often find ourselves surprised by how differently we react to various situations, as if we were different persons at different times:

"a part of me doesn't want to forgive him...", or "I just wasn't myself..."

(we all have them)

We can also see this in others: "she's really shy, but when she's in a negotiation... wow!" or "when he's talking about it he turns into a pit-bull."
Personally, we can also react to the same situation in different ways, depending or various factors.

Parts have been studied throughout history

...we will call them "parts"

In Buddhist tradition these states are called mental formations, or habit patterns; Jean Piaget, Swiss developmental psychologist, referred to them as schemas; psychosynthesis talks about sub-personalities; and psychodynamics refers to them as ego states... we will call them parts.

IFS process, step-by-step

Identify and Connect with a Target Part

We will find differences between yourself and a target habit or symptom you want to work
We will try to access a state of compassion and curiosity that are essential for healing
You will establish a relationship with your identified part
We will learn the history and benevolent intention behind the target habit or symptom

Working with Protective Parts

We will advance internal attachment work
You will learn to understand and address the fears and concerns of your protective parts
You will have an opportunity to build a trusting relationship with reactive parts
You will be invited to resolve internal conflicts and gain permission to proceed with healing

Healing the Wound

Now you can connect with the wounded part
You will learn to witness the pain rather than relive it
We will retrieve the wounded part and you will be able to release/unburden thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations
You will imagine life without the wound, and continue the post-healing process

"That which you most need will be found where you least want to look."
- Carl Jung

calm your nervous system

traumatic memory processing

work the shadow side

in English or Spanish

Let's talk...

your initial 1-on-1 session

Our first step will be to meet in an initial consultation to make sure we're a correct fit for each other.

click to reserve session

Consistency is a key aspect for this process, and after your first session we will make sure we both commit to our future meetings.

About

My name is Diana Alvarado, M.S.Ed.

Master's Degree in Human Development
and Education (HDE)
Concentration in Early Childhood

Harvard University (@Harvard GSE)

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

IFS Practitioner (@IFS Institute)

Immunity to Change (ITC)

Adult Development & Transformational Change

Supervised coaching with ITC framework (@Harvard GSE)

Yoga Sculpt (YS)

Yoga Sculpt Teacher Training (@CorePower Boston, MA)

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

• R.A. in NeuroMex Study: Risk Factors for Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Harvard School of Public Health

The Science of Mindfulness: a Research-Based Approach

• T.A. for BIO314QC - The Science of Mindfulness course

Harvard Medical School

Psychology Department Laboratory on Emotional Disorders

• Paper Submission in Richard McNally Laboratory: Hope as a Mechanism to Reduce Negative Effects of Child Sexual Abuse

• R.A. in Richard McNally Laboratory: Loneliness Study
Harvard Faculty of Arts & Sciences

Through specializing in Human Development and focusing on accelerated methods to successfully improve self-regulation as a path to achieve healing, I found IFS and have experienced its power, speed and potential to help through a cost-effective process.

My professional interests and goals revolve around methods of healing and wellbeing, with a strong focus on trauma work; especially when its roots stem back to adverse childhood experiences.

To explain why I pursued this career, I could never have been able to put it in better words than French Psychiatrist Dr. Boris Cyrulnik, who dedicated his life to explaining how people can recover after trauma: "When we have lived through tragedy but then retake our lives and ease our pain, we want to help others because we understand what suffering really means."

Every session with me is unique; never easy, but truly effective.
A healer's job is to help you find your truth, not to sell you on theirs.
You don't need to know your story to heal from it.
I will never speed through a session... I value real results and know it takes time to get there.
Every process is extraordinary and deserves we both show up for the work with our full attention.