IFS and EMDR: How These Two Trauma Therapies Work Together
Trauma therapy has grown tremendously in the last decade, and two of the most effective approaches, Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), are frequently discussed as separate modalities. But more therapists are discovering that the two approaches blend together beautifully, especially when working with complex trauma, attachment wounds, and dissociation.
This blog explores how IFS and EMDR complement each other, why they’re so powerful together, and how clients can benefit from an integrated approach.
What Is IFS (Internal Family Systems)?
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a compassionate, non-pathologizing model that views every person as having an internal system made up of “parts,” each with specific roles:
Protectors (Managers and Firefighters)
These parts work hard to keep a person safe, regulated, or distracted from overwhelming feelings.Exiles
These parts carry the burdens of trauma, shame, fear, and unmet needs. They are often young and overwhelmed.
At the core of IFS is the belief that every person has a Self—a calm, compassionate, grounded essence capable of healing the system.
IFS helps clients build a relationship with their internal world, approach wounded parts with curiosity, and unburden trauma in a way that feels respectful, safe, and empowering. You can learn more about it from my last blog.
What Is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)?
EMDR is an evidence-based trauma treatment that uses bilateral stimulation (eye movements, tapping, or sounds) to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories. Instead of reliving trauma, clients process memories until they feel neutral, less distressing, and more integrated.
EMDR is especially effective for:
PTSD and complex trauma
Anxiety
Attachment wounds
Body-based trauma responses
Flashbacks and intrusive memories
Negative core beliefs (“I’m unlovable,” “I’m unsafe,” “It was my fault”)
Because EMDR works directly with the nervous system and memory networks, it can lead to deep healing in a relatively short period of time, especially in an intensive format.
Why IFS and EMDR Work So Well Together
Many therapists find that IFS provides the internal safety and structure that makes EMDR more effective, especially for clients with dissociation, shame, or highly protective parts. Here’s why the combination works:
1. IFS Helps Prepare the System for EMDR
Before EMDR begins, parts can be blended, overwhelmed, or scared of what may come up. IFS helps clients:
Identify the parts that fear trauma work
Understand what their protectors need
Build Self-energy (calmness, curiosity, compassion)
Establish internal consent
This leads to much smoother EMDR processing with fewer shutdowns or overwhelm. It also helps with blocks or loops that can occur during the reprocessing phase of EMDR.
2. EMDR Provides the Bilateral Processing That IFS Alone Doesn’t
IFS offers relational and emotional healing, but EMDR gives the brain a structured way to reprocess trauma at the neurological level. With bilateral stimulation, the nervous system can complete unfinished responses, update old beliefs, and file traumatic memories in the past.
3. IFS Helps Regulate When EMDR Gets Intense
If a session stirs up an exile or activates a protector, IFS tools help clients pause and:
Speak to the part
Offer reassurance
Check for consent
Slow down the pace
Re-anchor in Self
This makes EMDR safer for survivors of complex trauma.
4. Working With Parts Makes EMDR More Targeted
EMDR targets “clusters” of memories, but parts are often holding them. IFS helps identify:
Which part holds the target memory
What that part believes
What that part needs to feel safe during processing
Once parts feel heard and supported, EMDR processing flows more smoothly.
What an Integrated IFS–EMDR Session Looks Like
Every therapist does this slightly differently, but a blended session might look like:
1. Beginning with IFS
“Is there a part that’s anxious about doing EMDR today?”
“Is everyone OK with doing EMDR today?”
If a part is too activated, the therapist stays with IFS until the system settles. We get consent from the entire system before reprocessing.
2. Transitioning Into EMDR
When parts are ready, the therapist guides the client into bilateral stimulation to process a memory, sensation, or belief.
3. Pausing for IFS When Needed
If a part becomes overwhelmed:
The therapist invites the client to step back
The client speaks to the part
The therapist restores connection to Self
Then processing may resume.
4. Ending with Integration
Clients often check in with their parts, notice what feels different, and offer internal reassurance.
Who Benefits Most From an IFS + EMDR Approach?
Integrated parts work and EMDR is especially helpful for:
Complex PTSD (C-PTSD)
Dissociation
Attachment trauma
Shame-based belief systems
Highly protective internal systems
Survivors who feel “too much” or “not enough”
People who’ve felt stuck in EMDR alone
IFS builds stabilization; EMDR supports reprocessing. Together, they offer a powerful path to healing.
Final Thoughts
IFS and EMDR are two of the most transformative trauma therapies available. When combined, they help clients:
Build safety within themselves
Develop healthy relationships with all their parts
Process trauma without overwhelm
Reclaim their sense of empowerment, worthiness, and wholeness
If you're looking for a therapy approach that honors both the internal system and the brain’s natural capacity to heal, the integration of IFS and EMDR offers a powerful, compassionate path forward.