If you’ve been researching trauma therapy options, you may have encountered terms like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and IFS (Internal Family Systems). But what happens when these two powerful therapeutic approaches work together? As a therapist who specializes in IFS-informed EMDR, I’d like to help you understand how this integrated approach can support your healing journey.

Understanding EMDR Therapy

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a well-researched therapy specifically designed to help people heal from trauma and distressing life experiences. During EMDR sessions, you’ll recall troubling memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as watching a light move back and forth on a light bar. This process helps your brain reprocess traumatic memories so they become less emotionally charged and disruptive to your daily life. Clients find that memories that once felt overwhelming become more manageable after EMDR processing.

What is Internal Family Systems (IFS)?

Internal Family Systems therapy recognizes that we all have different “parts” within us—different aspects of our personality that have taken on roles to help us navigate life’s challenges. For example, you might have a part that works hard to please others, another part that protects you by staying vigilant, and yet another that constantly criticizes you to try to keep you from being criticized by others

In IFS, we also work with what’s called your “Self”—your core essence that is naturally curious, compassionate, and capable of healing. When your Self is in the lead, you can relate to your various parts with understanding and care, rather than being overwhelmed or controlled by them.

The Power of Integration: IFS-Informed EMDR

When I practice IFS-informed EMDR, I’m drawing on the strengths of both approaches to create a more comprehensive healing experience. Here’s how they work together:

Before EMDR Processing: Parts Preparation

Before we begin any EMDR work, we take time to understand which parts of you might be activated by revisiting difficult memories. Some parts might be protective and want to avoid the work entirely, while others might be eager to “get it over with.” Using IFS principles, we ensure all your parts feel heard and that they understand how EMDR can help.

This preparation phase is crucial. When your protective parts trust the process and your Self is in the lead, EMDR processing tends to be more effective and less overwhelming.

During EMDR: Self-Led Processing

As we process memories using EMDR’s bilateral stimulation, I help you stay connected to your Self—that core part of you that can witness your experience with compassion rather than being overwhelmed by it. When difficult emotions or sensations arise, we might pause to check in and notice which parts are activated and what they need.

After EMDR: Integration and Self-Care

After processing, we take time to help your parts integrate what happened during the session. This might involve acknowledging parts that worked hard during the process, or helping protective parts understand that the threat from the original trauma is now in the past.

What This Looks Like in Practice

Let’s say you’re working on a childhood experience where you felt abandoned. In traditional EMDR, we would focus primarily on the memory itself. In IFS-informed EMDR, we might also explore:

• Which parts of you took on roles to help you cope with that abandonment (perhaps a hyper-independent part or a people-pleasing part)
• How those parts are feeling about revisiting this memory
• What those parts need to feel safe during the processing
• How your Self can provide care and understanding to the younger part of you that experienced the abandonment

This integrated approach often leads to deeper, more lasting healing because we’re not just processing the memory—we’re also helping your internal system reorganize in a healthier way.

Is IFS-Informed EMDR Right for You?

This approach can be particularly helpful if you:

• Have complex trauma or multiple traumatic experiences
• Notice that you have different “sides” to your personality that sometimes conflict
• Want to understand not just what happened to you, but how it shaped who you are today
• Are interested in developing a more compassionate relationship with all parts of yourself
• Have tried traditional talk therapy with limited success

The Healing Journey

Healing from trauma isn’t just about making bad memories less painful—it’s about reclaiming your wholeness and developing a loving relationship with all parts of yourself. IFS-informed EMDR recognizes that you are naturally equipped for this healing, and that with the right support, your Self can lead this process.

Both EMDR and IFS are evidence-based approaches with strong research support. When combined thoughtfully, they offer a path toward not just symptom relief, but genuine post-traumatic growth and self-discovery.

If you’re considering trauma therapy, know that you don’t have to carry these burdens alone. Your system—all of your parts and your Self—has incredible wisdom and resilience. Sometimes you just need the right tools and support to access it.

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If you’re interested in learning more about how IFS-informed EMDR might support your healing journey, I invite you to reach out. Every person’s path to healing is unique, and I’m here to help you discover what approach feels right for you.