5 of the Best IFS Therapists in Toronto

Takeaway: Are you looking for IFS therapy in Toronto? If so, keep reading. In this blog, we explain how the therapists at The Centre for Gay Counselling help gay men in Toronto and beyond deal with low self-esteem, trauma, relationship issues, pain, life challenges, and more using Internal Family Systems therapy.

Our therapists at The Centre for Gay Counselling specialize in gay men’s mental health. We take a 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming and trauma-informed approach to create a safe place for gay men to feel heard and make meaningful changes in their lives.

We help clients with their mental health challenges by using different evidence-based psychotherapy methods like Internal Family Systems (IFS) during individual psychotherapy sessions.

IFS therapy is only one of the many types of mental health treatments our therapists offer. Above all, we want to ensure our therapists are the best fit for your healing journey. We may be a good fit for you if you’re looking for:

• A 2SLGBTQIA+ identifying therapist.

• A male-identifying therapist.

• A counsellor who specializes in Internal Family Systems therapy.

• Online counselling sessions.

Below is a list of additional Toronto-based therapists who specialize in IFS therapy.

5 of the best IFS therapists in Toronto:

1. Sarah Elisabeth (she/her)

Sarah tailors her therapeutic approach to meet each client’s unique needs, providing thoughtful and nuanced care to support their healing and restoration. She integrates multiple therapies, including mindfulness, anti-oppressive and equity practice, and Internal Family Systems. She is Level 3 IFS-trained and is qualified to work with individuals, couples, and families, as well as supervise other therapists interested in learning how to conduct IFS therapy.

• Credentials: Registered Social Worker (RSW) in Ontario.
• Education: Master of Social Work degree (MSW).
• Lumino health rating: 5/5
• Specialty areas: Internal Family Systems, anxiety, stress, depression, early and present trauma, isolation, interpersonal relationships, codependency, PTSD, eating disorders, grief/loss, self-harm.
• Learn more about Sarah

2. Michelle Gibson (she/her)

Michelle strives to create a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore the challenges holding them back from living the life they want. In her practice, she makes a space for healing and exploring emotions that empowers clients. In addition, Michelle helps clients explore different parts of themselves that may be blocked by high defences, people-pleasing, and pressure to perform. She’s passionate about IFS therapy to help clients gain insight into what’s happening on the inside.

• Credentials: Registered Social Worker (RSW) in Ontario.
• Education: Master of Social Work degree (MSW).
• Lumino health rating: 5/5
• Specialty areas: Anxiety, grief, loss, professional identity, stress, relationships, trauma, health, identity, transitions, change, relationships, women’s experiences, abuse, sex, self-esteem/self-worth, spirituality
• Learn more about Michelle

3. Steven Gestetner (he/him)

Since 2015, Steven has practiced as a psychotherapist in Toronto, focusing on helping men develop confidence in themselves and address concerns of depression, anxiety, trauma, and more. He is Level-3 IFS trained. Through IFS, he supports his clients in uncovering their inner wisdom and innate healing abilities, leading to a more profound sense of connection and fulfillment.

• Credentials: Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario (RP).
• Education: Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and Addiction and Mental Health Graduate Certificate.
• Specialty areas: Men’s issues, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, life transitions, post-traumatic distress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating issues, pain management, stress management, sexual abuse, attention deficit disorder (ADD), professional and career issues.
• Learn more about Steven

4. Liz Phillips (she/her)

Liz is an IFS-trained psychotherapist, consultant, and supervisor who works with couples to navigate relationship concerns. She supports couples using her personal experience and understanding of relationships, along with drawing from a blend of Intimacy From the Inside Out (IFIO), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and trauma-informed approaches (Sensorimotor Psychotherapy). In addition, Liz helps couples heal the wounds caused by unhealthy coping strategies that have become barriers to developing a strong connection. She does this by tracing the sources of these habits to understand their original purposes and help couples learn new approaches for expressive communication and empathetic problem-solving.

• Credentials: Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario (RP).
• Education: Toronto Institute of Relational Psychotherapy (TIRP).
• Specialty areas: Couples, building stronger connections in relationships, and trauma.
• Learn more about Liz

5. Ted Leckie (he/him)

Ted is a Registered Psychotherapist who provides virtual therapy to those feeling distant or lost in their relationships or with themselves. By using IFS therapy, combined with Emotion-Focused Therapy and Gottman techniques, his goal is to create a safe, welcoming space for clients of all backgrounds to help rediscover the aspects of themselves they may have become disconnected from.

• Credentials: Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario (RP).
• Education: Toronto Institute of Relational Psychotherapy (TIRP).
• Lumino health rating: 5/5
• Specialty areas: Couples therapy, individual therapy, relationship issues, marital and premarital issues, and divorce.
• Learn more about Ted

FAQs about working with an IFS therapist

What is IFS therapy?

IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy is a gentle and empowering approach that views the mind as a system of interconnected subpersonalities, or “parts.” Developed by Richard Schwartz in the 1980s, it helps people connect with their core Self, finding more peace and confidence from the inside out. 

IFS aims to explore your internal system of interconnected parts, leading to increased self-awareness, self-compassion, and unconditional love. IFS also helps you feel fulfilled and supports personal growth by addressing painful emotions and beliefs related to trauma, self-esteem issues, or self-harm.

What are sub-personalities?

Think of sub-personalities as different facets of your personality, each with its own unique thoughts, feelings, and actions. These internal parts can sometimes hold onto painful emotions, limiting beliefs, or patterns that affect our self-esteem, relationships, or overall wellbeing. 

But here’s the thing: they’re often trying to protect us, even if it doesn’t always feel that way. By getting to know and balance these different parts, we can tap into our core Self and find a deeper sense of peace and clarity.

Does IFS help with anxiety?

Yes, IFS therapy can be highly effective in addressing anxiety.

Dealing with conflicting emotions often seems like a problem you can’t solve, especially if you can’t understand or regulate them. For example, you might feel really anxious about starting a new job but feel sad or guilty about leaving the old one. The Internal Family Systems model gives you a framework to explore these feelings without shame. 

Through this type of psychotherapy, you can better understand the root causes of your anxiety and access your core Self. When you better understand the underlying emotions, beliefs, or patterns contributing to your anxious feelings, it’s easier to resolve an inner conflict and increase your confidence.

Can I see an IFS therapist alongside another therapist?

Absolutely! You can typically see a therapist offering Internal Family Systems therapy while seeing another therapist or mental health provider. IFS therapy can complement other approaches, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR). Our therapists at The Centre for Gay Counselling often incorporate Internal Family Systems with other types of treatment like EMDR or CBT in the same session.

What training does an IFS therapist have?

IFS therapists come from various professional backgrounds, including social workers, counsellors, psychologists, and psychotherapists. In addition to their professional credentials, they will have training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which enables them to support clients in navigating life challenges, low self-esteem, trauma, pain, and shame.

The first level of IFS training takes about 90 hours. After this, a therapist can call themselves “IFS-trained.” Levels two and beyond focus more heavily on specific applications of IFS, such as trauma, anxiety, depression, addictions, and eating disorders.

Ready to start finding an IFS therapist?

We hope this overview of IFS counsellors helps you find the best provider for your mental health goals. As you continue on your search for an IFS therapist, we encourage you to schedule a consultation to see whether a counsellor’s style of IFS therapy is right for you. If you’d like to speak about IFS therapy with one of our counsellors at The Centre for Gay Counselling, click the button below to get started with a free consultation call.