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Internal Family Systems · Toronto
IFS therapy in Toronto for high-functioning professionals
IFS (Internal Family Systems) is a depth-oriented model of psychotherapy that works with the different "parts" of you, the ones that manage, the ones that react, and the younger parts that carry old hurt, around a calm, wise core Self. Rather than only working on symptoms at the surface, we get to know what is driving them underneath.
Many of the people I work with look like they have it together, capable, the ones others rely on, while quietly carrying anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, or a sense of being disconnected from themselves. Those patterns are usually run by hard-working protective parts that learned, long ago, that safety came from achieving and never letting up.
In IFS, we don't fight those parts. We get to know them with curiosity and care, understand what they've been carrying, and help them relax, so you can live from your core Self instead of your defenses.
For couples: IFIO
For couples, I work with IFIO, Intimacy from the Inside Out, the IFS-based couples model. It helps you both see the protective parts driving your conflict cycles, so you can speak and hear each other from a calmer, more open place. I'm certified in both IFS and IFIO.
Why work with me
Most of the people I work with are thoughtful and self-reliant, used to figuring things out on their own, which is often exactly why the usual advice hasn't worked. My background is in neuroscience, and my training is in depth-oriented work: psychodynamic psychotherapy at the Toronto Institute of Contemporary Psychoanalysis, Internal Family Systems, and IFIO for couples.
I've also worked in community mental health, a hospital psychiatric unit, and crisis and suicide prevention, so I can stay steady with whatever you bring, however dark or tangled it feels. I bring lived understanding alongside the clinical training.
I'm Sevil Rahnama, a Registered Psychotherapist (RP, CRPO #15112). Clients describe me as warm, playful, intuitive, and real. I'll support you fully, and I won't let your stuck parts run the show. Sessions are available in English and Farsi.
Common questions about IFS therapy
What is IFS therapy?
IFS (Internal Family Systems) is a model of psychotherapy developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz. It is based on the idea that the mind is naturally made up of 'parts', around a core Self that is calm, curious, and able to lead. Some parts (managers) try to keep you in control day to day; some (firefighters) react when things feel overwhelming; and younger, more vulnerable parts (exiles) carry old hurt. Rather than only managing symptoms on the surface, IFS helps you get to know these parts and what they are protecting, so your Self can lead.
Can IFS help with high-functioning anxiety and perfectionism?
In IFS, patterns like high-functioning anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout are often understood as protective parts that learned, frequently early in life, that safety came from achieving and staying in control. Instead of trying to override those parts, IFS gets to know them. Many people find that approach fits when 'just cope better' advice has not helped, though whether it is the right fit for you is something you and Sevil would explore together.
How is IFS different from CBT?
They are different approaches, and neither is 'better'. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. IFS works with your internal parts and the protective roles they play, with the aim of helping your core Self lead. They suit different people and goals, and some people combine them. Sevil's primary training is in IFS and psychodynamic psychotherapy.
What is 'parts work'?
'Parts work' is an everyday name for IFS. It means getting to know the different parts of you, including the ones that feel anxious, critical, exhausted, or protective, and helping them feel understood so they can relax.
What is IFIO couples therapy?
IFIO (Intimacy from the Inside Out) is an IFS-based approach to working with couples. It helps partners notice the protective parts driving their conflict cycles, so they can speak and listen from a calmer, more open place. Sevil is certified in IFIO.
How much does IFS therapy cost in Toronto, and is it online?
Sessions are $175 for individuals and $225 for couples (50 minutes), available in person at 692 Euclid Ave in Toronto and online across Ontario. As a Registered Psychotherapist, Sevil's sessions are HST-exempt, and many extended-health plans cover Registered Psychotherapist services.
Curious whether IFS is right for you?
The first meeting is free, a relaxed 20 to 30 minutes for us to meet and see if we're the right fit. You don't need to have it all figured out to reach out.