The Westwood Group

Richmond, VA · Est. 1983

804-264-0966

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Services · Internal Family Systems

Internal Family Systems therapy in Richmond, VA

Internal Family Systems, or IFS, treats the mind as a set of parts: the one that pushes you to work late, the one that goes quiet in an argument, the one still carrying something old. Several of our clinicians use it, usually alongside other methods. Internal Family Systems therapy in Richmond, VA is available at our Staples Mill Road office and by telehealth.

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Most major insurance plans accepted. Check your coverage →

Supportive care for internal family systems therapy at The Westwood Group in Richmond, VA

No part of you gets treated as the problem.

IFS works by getting to know the parts you would rather be rid of, the inner critic included, until they no longer have to fight for your attention.

Who we treat
Teens & adults
Formats
In-person & telehealth
Session length
45 to 55 minutes
Session fee
$175 after intake
Who it helps

Is this what you are looking for?

IFS is one of several approaches our clinicians use, and people ask for it for different reasons. Any of these is reason enough to request it by name.

  • An inner critic you cannot argue with
  • Feeling pulled two ways by the same decision
  • Reacting harder than the moment calls for
  • Shame that talking about it has not touched
  • Old coping habits that still run the show
  • Anger or numbness that shows up before you can stop it
  • You have had therapy before and want to go further
  • You read about IFS and want a clinician here who uses it

You don’t need to check every box. If a few of these feel familiar, get in touch.

How we treat internal family systems therapy

How the work actually goes.

Your clinician shapes this around your goals, your history and your pace. These are the approaches they draw on.

Getting to know your parts

Early sessions are mostly mapping: which parts show up, what each one is trying to do for you, and how they get along. Nothing that turns up gets treated as a flaw.

Working with the protective parts first

The parts that keep you functioning are worked with before anything they are guarding. Your clinician asks before going anywhere painful, so the pace stays yours.

Unburdening what younger parts carry

Once the protective parts ease off, the parts holding fear or shame can be heard and set down what they have carried. This stage is slower, and it is paced with you.

IFS alongside other approaches

Some of our clinicians pair IFS with EMDR, mindfulness work, or CBT, depending on what you are working on. The mix is discussed at the start and revisited as things change.

What to expect

Here’s what to expect.

  1. Reach out

    Call 804-264-0966 and our front desk will help match you with the right clinician, usually in a single phone call. Check with your insurer separately to confirm that clinician is in network.

  2. Your first session

    A relaxed, conversational meeting about what brings you in, what you’ve tried, and what you’re hoping for. You won’t be judged, and there’s no pressure to have it all figured out.

  3. Ongoing care

    Most clients start weekly, then taper as things improve. You and your clinician set the goals and revisit them together.

Our clinicians

Clinicians who offer internal family systems therapy.

Each of these clinicians offers internal family systems therapy. Browse profiles to find the right fit, or let our front desk help you choose.

See all 14 providers →
Common questions

Internal Family Systems, answered.

Still have a question? Call 804-264-0966 . Our front desk is glad to help.

What happens in an IFS session?

You bring in something that is bothering you, then slow down and look at which part of you is reacting. Your clinician asks what that part is worried would happen, and what it needs. Some of a session is quiet and internal, and some of it is ordinary conversation. Sessions run 45 to 55 minutes.

Is this the same as having multiple personalities?

No. Parts in the IFS sense are a normal feature of everyone's mind, closer to the tug between wanting to speak up in a meeting and wanting to stay quiet. Dissociative identity disorder is a separate diagnosis with its own criteria.

How long does the work take?

There is no set number of sessions. Some people come in for one stuck point and finish in a few months. Others use IFS over a longer stretch for something that has been there since childhood. You and your clinician set goals early and review them together, so you can see where things stand.

Does insurance cover IFS?

IFS sessions are billed as individual psychotherapy, so coverage follows your plan and whether the clinician you want is in network. We cannot check benefits for you. Call the member services number on your insurance card, ask about that clinician by name, and ask what your outpatient mental health benefit covers.

How do I ask for an IFS therapist here?

Call 804-264-0966 or send an appointment request, and say that IFS is what you are looking for so we can match you with a clinician who uses it. Someone contacts you within one to two business days. Your first visit is a therapy intake evaluation at $200, and sessions after that are $175.

Ready to talk to someone?

We’re accepting new clients now. Reach out today and we’ll help you take the first step, usually within a week or two.

Call to book · 804-264-0966Browse our clinicians

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