IFS Therapy Saskatoon
Internal Family Systems Therapy at Cairis Counselling
IFS therapy is a powerful and compassionate approach that helps you understand the different parts of yourself that may be carrying pain, fear, self-criticism, or emotional burdens. Rather than fighting against these experiences, IFS helps you develop greater self-understanding, self-compassion, and lasting healing.
It is helpful alternative when talk therapy hasn’t helped, when you find yourself reacting in ways that are overwhelming and confusing, and you are looking to heal at a deep level rather than just cope with symptoms.
Cairis Counselling is home to one of Saskatchewan’s most experienced IFS therapists, Leighton Tebay, who has thousands of hours of experience using Internal Family Systems.
Why try IFS therapy?
Feelings that overwhelm you without warning
A sudden wave of grief, a spike of panic, or an intense flare of anger hits out of nowhere. On paper, your day might be fine, but internally you feel flooded and out of control. It leaves you feeling bewildered, asking yourself, “Why am I reacting like this over something so small?”
Patterns or habits you can’t seem to break
You make firm promises to yourself to react differently, stop people-pleasing, or set firmer boundaries, only to watch yourself fall back into the exact same groove. It doesn’t feel like a simple lack of willpower; it feels like an automatic program running in the background that takes over before you even realize it.
The deep imprint of childhood abuse, neglect, or abandonment
Growing up walking on eggshells or feeling invisible forces a young nervous system to adapt just to survive. Even decades later, when life is stable, that old feeling of being unsafe, fundamentally defective, or on the verge of being dropped can quietly run your adult relationships.
Coping mechanisms that are starting to rule your life
What started as a way to get a moment of peace or take the edge off—whether that’s scrolling for hours, having a drink, emotional eating, overworking, or shutting down—has gradually taken the wheel. You rely on the habit to cope with the pain, but the habit itself is now creating new guilt and shame.
Old memories that still feel like present danger
An offhand comment, a tense look, or a stressful moment instantly transports your body back to the past. Your chest tightens, your stomach drops, and logically knowing “I’m an adult and I’m safe right now” does nothing to stop your nervous system from reacting as if the danger is happening right in front of you.
An exhausting internal tug-of-war
You spend tremendous amounts of daily energy negotiating an inner civil war. One side of you desperately wants connection, while another pulls you into isolation. One side wants to take on a challenge, while another freezes in fear of being judged. It feels like you have your foot on the gas and the brake at the exact same time.
A relentless inner critic that grinds you down
No matter what you achieve, an internal voice is always there to point out what you did wrong, second-guess your words, or tell you that you should have done better. Living under that constant scrutiny leaves you feeling like you can never truly relax or let your guard down.
The lingering baggage of the past you just want to set down
You are tired of simply “managing” your distress or finding clever workarounds for your triggers. You carry an invisible, heavy weight of old pain and self-protection everywhere you go, and what you really want is the relief of finally being able to take that pack off.
Find out more about IFS
IFS is a powerful approach to therapy that helps people heal deep emotional wounds and trauma. It often helps those who haven’t found success with traditional talk therapy.
IFS Therapy can be effective for:
Trauma and Complex PTSD
Heal the emotional wounds created by traumatic experiences while building a greater sense of safety and self-trust.
Anxiety
Understand the protective parts behind worry, overthinking, perfectionism, and emotional overwhelm.
Shame and Self-Criticism
Develop compassion toward the parts of you that feel broken, inadequate, or unworthy.
Compulsive habits or addiction
Past trauma and emotional wounding are often what makes certain behaviours so compelling. Heal that pain and the behaviour gets much easier to manage.
Relationship Challenges
Improve communication, emotional regulation, and connection with partners, family members, and friends.
Emotional Healing and Personal Growth
Learn to lead your life with greater confidence, clarity, and self-compassion
Meet Our IFS Therapists
Leighton Tebay, MC, CCC
Level 2 IFS Therapist
- Recover from Complex PTSD and trauma
- Heal from childhood emotional neglect, abuse and abandonment
- Overcome shame and self-worth challenges
- Recover from abusive partner relationships
- Get free of anxiety, compulsive habits and unwanted anger
Thomas Friesen, MA, CCC
IFS-Informed Therapist
- Live authentically free from burdensome expectations and shame
- Finding meaning and direction in life
- Recover from complex relational trauma
- Heal from religious trauma
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IFS Therapy Effective for Trauma?
Yes. IFS is recognized as one of the leading trauma-informed therapeutic approaches because it allows difficult experiences to be processed safely and compassionately.
What’s the Difference Between IFS and IFS-Informed Therapy?
A therapist who practices IFS as a primary model has completed specialized training within the Internal Family Systems framework. An IFS-informed therapist has taken some training and integrates IFS principles and interventions into their work.
Do I Need a Mental Health Diagnosis?
No. Many people seek IFS therapy simply because they want to feel better, improve relationships, heal old wounds, or gain a deeper understanding of themselves.
Can I do IFS therapy online?
Yes, doing IFS therapy is effective online. We use Zoom for the best client experience combined with professional lighting and quality cameras to make the online experience as good as possible. Our setup with Zoom is designed to be compliant with the privacy laws that govern mental health practice. There is always the possibility that problems with internet connections will cause glitches with sound and video, especially if using mobile data. If a quality connection cannot be maintained we switch to using the phone.
Where can I learn more about IFS?
You can visit the official IFS Institute website, read our description of IFS here or watch Tori Olds describe it.