Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC
Holistic Anxiety, Trauma, and Attachment Therapist in Los Angeles
Transform Your Life with IFS Therapy in Los Angeles
5 Essential Truths About IFS Therapy in Los Angeles You Need to Know
Finding the right therapist for you is the most important aspect of therapy. This can be really hard in a city as large as Los Angeles. So where do you go? How do you choose? This blog will introduce you to the Top 5 Truths About IFS Counseling, Coaching, or Therapy in Los Angeles. If you’re considering IFS as your next step, I hope that these insights help you understand the unique benefits and transformative potential of IFS. As I describe in the facts below about what sets IFS apart, you’ll gain a clearer picture of why it might be the right choice for your journey toward healing and self-discovery.
1. IFS Provides Trauma-Informed Approach
IFS Therapy takes trauma seriously, and it does so with a compassionate approach. IFS therapy works to get to the heart of the trauma symptoms, understanding its roots, and addressing it directly. IFS recognizes that trauma “fragments” our inner selves, creating parts that carry intense pain and parts that try to protect us from it.
Instead of trying to “push” these parts away, we will work together to instead build a relationship with these parts. With my help, we will explore these parts of you with curiosity, compassion, and calmness.
IFS offers a path toward healing that’s both deep and empowering. I aim to provide a space where you’re not just heard, but you’re understood on a DEEP level. It’s a method that respects your pace, your story, and your strength. The aim isn’t to overwrite your experiences, but to integrate them. This helps you to move forward with a sense of wholeness and resilience. IFS doesn’t put a bandaid on your symptoms. It listens to them and acknowledges that your symptoms hold the key to unlocking the wisdom of your entire being.
It acknowledges that healing isn’t a linear journey but a holistic process that involves every part of who you are. Whether you’re dealing with the aftermath of trauma, navigating anxiety, or just feeling lost, IFS Therapy can offer a roadmap back to yourself that is guided by your own inner wisdom and strength
2. It Can Integrate Attachment Theory
IFS inherently utilizes an attachment lens when diving into how our earliest bonds—think back to those crucial connections (or lack thereof) with parents or primary caregivers—play a massive role in shaping how we deal with people and emotions as adults. It’s kind of like peeling back the layers of an onion. We get to the core of why we might push people away or cling too tightly.
IFS is all about understanding these patterns without any blame or dwelling in the past. It’s practical because it’s making sense of our relational “blueprints” so we can rewrite them if they’re not serving us well.
In my practice, I work with with you to see that the protective parts of us—the ones that might make us ghost someone at the first sign of getting close, or the protectors that pick a fight to avoid vulnerability—are actually trying to help. They just do so in their own misguided ways. By tuning into our internal family with curiosity and kindness (instead of blame and resentment), we start to build healthier, more secure ways of relating to those around us.
What I love about blending IFS with attachment theory is how much respect it holds to the individual’s journey and its commitment to empowerment.You’re the expert on YOU, and IFS is a tool to help you understand and navigate your internal world more effectively. It gives you the reins to tap into your innate ability to heal, grow, and connect more authentically with others. This approach isn’t just therapy, it’s a guide to a more integrated, fulfilled life.
3. IFS Emphasizes Compassion Over Pathology
In the therapy world, there’s often a rush to label, diagnose, and fit people into neat little boxes of pathology. This is where IFS Therapy stands ou. It says, “Hold up, let’s look at this differently.” It’s a game-changer because it focuses on compassion rather than pathology. This approach doesn’t see parts of you as problems to be fixed, but as parts of your journey that have taken on extreme roles to protect you. It encourages us to approach our inner world with curiosity and kindness, and not just slapping a temporary fix on deep-seated issues.
IFS offers a refreshing perspective in Los Angeles. It acknowledges that everyone has their struggles, their internal conflicts, and their protective parts – and that’s perfectly okay! This method empowers you to shift from self-criticism to self-compassion, recognizing that every part of you has value and a positive intention. It’s about getting to know these parts with empathy, understanding their fears and pains, and helping them feel safe. That’s how real change happens. It’s not about exiling parts of ourselves, but about bringing them back into balance, transforming the way they operate within us.
This perspective doesn’t just change how we view therapy; it changes how we view ourselves. And it changes the rigidity of your journey toward wellness. It’s a powerful message for anyone walking into therapy, especially here in Los Angeles: You’re not a collection of symptoms to be cured. You’re a beautifully complex, multifaceted individual on a path to deeper self-understanding and harmony. That’s the kind of healing that sticks.
4. IFS Gives You Direct Access to Your Subconscious Patterns
Ever feel like you’re on autopilot? Or reacting in ways you don’t quite understand? What about getting triggered by things that shouldn’t be a big deal? That’s your subconscious at work. IFS guides you to meet and understand the parts of you that are running these old patterns. It’s like finally getting to have a heart-to-heart with the parts of you that have been calling the shots without your awareness. It helps you see and acknowledge what’s really going on beneath the surface.
I get it. It’s hard to find the time to put into yourself. Slowing down to listen to these inner parts might seem like a luxury you can’t afford. But here’s the thing: IFS doesn’t ask you to step out of your life to engage in this deep work. It integrates naturally into your life because it provides insights and shifts that are as practical in nature. By using this direct dialogue with your subconscious, IFS empowers you to understand the why behind your feelings and actions. It’s about uncovering the roots of your fears, desires, and everything in between.
What’s really cool about IFS therapy in LA is how it kind of flips the script on traditional therapy. Instead of “dancing” around the deep stuff or spending years trying to analyze your way through it, IFS gets you there directly. And it does so with compassion and curiosity. You start to recognize these patterns not as enemies, but as parts of you that need attention and care.
5) IFS Can Help With People Pleasing & Perfectionism
If you find yourself constantly bending over backwards to meet others’ needs, you’re not alone. . People pleasing and perfectionism aren’t just quirks. They’re actually patterns that are deeply rooted in the “parts” of us that are working hard to keep us safe and accepted. IFS Therapy offers a holistic approach to understanding and transforming these patterns. It doesn’t slap you on the wrist and tell you to simply stop it. Instead, IFS invites you to get curious about these parts of you, and to explore what drives your need to please or be perfect. It’s about recognizing that these parts have good intentions but might be stuck in overdrive. They’re looking out for you the best way they know how.
IFS offers a much-needed perspective shift, especially in Los Angeles where the need to be “perfect” can be overwhelming. It encourages you to take a compassionate look inward and explore the fears and hurts driving your people-pleasing or perfectionist behaviors. With IFS, you’re healing the parts of you that feel they must be perfect to be worthy of love or belonging. This therapy shows you how to lead with the Self – that calm, confident, compassionate core of you – that knows you’re enough exactly as you are. It’s about moving from seeking external validation to finding a deep, internal sense of worthiness and peace.
What makes IFS especially powerful for people pleasers and perfectionists is its ability to create internal harmony. Instead of the “parts” fighting for perfection or approval, IFS helps you find peace and understanding within yourself. This internal alignment helps you live more authentically, to set healthy boundaries, and to pursue your true desires (and not just what you think is expected of you).
Connect with an IFS Therapist in Los Angeles
Meet Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC
As you start the journey of finding a therapist in Los Angeles, remember that choosing the right approach for you is absolutely necessary. The points I made about IFS therapy here are intended to guide you toward making an informed decision that resonates with your personal path to healing. If the principles of self-leadership, inner harmony, and compassionate self-awareness speak to you, IFS might a great therapy approach for you. The uniqueness of IFS stands out out to me because it compassionately addresses deep-seated patterns and provides genuine self-discovery. As you consider your next steps, think about how the core principles of IFS align with your goals for therapy. Remember, the journey to well-being is as much about finding the right therapeutic fit as it is about the work you do within that framework. If IFS feels like a match, it could be the beginning of a transformative journey toward understanding and healing.
Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Consultation for IFS Therapy in LA
Ready to take the first step toward a journey of profound self-discovery and healing? As a specialist in anxiety, trauma, and attachment therapy based in Los Angeles, I am dedicated to guiding individuals like you through the transformative process of IFS therapy. My approach is tailored to meet you where you are, helping you navigate the complexities of life with compassion, understanding, and practical tools for change.
I’m passionate about supporting individuals who identify as perfectionists or people pleasers, as well as those working through the complexities of friendships and romantic relationships. Additionally, I specialize in helping those who have faced the challenges of growing up with emotionally immature or unavailable parents. I am here to help guide you to recognize and change the subconscious patterns limiting your potential. I want to help empower you to live the fulfilling life you deserve.
If you’re in Los Angeles and looking for a therapist who combines IFS with a direct, engaging, and effective approach, I’m here to help. Let’s start this journey together. Contact me to explore how IFS therapy can unlock your path to healing and self-discovery.
