What do you do when your go-to EMDR tools just aren't enough?

Maybe you have a client with complex developmental trauma, whose sense of self feels shattered into a thousand pieces

Or a client whose inner critic is so loud and relentless, it's hard for them to access the adaptive information needed for reprocessing.

In these moments, what should you do?

How can you help your clients break through the barriers keeping them stuck?

Enter Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.

If you’re not already familiar with this approach, IFS is a powerful model that views the mind as a system of distinct subpersonalities or "parts." Each part serves an important role and has its own unique perspective, emotions, and motivations.

The goal of IFS is not to eliminate or suppress these parts, but rather to help them work together in harmony under the leadership of the client's core Self (the wise, compassionate essence at the center of every person's being - or perhaps in EMDR terms: the inner healer).

So how would an IFS-informed provider approach EMDR?

As it turns out, quite a lot!

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IFS Enhances the Preparation Phase

In standard EMDR protocol, the preparation phase focuses on establishing safety, stabilization, and resourcing before diving into trauma reprocessing.

But bringing an IFS lens to this phase can help you go even deeper in building your client's internal resources and resilience. When you get to know their different parts and help those parts feel seen, heard, and appreciated, you're essentially strengthening the client's fundamental relationship with themselves.

This can create a more solid foundation for the challenging work of desensitization and reprocessing down the line.

In my experience, the most relevant part here is the “protector part”, which may seek to protect the client from experiencing difficult emotions and complicate progress toward further EMDR phases. A common strategy used by EMDR therapists is “befriending the protector” - and there are entire trainings on this!

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IFS Can Help Overcome Blocked Processing

We've all had those sessions where we're in the thick of desensitization, bilateral stimulation is underway... and suddenly, everything grinds to a halt.

The client's SUDs aren't budging, no new information is coming up, and you can practically feel the emotional charge getting stuck in the nervous system.

IFS can offer a way forward.

Often, what's blocking processing is that protective part that's not yet on board with the healing process - a part that's afraid that reprocessing the trauma will lead to overwhelm, re-injury, or some other catastrophe.

Using cognitive interweaves and respectfully engaging with that part, listening to its concerns, and enlisting its permission and cooperation (befriending it), you can help your client's system reorganize itself in a way that allows the blocked material to start moving again.

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IFS Can Address Perpetrator Introjects (and Other Challenging Parts of Self)

One of the most powerful applications of IFS-informed EMDR, is working with clients who have internalized their abusers or taken on the negative messages of their trauma.

These perpetrator introjects can show up as viciously self-hating voices, parts that reenact traumatic dynamics, or somatic experiences of internal violation or disgust. Trying to push through and reprocess the associated memories without first addressing these parts can prove to be challenging for the client, and possibly retraumatizing.

But by using IFS techniques to create internal safety and cultivate Self-to-part relationships first, you can help your client begin to separate from these introjects and reclaim their true identity.

From there, EMDR reprocessing of specific perpetrator-related memories can be much more tolerable and effective, as the client's system is no longer so fused with the abuser's energy and messages.

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IFS Can Support and Reintegrate Exiled Parts

My favorite application of IFS-informed EMDR is when the protector has calmed down and moved out of the way, making way for the client’s Self to connect with their exiled parts.

Typically a much younger, more vulnerable version of themselves, they are able to use EMDR to help that part process and heal, feel seen and understood, and begin to consider leaving that traumatic past behind and join the older, wiser Self now in the present.

It is beautiful to hold space for and witness - and can lead to so much adaptive behavior and experiences for the client moving forward in their lives.

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IFS Can Generate Self-Led Reprocessing

Another neat thing I've seen in my own practice is how IFS and EMDR can come together to generate spontaneous, client-led memory reprocessing... often with very little intervention from me!

As clients get more skilled at accessing Self energy and building trust with their parts, they naturally start to bring more Self-leadership to their EMDR work. They might start a session by reflecting on parts that have been most active recently, or even ask parts directly what they need for healing during desensitization (before I can ask as a cognitive interweave).

Sometimes clients' inner systems organically lead them to the perfect memory, guide them through the most fitting interweaves, and arrive at the most powerful, resonant insights (all with me just holding space and bearing witness).

It's a testament to the deep wisdom and healing intelligence that lives inside all of us - which is at the core understanding of both EMDR and IFS .

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Final Thoughts

Of course, fully integrating IFS and EMDR takes a lot of practice, attunement, and ongoing learning. It's not as simple as just applying a bunch of new techniques.

If you want to create a truly IFS-informed EMDR practice, it's important to really embody the IFS principles of compassionate Self-leadership and radical acceptance of all parts. And as with any new approach, you should also consider solid training, consultation, and support as you build your skills and comfort level. You may even consider working with an IFS-therapist yourself to get first-hand experience.

But if you're ever wanting to bring more depth, nuance, and wholeness to your EMDR work, I can't recommend exploring IFS integration highly enough. In my experience, it's one of the most powerful ways to fully bring out EMDR’s healing potential and help your clients reclaim themselves.

Have you explored IFS in your own EMDR practice?

I’d love to hear about it!

Chris

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