IFIO Relational Therapy: Strengthen Bonds and Foster Deep Connection

Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO) is a therapy designed for use in relationships - couples, friendships, work relationships, parent/child relationships, or any other relationship dynamic that has become challenging. IFIO takes IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy, and expands it to systems outside of one person. By focusing on what is happening internally instead of the behaviors that show up externally, IFIO addresses the root of issues between people. It helps us discover the protective nature of our behavior, and gives us insight into what is being protected.

Maybe you have a pattern in your romantic relationship where one person feels like nothing they do is good enough, and another person feels like everything they do is way too much. This may result in what couples therapists refer to as the “distancer/pursuer” dynamic. The person who feels not good enough will often withdraw and pull away to protect themselves from feelings of shame that come up when they receive any kind of feedback from their partner. Meanwhile, the person who feels like they’re too much will battle internally - they will want to approach the situation directly in an attempt to sooth the fear that their partner will leave them; at the same time, they fear that approaching their partner will push them further away. Without talking to one another, it could easily look like both partners don’t care, don’t accept one another, or don’t share the common goal of finding common ground. IFIO helps us uncover these protective strategies and the wounds underneath so that we can extend compassion to one another and connect on a deeper level.

IFIO has several protocols that are used, but the over all goal is to strengthen the connection between people who care about one another deeply, but struggle to communicate that in a way that is received. You can read more about IFIO (Intimacy from the Inside Out) by clicking here.