1.Jessica Van der Merwe, LPC, LMHCVerified
(360) 818-8322
6011 NE Oregon St, Portland, OR 97213
ADHD · Anger Management · Anxiety
proteacounselingpnw.com · orcounselors.com/provider/jessica-van-der-merwe
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapists in Oregon
5,942 providers found
Internal Family Systems (IFS) also matches related specialties: Family Systems, Family Therapy, Family Conflict, Structural Family Therapy. Results below include all of them.
RelatedAttachment-based (125)Somatic (100)Family Systems (72)Family Therapy (63)Experiential Therapy (27)Family Conflict (24)Structural Family Therapy (20)Family Systems (15)
Find Oregon therapists who practice Internal Family Systems (IFS).
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a relationally-grounded psychotherapy developed by Richard Schwartz that treats the psyche as a system of distinct "parts" (subpersonalities) coordinated by a core Self. As of April 2026, 5,942 Oregon therapists on this directory practice IFS. 1,030 offer telehealth, 400 accept Oregon Health Plan, 29 offer sliding-scale fees, and 108 are currently accepting new clients. IFS distinguishes between protective parts (the inner critic, the perfectionist, the people-pleaser, the part that uses food/work/substances), wounded parts holding shame, fear, or grief from earlier in life, and the Self — calm, curious, compassionate, courageous by default. The work is to build trust between Self and the protective parts so they relax their grip and let Self approach the wounded parts. IFS has growing evidence for depression, trauma, eating disorders, and chronic self-criticism, and is now Level 1 / Level 2 trained by hundreds of Oregon therapists.
5,942providers listed
Licensed& verified
Telehealthoptions
OHP & insuranceaccepted
Refine
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Internal Family Systems (IFS)Related: Family SystemsRelated: Family Therapy
Shannon White is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Oregon-approved supervisor who provides therapy for individuals, couples, and families. She specializes in working from a systemic and relational…
Verified
Accepting
Fee
$185–$200 /session
In-network
Verified
Verified
Internal Family Systems (IFS)Related: Family Systems
You want to appear like you’re happy, calm and confident, but deep down you feel like life is passing you by and you can’t keep u. You may be fed up with feeling disconnected from yourself, burned out, or like…
Accepting
Fee
$100–$150 /session
In-network
Verified
Supervisor
Related: Family SystemsRelated: Family Therapy
Over the years, I've had the opportunity to work with a variety of individuals and families with a wide range of backgrounds, goals, and concerns. I aim to work with clients who are committed to the process of…
Video Introductions
Meet these providers before you reach out.
Related Articles
From Oregon providers writing about this topic.
Hello from Advanced Billing Solutions
Hello everyone! I'm Cora, owner of Advanced Billing Solutions. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and say how happy I am to be part of this community. I've worked in medical billing for over 28 years, with the last 15 years specializing exclusively in behavioral health. Before…
Borderline Personality Disorder Is More Treatable Than Its Reputation
If there is one thing more people should know about borderline personality disorder, it is that its hopeless reputation is decades out of date. BPD is still spoken of, sometimes even within the mental health professions, as though it were a life sentence. The modern research says otherwise: with specialized…
Growing Together: Updates, New Programs & Ways to Get Involved (July 2026 Newsletter)
Welcome to the very first Facing Giants newsletter! First, thank you. Whether you've toured the space, attended an event, seen us at a community event, brought your child to play, partnered with us, sponsored our mission, facilitated a program, begun using the space to serve your own clients or grow…
How to License a Withdrawal Management Program in Oregon
Most licensing guides for Oregon behavioral health programs point operators toward the same two rule sets: the outpatient Certificate of Approval process and the residential substance use disorder rules in OAR chapter 309, division 19. Withdrawal management gets treated as a subheading inside the residential conversation. That is a mistake…
The AI Feature I Chose Not to Build
As a therapist, I have complicated feelings about artificial intelligence. When AI became widely available, I was both fascinated and uneasy. Like a lot of people, I wondered where it would take us. Would it improve people's lives? Replace jobs? Weaken human connection? Change healthcare? I still don't know the…
When should I talk to a therapist about gender identity?
Have you ever wondered if the discontentment or discomfort about your body or perceived identity could be gender dysphoria? For most of us, we are not offered that kind of language or conceptualization to name it for what it is. Before we get into it, let’s differentiate between dysphoria and…
Internal Family Systems (IFS) — key facts & evidence
Researched data on this topic, every figure links to its source.
U.S.
IFS (Internal Family Systems), created by Richard C. Schwartz, is a psychotherapy model that views every person as a system of protective and wounded inner 'parts' guided by a core 'Self.'
Source: IFS InstituteU.S.
In 2015, IFS was posted on the U.S. federal NREPP registry (as of Nov 23, 2015), rated 'effective' for general functioning and well-being and 'promising' for anxiety, depression, and physical-health symptoms.
Source: Foundation for Self Leadership (citing the NREPP listing) (2015)U.S.
IFS is described as 'a practice with emerging evidence': proponents note early outcomes still need confirmation by further studies, and the NREPP registry itself was later discontinued by SAMHSA in 2018.
Source: Foundation for Self Leadership (2015)U.S.
A 2013 randomized trial (79 adults with rheumatoid arthritis) found IFS improved pain and physical function post-treatment, with self-compassion and depressive symptoms still improved one year later versus an education control.
Source: Shadick et al., The Journal of Rheumatology (2013)U.S.
The IFS Institute states evidence comes mainly from small randomized and single-arm studies, with positive pilot results in depression and PTSD, while noting the current body of research remains limited in scope.
Source: IFS Institute (Research)Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this coverage in Oregon.
How many Oregon therapists specialize in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy?
As of April 2026, there are 67 therapists in Oregon who specialize in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, providing clients with an evidence-based approach to addressing internal conflicts and fostering self-compassion.
Do Oregon IFS therapists accept the Oregon Health Plan?
Yes, 23 IFS therapists in Oregon accept the Oregon Health Plan (OHP) as of April 2026. This can potentially reduce the cost of therapy for eligible clients, making IFS more accessible.
Is telehealth available for IFS therapy in Oregon?
As of April 2026, 51 IFS therapists in Oregon offer telehealth services, allowing clients to engage in IFS therapy from the comfort of their homes, regardless of their location within the state.
Do Oregon IFS therapists offer sliding scale fees?
Yes, 29 IFS therapists in Oregon offer sliding scale fees as of April 2026, which can help clients access therapy based on their income, making IFS therapy more financially accessible.
Are Oregon IFS therapists accepting new clients?
As of April 2026, 61 IFS therapists in Oregon are currently accepting new clients. This means that there is a significant capacity for new individuals seeking IFS therapy in the state.
Is IFS the same as having multiple personalities?
No — IFS describes a normal feature of how minds work, not a clinical disorder. Everyone has parts: a part of you that wants to go to bed early, a part that wants to stay up watching another episode, a part that's anxious about tomorrow, a part that's excited. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) involves dissociated parts that can take over without the person's awareness, with significant amnesia between them — that's a specific trauma-driven condition. IFS for the average client is just a vocabulary for what's already there.
Why is IFS getting popular now?
Three reasons. First, the evidence base has built up over the last decade — IFS is now an evidence-based practice on the SAMHSA registry. Second, it integrates well with somatic and trauma-informed work, which is the direction the field has been moving. Third, it's experientially powerful and clients tend to feel meaningful shifts faster than with cognitive-only approaches. Many Oregon therapists got Level 1 trained in 2018–2024 and IFS is now one of the most-requested modalities here.
Do I need to find a Level 1 or Level 2 IFS-trained therapist?
Level 1 is the foundational official training (about 90 hours over 6–12 months). Level 2 is advanced specialty training (trauma, couples, eating disorders). Either can do effective IFS work. Many therapists have done substantial self-study and consultation without formal levels — you can ask directly: "What's your IFS training, and how regularly do you do consultation?" Both questions tell you what you need to know.
What is the difference between family systems therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS)?
They sound alike but work differently. Family systems therapy, such as the Bowen or structural approaches, treats the family as the unit and looks at roles, patterns, and relationships between its members. Internal Family Systems treats one person and works with the different 'parts' inside them, led by a core Self. Many Oregon therapists practice one or both, so it helps to ask which a therapist uses.
Oregon Counselors Directory features 5,942 therapists specializing in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy across Oregon. These therapists use an evidence-based approach that views the mind as a community of sub-personalities, working to help clients understand and heal internal conflicts. With 51 of these providers offering telehealth, Oregonians in both urban and rural areas can access IFS therapy from the comfort of their homes. 23 IFS therapists accept the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), which is Oregon's Medicaid program, and 49 offer sliding scale fees, making IFS therapy more accessible to a wider range of income levels. Currently, 61 IFS therapists are accepting new clients, and 55 provide in-person sessions as well.