Internal Family Systems Therapist - SF Bay Area
IFS Therapy For Bay Area Adults
You Struggle to be Yourself
Despite all your accomplishments, life often feels like an uphill battle.
You’ve spent so much time striving, achieving, and proving yourself that you’ve lost touch with who you truly are. It’s exhausting—and no matter how hard you try, it feels like “being enough” is just out of reach.
Beneath the surface, there’s a constant ache, a whisper that wonders, Why can’t I just feel at peace with myself?
You have a big inner critic, it’s your constant companion
That voice in your head?
The one that tells you you’re not doing enough, not good enough, not living up to your own impossibly high standards? It’s relentless. It’s always there, judging, pushing, and pressuring you to do better.
Sometimes, it feels like you’re living with a shadow that just won’t leave you alone. It’s exhausting, and even when you try to silence it, it finds a way to creep back in.
You ALWAYS feel like you are fighting yourself.
You long for calm, yet your mind is a jumbled mess.
One part of you is trying to relax, —but another part is dragging you into a cycle of worry, perfectionism, and overthinking.
It’s like there’s a tug-of-war inside you, and you’re the rope. No matter how much you accomplish or how hard you try, you can’t seem to shake the feeling that you’re at war with yourself.
Meet Alex Ly, a Bay Area IFS Therapist
Hi, I’m Alex Ly, and I specialize in helping high-achieving adults like you navigate the inner battles that hold you back. Through Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, I guide clients who struggle with anxiety, perfectionism, and self-criticism to reconnect with their authentic selves.
IFS is a powerful, compassionate approach that helps you understand the different parts of yourself—the inner critic, the perfectionist, the worrier—and create space for healing and transformation. Together, we’ll explore the parts of you that feel stuck in stress or self-doubt, and I’ll help you access the calm, confident core of who you are.
My goal is to help you find relief from the constant push-and-pull within and discover the sense of peace and self-acceptance you’ve been longing for. You don’t have to keep fighting yourself. Through IFS, we’ll work to build a relationship with every part of you, so you can move forward with clarity, purpose, and a deep sense of wholeness.
Let’s find your way back to you.
Take the First Step Toward Finding Your Sense of Self. Schedule an Appointment Today!
Imagine what it would feel like to quiet the relentless inner critic, to stop feeling like you’re constantly fighting yourself, and to finally feel at ease in your own skin. Picture a life where you wake up with clarity, confidence, and a sense of balance—where you’re free to pursue your dreams without the weight of perfectionism or self-doubt holding you back.
That life is possible, and it starts with one step: scheduling your initial intake session.
During this session, we’ll explore what’s really going on beneath the surface and begin to uncover the path toward the calm, connected, and authentic self you’ve been searching for. Let’s work together to create the space you need to breathe, grow, and rediscover who you truly are.
Click below to schedule your intake session and start your journey toward the peace and self-acceptance you deserve.
About IFS Therapy
Areas of Focus for IFS Therapy
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IFS helps you uncover the part of you that believes perfection is the only path to worthiness. We’ll work together to understand why this part feels the need to push so hard and help it find healthier, more compassionate ways to support you.
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That relentless inner critic often stems from a part of you trying to protect you from failure or rejection. IFS allows us to connect with this part, soften its harshness, and help it work with you instead of against you.
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The part of you that always puts others first often comes from a need for connection or approval. Using IFS, we’ll explore its origins, gently shift its role, and help you reclaim your ability to set boundaries and prioritize your needs without guilt.
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Painful experiences from the past can leave parts of you feeling stuck in old patterns of fear or shame. Through IFS, we’ll gently access these parts, offer them the care and healing they need, and help you move forward with a sense of wholeness.
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Anxiety often feels overwhelming because multiple parts of you are stuck in cycles of fear, overthinking, or trying to control the uncontrollable. IFS provides tools to help these parts feel safe and supported, so you can find inner calm and clarity.
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Depression can emerge when parts of you feel hopeless or shut down after carrying too much for too long. IFS creates a safe space to connect with these parts, release their burdens, and help you reconnect with joy and purpose.
Wait, What is Internal Family Systems Therapy?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a way to help you understand and work with the inner conflicts that make life feel so hard.
Do you ever feel like part of you is pushing to do more and be perfect, while another part is exhausted and just wants to stop? Or maybe you have a voice in your head that’s always criticizing you, no matter what you achieve.
These aren’t random thoughts—they’re parts of you, each with their own way of trying to protect you. For example:
Your inner critic might think that pushing you harder will keep you safe from failure.
The part of you that feels anxious might be on high alert, trying to protect you from something going wrong.
IFS helps you understand these parts and what they need. Instead of fighting with them, you’ll learn how to work with them. At the same time, IFS helps you connect to your core Self—the calm, confident part of you that knows how to lead.
When your parts feel understood and supported, the constant inner battles ease up. You’ll feel more balanced, at peace, and in control of your life. That’s what IFS therapy is all about: helping all the parts of you work together so you can feel like yourself again.
How is IFS Therapy different than other types of therapy?
IFS therapy is different from traditional talk therapy because it dives deep into the heart of your struggles. Instead of focusing just on symptoms or surface-level changes, IFS helps you understand the why behind your anxiety, perfectionism, or self-criticism.
Inside all of us are different parts—like the inner critic that pushes you, the part that feels anxious, or the one that’s always people-pleasing. These parts aren’t your enemies; they’ve been trying to protect you, even if it doesn’t always feel that way. With IFS, we’ll work together to understand and heal these parts, so they can stop fighting with each other—and with you.
What makes IFS truly special is that it helps you connect with your core Self—the calm, confident, compassionate part of you that already knows how to lead. This isn’t about me telling you what to do; it’s about you discovering the tools and strength you already have to create real, lasting change.
If you’re ready to stop feeling stuck and start living with more peace, clarity, and confidence, IFS can help you get there.