Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy in Ajax, Oshawa & Across Ontario
Expert IFS therapy in Ajax, Oshawa & across Ontario. Heal trauma, quiet your inner critic & transform painful patterns. We have Internal Family Systems therapists who help with anxiety, perfectionism, people pleasing, relationships, impulse control, childhood wounds, and more.
In Person Therapy in Ajax & Oshawa
Virtual Therapy Across Ontario
Get Matched With a Therapist Within 24 Hours
Do You Second-Guess Everything You Think and Do?
You might look confident and happy on the outside, but inside you feel lonely, sad, or like something's missing. You have a harsh inner critic that won't quiet down no matter what you try. You're tired of feeling at war with yourself.
Does This Sound Familiar?
Do you second-guess everything you think and do?
Do you feel confident and happy on the outside, but lonely and sad within?
Do you have a harsh inner critic that won't quiet down?
Do different parts of you seem to want completely different things?
Have you tried self-help, strategies, and habits that only address the surface?
Do you sometimes feel like a fraud or worry that something is fundamentally wrong with you?
Are you exhausted from trying to manage anxiety, perfectionism, or people-pleasing on your own?
This inner conflict feels tiring, confusing, and isolating. It can feel like it will never end—like you're stuck in patterns that keep repeating no matter how hard you work to change them.
Here's what you need to know: Self-help, coping strategies, and habits only address the surface. They don't do anything to address—and rewire—the automatic thoughts and feelings that come from deep learnings wired into you through life experiences. Those have to be understood, tended to, and given a new way to operate instead of just managing symptoms.
That's where Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy comes in.
You're Not Broken—Your Parts Are Trying to Protect You
If you're struggling with inner conflict, self-criticism, or feeling stuck in painful patterns, you're not alone. Just about everyone we've ever met has a voice inside that sometimes makes them doubt themselves—and sometimes makes them hate themselves.
Everyone Has Parts
We already talk in "parts language" every day without realizing it:
"A part of me wants to go to the party, a part of me wants to stay home and relax."
"Part of me knows I deserve better, but another part is terrified of being alone."
"I want to set boundaries, but something inside won't let me."
These aren't just figures of speech—they're real. We all have different parts of ourselves that developed over time to help us survive, cope, and navigate the world.
Protective Parts Develop Through Experience
Your parts aren't the problem. They developed through your life experiences—through moments when you needed protection, when you learned what was and wasn't safe, when you figured out how to get your needs met or avoid pain.
These protective parts hold on to those memory states. They're always reacting as if they're still going through that same experience, even when the circumstances have changed. That's why you might find yourself:
Responding to present-day situations with emotions that feel too big
Avoiding things that logically you know are safe
Repeating relationship patterns that hurt you
Hearing an inner critic that sounds like someone from your past
This isn't your fault. Your parts are doing exactly what they learned to do to keep you safe. They just haven't updated their strategies to match who you are now.
For the Harsh Inner Critic
If you're constantly battling a voice in your head that tells you you're not good enough, IFS doesn't just teach you to "think more positively." Instead, we work directly with that critical part to understand what it's actually trying to protect you from.
Often, the inner critic developed to keep you safe from rejection, failure, or shame. Once we help that part see that you're no longer in the situation where those threats were real, it can relax. The criticism quiets naturally—not because you're forcing it away, but because it no longer feels necessary.
How IFS Therapy Transforms Specific Struggles
For Trauma That Won’t Heal
One of the most powerful aspects of IFS is that you don't have to relive your trauma to heal from it. We work gently with your protective parts first, building trust and safety, before ever approaching the wounded parts that carry the trauma.
When those hurt parts are ready—and only when they're ready—we help them release the burdens they've been carrying. We give them what they needed back then but didn't get: validation, protection, love, safety.
This process rewires your brain's understanding of those experiences. The memories don't disappear, but they stop controlling you. The automatic reactions fade. You finally feel free.
For People Stuck in Painful Relationship Patterns
Maybe you keep choosing partners who aren't available, or you sabotage yourself right when things are going well, or you can't stop overworking even though you're exhausted.
IFS helps you understand that these patterns aren't character flaws—they're protective strategies that made sense at one point in your life. We'll work with the parts driving these patterns to understand what they're protecting and what they're afraid of. Then we can help them find new, healthier ways to meet those needs.
Need to talk about it first?
We’re here for you. Schedule a consultation.
What Issues Does IFS Therapy Help With?
Internal Family Systems therapy is particularly effective for:
Anxiety and depression
Inner critic and low self-esteem
Relationship patterns and struggles
Perfectionism and people-pleasing
Loneliness and feeling disconnected from yourself
Grief and loss
ADHD and impulse control
Substance use and compulsive behaviors
Trauma and complex trauma
If you’re struggling with any of these issues, you're not alone.
And you don't have to keep struggling with it by yourself.
All we need is your name and email address and we can match you with a therapist within 24 hours.
How Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Works
What Is IFS Therapy?
Internal Family Systems therapy is based on a powerful truth: Every one of us is born with a core Self that is wise, confident, creative, strong, and compassionate.
We're all born with that Self, and then we develop protective parts as we go throughout life. That Self is always there—it never leaves. It just gets harder and harder to access the more active and stronger your protective parts become.
IFS therapy helps bring those parts into the present so they can stop living in the past, relax, and finally get the love, protection, and safety they've been longing for. When that happens, they can step back and let your Self be in control again.
What Happens in IFS Therapy Sessions
IFS work involves deeper understanding of who you are as a whole person and developing self-compassion for all the different parts of you and all the different experiences you've had.
In our sessions together, we'll:
Identify your parts: We'll notice which parts show up most often—the inner critic, the perfectionist, the people-pleaser, the one who shuts down, the one who gets angry.
Understand their protective roles: We'll explore what each part is trying to protect you from and what they're afraid will happen if they stop doing their job.
Access your Self: We'll help you connect with that wise, compassionate core that's been buried under all the protective noise.
Heal wounded parts: We'll give the hurt, scared, lonely parts of you the attention, validation, and care they've needed all along—often for the first time.
How IFS Is Different from Traditional Talk Therapy
Traditional talk therapy often focuses on understanding your problems intellectually, learning coping skills, or managing symptoms. Those approaches can be helpful, but they don't always create lasting change.
IFS is a true transformative trauma therapy because it works on what we call memory reconsolidation. This means we're not just giving you skills to deal with your issues—we're actually rewriting how your brain understands, feels, and responds to them.
Instead of just learning to manage your anxiety or quiet your inner critic temporarily, IFS helps you:
Rewrite the narrative and your core beliefs about who you think you are
Transform how you move through the world
Access genuine self-love and self-compassion (not just positive self-talk)
Create sustainable change that doesn't require constant effort to maintain
IFS can help you get to a place where you can enthusiastically and truthfully say: "I love myself."
What Clients Say About IFS Therapy
Clients often tell us that IFS therapy feels different from anything they've tried before. They describe finally understanding themselves in a way that makes sense. They talk about their inner critic getting quieter, their anxiety becoming more manageable, and—most importantly—developing genuine compassion for themselves.
One client shared: "I came to therapy after years of trying everything else. IFS helped me understand why I was stuck in the same patterns. For the first time, I actually like myself."
Expert IFS Therapists Across Ajax, Oshawa & Ontario
At The Relationship Agency, we have a team of skilled IFS therapists serving Ajax, Oshawa, Durham Region, and all of Ontario through virtual therapy sessions. Our therapists specialize in:
ADHD: Helping you understand the parts that drive impulsivity, distraction, or shame around ADHD
Grief and loss: Working with the parts carrying sadness, anger, or stuck mourning
Childhood trauma: Healing wounded parts that developed in response to early experiences
Impulse control and substance use: Understanding protective parts that use substances or behaviors to cope
Relationship struggles: Transforming parts that create conflict, distance, or painful patterns in relationships
Supporting healthcare professionals and first responders: Working with the unique parts and burdens that develop in high-stress, caregiving roles
Therapist support: Offering IFS therapy for other therapists working through their own parts and healing
Why Choose The Relationship Agency for IFS Therapy?
When you work with us, you get:
Trained IFS therapists: Our team has specialized training in Internal Family Systems therapy and uses it as a primary treatment approach
Matched in 24 hours: We don't have waitlists—we match you with the right IFS therapist for your needs within one business day
Flexible options: In-person sessions in Ajax and Oshawa, or virtual therapy anywhere in Ontario
Integrated approach: We combine IFS with other evidence-based therapies like EMDR, somatic work, and attachment-based approaches when helpful
Trauma-informed care: Our entire practice is built on understanding how trauma impacts your nervous system and parts
All of Your Questions About IFS Therapy
-
No. Having parts is completely normal and universal—we all have them. Multiple personality disorder (now called Dissociative Identity Disorder) is a rare and severe condition that's very different from the parts we work with in IFS.
In IFS, parts are different aspects of your personality that developed over time, not separate identities. You remain fully aware and in control throughout the process.
-
Many of our IFS clients come to us after trying traditional talk therapy, medication, self-help books, and coping strategies without getting the deep healing they were looking for.
IFS often works when other approaches haven't because it addresses the root cause—the protective parts and wounded parts driving your struggles—rather than just managing symptoms. If you're willing to do the work and go deeper, IFS can create the transformation you've been seeking.
-
This varies depending on what you're working on and how many parts need attention. Some clients notice shifts within the first few sessions as they start understanding their parts differently. Deeper healing—especially from complex trauma—typically takes longer, often 6-12 months or more of consistent work.
The good news is that the changes you make in IFS therapy tend to be lasting because you're rewiring your brain's understanding, not just learning temporary coping skills.
-
Absolutely not. One of the beautiful aspects of IFS is that it's incredibly gentle and respectful of your pace. We never force you to go into traumatic memories before you're ready.
We work with your protective parts first, building safety and trust. Only when those parts give permission do we approach the wounded parts carrying trauma—and even then, we work carefully to avoid re-traumatization. You remain in control throughout the entire process.
-
That's okay—many people feel skeptical at first. The truth is, you don't have to "believe in" parts for IFS to work. You just have to be willing to try the approach and notice what happens.
Most people find that once they start the work, the parts language makes sense because it matches their actual experience. You'll likely recognize the different voices, feelings, and reactions we talk about because they've been there all along—you just didn't have a framework to understand them.
-
Sessions are $175 for 50 minutes. Many extended health insurance plans in Ontario cover therapy with registered social workers and psychotherapists. We provide receipts for insurance submission.
Start Your IFS Therapy Journey in Ajax, Oshawa & Across Ontario
You don't have to keep living at war with yourself. You don't have to settle for surface-level fixes that don't create real change. Internal Family Systems therapy can help you transform your relationship with yourself—and finally experience the self-love and peace you deserve.
Whether you're in Ajax, Oshawa, Whitby, Pickering, or anywhere across Ontario, our team of expert IFS therapists is ready to support your healing journey.
Take the First Step Today
We offer a free 20-minute consultation call where you can:
Share what you're struggling with and what you're hoping to change
Learn more about how IFS therapy works and whether it's right for you
Ask any questions about our approach, our therapists, or the therapy process
Get matched with an IFS therapist who specializes in your specific needs
There's no pressure, no obligation—just a chance to explore whether IFS therapy might be the transformative approach you've been looking for.
The Relationship Agency
Serving Ajax, Oshawa, Durham Region & All of Ontario
Virtual & In-Person IFS Therapy Available
Ready to get started? Contact us today. We'll match you with the right IFS therapist within 24 hours—no waitlist, no hassle. Just compassionate, expert care that can help you finally love yourself.
IFS Therapy Locations:
In-Person IFS Therapy: Ajax • Oshawa
Virtual IFS Therapy Across Ontario: Toronto • Scarborough • Markham • Whitby • Pickering • Bowmanville • Courtice • Durham Region • Greater Toronto Area • All of Ontario
Internal Family Systems Therapy Services:
IFS Therapy • Internal Family Systems Therapy • Parts Work Therapy • Trauma Therapy • ADHD Therapy • Childhood Trauma Therapy • Grief Therapy • Anxiety Therapy • Depression Therapy • Self-Esteem Therapy • Relationship Therapy • IFS Therapist Ajax • IFS Therapist Oshawa • Virtual IFS Therapist Ontario