Understanding Your Inner Parts: IFS Therapy, Trauma, and Self-Energy with Ryan Austin
When it comes to emotional healing, few therapeutic models are as transformative as Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. In a recent episode of my podcast, I sat down with licensed professional counselor Ryan Austin to discuss how IFS helps people understand their inner parts, work through emotional trauma, and reconnect with their core Self-energy.
Whether you're new to therapy or a mental health professional looking to deepen your understanding of IFS, this conversation offers powerful insights into one of the most innovative approaches in modern psychotherapy.
What Is IFS Therapy?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a form of therapy developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz. It’s based on the idea that our minds are made up of multiple “parts,” each with its own voice, role, and emotional history. Some parts are protective, while others may carry wounds or unmet needs from early experiences.
Rather than trying to eliminate these parts, IFS encourages clients to build relationships with them—listening, understanding, and eventually healing them through a connection with the Self—our innate, compassionate center.
The Power of Understanding Your Inner Parts
During our conversation, Ryan Austin emphasized how identifying and dialoguing with our internal parts can reveal the root causes of anxiety, depression, addiction, and other common struggles. Many of these patterns are shaped during childhood and continue to influence how we show up in adult relationships, careers, and even the way we view ourselves.
“Healing starts when we stop fighting our parts and start listening to them,” Ryan shared. “IFS helps people understand their internal system with compassion, not judgment.”
Healing Trauma Through Self-Energy
One of the core concepts in IFS is the idea of Self-energy—the calm, curious, and confident inner presence that we all have beneath the layers of pain and protection. By learning to lead with the Self, clients can approach their wounded parts with care, creating space for deep emotional healing and integration.
IFS therapy is particularly effective for:
Childhood trauma
Attachment wounds
People-pleasing and boundary issues
Numbing behaviors and addiction
Internalized shame or self-criticism
Why IFS Therapy Resonates with Today’s Clients
In a world that often encourages quick fixes and symptom management, IFS stands out by promoting self-awareness, curiosity, and long-term transformation. It’s a model that respects the complexity of the human psyche and invites people to reclaim agency over their healing.
Our episode also explored:
The privilege involved in setting boundaries
How cultural narratives influence attitudes toward therapy
The importance of trust in the therapeutic relationship
The role of accountability courts in offering people second chances through therapy
Final Thoughts
If you've ever felt like you're at war with yourself—or like different parts of you are pulling in opposite directions—IFS therapy offers a roadmap toward peace, integration, and authentic self-connection.
To hear the full conversation with Ryan Austin and dive deeper into how IFS therapy works in practice, check out the links below.
