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Internal Family Systems Therapy in West Palm Beach
A shared foundation across our program, and a lens every clinician brings to the room.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) helps you understand the different parts of yourself, including the one that reaches for a substance. At Sunview it’s woven into group topics and individual sessions for adults in outpatient addiction and dual diagnosis treatment.
What Internal Family Systems Is
You are more than the part that’s struggling
Internal Family Systems is a way of understanding the mind as made up of different parts. One part may push you to keep everything under control. Another may carry old hurt. Another may reach for relief when feelings get too big. Each part developed for a reason, often to protect you.
Underneath the parts is what IFS calls the Self: the calm, curious, compassionate center of who you are. The goal isn’t to get rid of any part. It’s to understand what each one is trying to do, so you can lead from the Self instead of reacting from the part that’s loudest.
At Sunview, IFS is used within our PHP, IOP and OP programs, not as standalone private therapy. If you’re looking for weekly private therapy only, we’ll point you to the right place.
- At the center: the Self, calm, curious and compassionate.
- Around it: the part that protects.
- Around it: the part that gets overwhelmed.
- Around it: the part that reaches for relief.
- Around it: the part that stays in control.
How IFS Is Integrated at Sunview
IFS is one of the shared approaches that gives our programming a common foundation. Because the whole team uses it, the language stays consistent from group to individual sessions, so you don’t have to translate between therapists.
In group topics
IFS is naturally integrated into our group topics. You hear how others describe their parts, notice your own, and practice responding with curiosity instead of judgment, with the same facilitator for the whole session.
Group therapy at SunviewIn individual sessions
Your primary therapist brings IFS concepts into your weekly one-on-one session when it’s clinically appropriate, going further with the parts that came up in group or at home that week.
What to expect in treatmentParts That Protect: IFS and Substance Use
Using often started as a part of you doing its best to protect you, or to meet a need nobody else was meeting.
That doesn’t make the substance harmless. It makes the pattern understandable. When you can see what a part is protecting you from, you can find other ways to meet that need.
This work usually deepens as you get steadier in treatment, once you feel safe enough to look underneath. It’s central to how we approach dual diagnosis treatment.
IFS and Inner Child Work
Inner child work focuses on the younger parts of you that may still carry feelings from childhood, like feeling rejected, unsafe or not good enough. IFS gives that work a shared language: those younger parts are parts too, and they can be understood and cared for.
In practice, that can mean noticing the younger part that still expects rejection, and responding to it with the validation, safety and boundaries it didn’t get back then. It’s work we do at a pace that feels safe for you.
Inner child therapyOne Foundation, Many Ways of Working
Every person is different. So is every clinician.
We don’t require our team to work from one single model, and we don’t apply one model to everyone.
Each clinician brings their own strengths and specialties, while IFS, CBT, DBT and trauma-informed care give everyone a shared foundation.
That mix lets us fit the approach to you, not the other way around. Your therapist chooses what helps, and explains why.
What People Say About Sunview Wellness
Matthew L.
Gabe is awesome! I have had therapists before at other practices and he is one of the most empathetic and down to earth providers I have had. The group facilitators and other staff there are very kind and helpful as well. The support to get you back onto a good mental health path is amazing. Would recommend if you want more help than just a one on one therapist but want to still go home and/or work after.
Erica S.
I just wanted to express my gratitude, every single staff was so kind and compassionate. It took me a while to actually be receptive to the things they were teaching me and trying to help me. But once I was and truly understood and was willing to help myself too it was magic. I’m grateful for them. I’d recommend them to anyone! I also would recommend for Sunview to include same sex groups at least once a week, I believe it helps common issues and resolution insight and connection a more comfortable space for the same sex to connect to each other without feeling judgement or afraid to express their opinions and experiences in front of the other sex. (In my afternoon groups was primary female and it was an amazing experience) so much props to Sunview for giving me the tools and resources to believe myself and better myself! Thank for to every staff member there!!!!
Francina U.
I came to sunview on my own and um glad I came I hot the help that I needed they were very loving and kind to me they lived me when I didn't love my self and I am grateful...
Isaiah A.
Sun view wellness is amazing place supportive come here to get the best care they take care of all your fears and worries.
Angel V.
Very helpful and attentive people who care to see you get better through your rough time in life.
IFS isn’t a separate program you sign up for. It’s a shared part of our clinical model: it’s built into group topics across PHP, IOP and OP, and therapists use it in individual sessions when it fits.
It can be part of trauma work, because it helps you understand parts of you that formed to protect you. Every clinician on our team is trauma-informed, and deeper work happens at a pace that’s safe for you. Trauma and PTSD treatment.
Yes. IFS concepts come up naturally in group topics, so you’ll hear the language and practice it with others. Individual sessions can take it further when your therapist thinks it will help.
CBT focuses on thoughts and behaviors and on practical skills to change them. IFS looks at the parts of you behind those thoughts and behaviors and what each is trying to do for you. We use both. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
No. You don’t need any background. Your therapist and group facilitator introduce the ideas in plain language as you go.
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A true outpatient model for real life. Call or send a message: we listen first, check your insurance for free, and help you work out the right level of care. Free door-to-door transportation is included.