IFS and Grief Therapy
IFS and grief therapy in Wheaton, Illinois for adults navigating loss, bereavement, and complex grief. Evidence-based Internal Family Systems therapy supports emotional processing, self-compassion, and healing at a pace that feels safe and manageable.
How Does Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Support Grief?
When we experience loss, it’s common for different internal “parts” of ourselves to respond in various ways. You might have a part that feels immense sadness, another that’s angry, and maybe even one that tries to push the pain away. IFS provides a gentle, structured way to connect with and understand these parts, helping you honor each emotion without becoming overwhelmed by them.
Through IFS, you can learn to hold space for your grief while cultivating a sense of self-compassion. This process can help you feel more grounded and resilient, allowing you to move forward without feeling like you’re leaving your loved one or loss behind.
- For: Adults navigating grief, bereavement, and life after loss
- Concerns: Sadness, anger, guilt, numbness, anxiety, overwhelm, complicated grief
- Approach: Internal Family Systems (IFS), compassionate, evidence-based care
- Sessions: In-person or telehealth
- Location: Wheaton, IL & virtual across Illinois
- Insurance: BCBS, Blue Choice, United, Cigna
What Can Make Grief Feel Harder Over Time?
Grief is a deeply personal process, and there’s no right or wrong way to experience it. However, certain behaviors can make healing more difficult. Here are a few things to avoid:
Suppress your emotions
Rush the grieving process
Judge Your Feelings
Gaining social support and asking for help
Remember, it’s okay to not be okay. Grieving is not about “getting over” a loss but about learning how to carry it in a way that feels manageable and meaningful for you.
What Is the Family Systems Approach to Understanding Grief?
Family Systems Theory offers a unique perspective on grief, recognizing that it’s not just an individual experience but one that ripples through the entire family. When one member of a family experiences a loss, it can affect the roles, dynamics, and communication patterns within the whole group. For example, one person might step into a caretaker role, while another might withdraw to process their emotions alone.
Unresolved grief can sometimes create tension or misunderstandings within the family system. Therapy based on Family Systems Theory helps families navigate these shifts and address grief collectively. By fostering open communication and understanding, families can support one another, restore balance, and even strengthen their connections in the face of loss.
Our Approach
At Sarah Cline & Associates, we understand that grief is a deeply personal and often overwhelming journey. Losing someone or something dear to us can shake the foundation of our lives, leaving us feeling untethered. But you don’t have to face this alone.
Our team is here to support you with warmth, empathy, and evidence-based approaches, including Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, to help you process and navigate your loss in a way that feels authentic to you.
How IFS and Grief Therapy Works
Consultation & Intake
We begin with an initial consultation to understand what brings you to therapy and how grief is showing up in your life. This first step focuses on helping you feel safe, supported, and informed about the process moving forward.
Understanding Your Grief Experience
Early sessions explore your unique experience of loss, including emotional responses, internal conflicts, and protective coping patterns. Using an Internal Family Systems (IFS) framework, therapy helps identify different “parts” of you that may be carrying pain, fear, anger, or numbness.
Ongoing Grief Support & Processing
As therapy continues, sessions focus on gently processing grief at a pace that feels manageable. IFS techniques support emotional regulation, self-compassion, and increased understanding of how grief-related parts interact and protect you.
Integration & Meaning-Making
Over time, therapy helps integrate what you’re learning into daily life. This phase may include developing rituals, strengthening internal resources, and finding ways to honor your loss while continuing to live meaningfully.
Continued Support or Transition
Therapy continues for as long as it feels helpful. Together, we regularly revisit goals, adjust focus, and determine next steps—whether that means ongoing grief support, transitioning to another area of therapy, or preparing for closure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IFS therapy safe and effective for grief?
Yes. Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is considered a safe and effective approach for working with grief. It helps individuals understand and relate to different emotional responses to loss without forcing a timeline or pushing emotions away. Many people find IFS especially supportive for complex or long-standing grief.
What issues can IFS and grief therapy help with?
IFS and grief therapy can support individuals experiencing bereavement, complicated grief, sudden loss, anticipatory grief, or unresolved emotional pain related to past losses. It may also help with related concerns such as anxiety, guilt, anger, numbness, or difficulty adjusting to life after loss.
How many therapy sessions do most people need for grief?
The number of sessions varies depending on your needs, the nature of the loss, and your goals for therapy. Some people find short-term support helpful, while others benefit from longer-term therapy to process grief more deeply. Your therapist will regularly check in to adjust the pace and focus as needed.
Is telehealth available for IFS and grief therapy?
Yes. Telehealth sessions are available and can be an effective option for grief therapy. Virtual therapy allows individuals to receive support from the comfort of their own space while still engaging in meaningful, compassionate therapeutic work.
Do I need to be in crisis to start grief therapy?
No. You do not need to be in crisis to begin therapy. Many people seek grief therapy to better understand their emotions, feel less alone, or receive support during a difficult transition. Therapy can be helpful whether your loss is recent or occurred in the past.
Sources
-
American Psychological Association (APA): Grief and Loss — Evidence-based information on grief, bereavement, and how therapy can support individuals coping with loss.
APA: Grief
Feel Heard, Feel Safe, Feel Better - Contact Us
In-Person Sessions
2100 Manchester Rd. Suite 501-1
Wheaton, IL. 60187
Virtual Sessions
Throughout Illinois