What is your relationship with counting, checking, washing, or reassurance seeking? How do you feel about exactness? Do you tend to worry about perceived catastrophic events? How many visits to your family doctor or ER have you made in the last month, last week? Are some thoughts so shameful that you fear telling others? Do you replay an event repeatedly, yet relief does not come? Do you take responsibility for things you know are logically out of your control? Perhaps you find yourself scouring the internet for hours, even days, searching for that elusive "right feeling." I understand the quest for that feeling all too well.
These are just a few of the questions we may explore together in our sessions.

In Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, these behaviors and thought patterns can be understood as protective parts. Each part serves a specific role in managing and mitigating perceived threats or anxieties. For example, counting or checking behaviors may be carried out by a "manager" part that seeks to maintain control and prevent harm. Washing rituals could be a way for another part to soothe distress or avoid perceived contamination. Reassurance seeking may involve a part that seeks validation or relief from uncertainty.

Many individuals may incorrectly label these behaviors as OCD when, in fact, they may be manifestations of internal conflicts and protective roles played by different parts within the internal system. Through IFS therapy, we can explore these parts with compassion and curiosity, understanding their origins and the underlying emotions they aim to manage. By developing a relationship of trust and understanding with these parts, we can work towards integration and harmony within the internal system.
Our work together may involve helping these protective parts feel safe enough to step back, allowing the core Self to lead and make decisions. This process often involves addressing trauma or past experiences that have shaped these protective parts' roles. As we navigate these complexities, I am here to provide support, guidance, and a safe space for you to explore and understand the inner workings of your mind and emotions.