IFS Informed EMDR: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Healing

IFS and EMDR are two therapeutic modalities that have gotten a lot of attention in the past 10 years or so - and for good reason. Both modalities provide a powerful process and framework for healing deeply ingrained impacts of harmful previous experiences. When combining the two using IFS informed EMDR, this more novel integrated approach is gentler, more trauma informed, and provides flexibility and fluidity to navigate more nuanced experiences and common barriers that show up for clients in EMDR or IFS alone.

Like all therapeutic modalities, IFS and EMDR both have their shortcomings. EMDR is a fairly structured modality. There are 8 unique phases in EMDR and therapists guide clients through these phases to reprocess past memories that are causing current problems. Sometimes the process of EMDR can be too rigid and a clients experiences don’t fit well into this approach. EMDR reprocessing can also be a fairly intense emotional experience, which may not work for everyone. Additionally, blocking beliefs, dissociation, and other barriers can show up when attempting to access vulnerable or traumatic experiences in EMDR, even if a client wants to engage in trauma therapy. Additionally, IFS can be a great approach for many, but it lacks the powerful effects of bilateral stimulation in establishing safety and connection between our traumatized parts and current self as well as desensitization of traumatic memories. Both modalities work well for many clients just as they are, but what about those clients in which they fall short?

IFS informed EMDR provides a more fluid approach that can navigate common barriers and adapt to clients unique needs more seamlessly all the while presenting the benefits of both modalities. I find that this approach is inherently more trauma informed, as it follows the natural pacing that clients have; we are not jumping into a traumatic memory too soon just because it is the next step in the process, and we can honor what any protector parts are saying and needing while approaching sensitive memories. There is also more fluidity and flexibility in this approach, as you can flow between resourcing and reprocessing with ease, all the while exploring and getting to know new parts. It is inherently more client led, and fundamentally respects clients needs and boundaries as the therapist creates space for protective parts to be heard and valued.

Many therapeutic modalities and approaches mirror one another and therapists can even conceptualize the same concern many different ways depending on what approach(es) they use. In this way, it is not surprising that EMDR and IFS can work well together, as many of the components of one reflect aspects of the other. There is also a unique complimentary nature of these two approaches in that the strengths of one modality actually addresses the pitfalls of the other and vice versa. IFS Informed EMDR can be a great approach for a wide variety of experiences resulting from compounding negative experiences, like anxiety, depression, dissociation, relational struggles like people pleasing, BPD, and much more. If you’re curious about if this approach is right for you, feel free to reach out to chat with me more.