Using Somatic Practices to Support IFS in the Therapy Room
Your Inner Team Has a Body Too
Play the audio version on Substack →
This week’s Tend to it Tuesday explored the powerful integration of somatic therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS). Today, I want to reflect on what it means from the therapist’s perspective to work with clients who are building relationships with their internal parts through the body.
I often meet people who are already familiar with IFS, either from previous therapy, books, or social media. They’ve connected with the idea of an inner “team” and sometimes even know the names and patterns of their protectors, managers, or exiles. But they’ll still say something like:
“I get it intellectually… but I can’t feel it.”
“I know my inner critic is there, but it’s like it hijacks me anyway.”
This is where somatic work can make a difference.
🏋The Body Can Be the Map
When we bring somatic therapy into parts work, we start to notice how each part leaves a footprint in the body.
A part might show up as:
Tightness in the chest
A clenched jaw before a session
Sudden fatigue after a conversation
A heat or flutter in the belly when making decisions
Instead of going straight to interpretation, we slow down and listen to the physical experience. That’s often where the relationship begins — not in story or analysis, but in sensation and presence.
In sessions, I might say:
“Can we stay with that tightness for a moment and ask if it has something to say?”
“Is there a shape or colour to that feeling?”
“What would it be like to put a little space around that sensation?”
This isn’t about forcing catharsis or prying parts open. It’s about creating enough safety for them to soften — and maybe speak.
🛋️ In the Therapy Room
Somatic and IFS integration can be especially helpful for clients who:
Feel disconnected from their emotions
Struggle with dissociation or “numbing out”
Have a harsh inner critic that feels fused or stuck
Long for a deeper sense of self-compassion
It’s also helpful for therapists navigating their own responses. If I notice tension in my shoulders or a drop in my energy mid-session, I’ll often check in with my own system:
“Is one of my parts activated right now?”
“What does my body need to stay present and grounded?”
The work isn’t about becoming immune to emotional charge — it’s about building capacity to stay curious in the face of it.
✨ A Practice for Therapists and Clients
If you’re a therapist, supervisor, or clinician-in-training, here’s a self-inquiry to try:
Before your next session, take 1–2 minutes to scan your body.
Ask: “What part of me is showing up today?”
Notice where you feel that part, and whether it’s here to help, protect, or warn.
Offer it a breath of appreciation. You don’t have to fix it — just acknowledge it.
Small moments like this build the bridge between your somatic experience and your internal team.
📣 Call to Action
Curious what your parts are holding or how your body might be speaking through them?
Whether you’re new to IFS or already deep into parts work, your system deserves a safe place to explore.
