Why IFS and EMDR Complement Each Other in Healing from Trauma

Healing from trauma is a deeply personal journey. We know that no two healing paths look the same—but many benefit from a thoughtful combination of therapeutic approaches. Two modalities that I often weave together are Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Both are powerful in their own right, but when used together, they can offer a deeply integrative and compassionate pathway toward healing.

Understanding the Basics

Internal Family Systems (IFS) 

IFS is a therapy that helps us connect with and understand the different "parts" within ourselves—those inner voices or feelings that may seem in conflict. For example, one part might be anxious and hyper-vigilant, while another wants to disconnect and numb. IFS helps us relate to these parts with curiosity and compassion rather than judgment or shame. It’s rooted in the belief that all parts have a purpose and that healing occurs when we can access our core "Self"—a calm, confident, and compassionate inner leader.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) 

EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps the brain process and integrate distressing memories that have become "stuck" due to overwhelming experiences. Using bilateral stimulation (often through eye movements, tapping, or sounds), EMDR helps reduce the emotional charge of traumatic memories, allowing the brain to reprocess them in a way that feels safer and less disruptive to daily life.

Why They Work So Well Together

While each approach is effective on its own, combining IFS and EMDR can create a more holistic healing experience.

1. Safety and Preparation through IFS

Before diving into trauma processing with EMDR, it’s essential to create a sense of internal safety. IFS offers a way to build this inner stability. By getting to know and build trust with protective parts (like those that want to avoid or suppress painful memories), clients are often better prepared to engage in EMDR work without becoming overwhelmed.

2. Gentle Access to Trauma with EMDR

When clients feel ready, EMDR provides a structured and effective method to access and process traumatic memories. Because IFS has helped develop internal relationships, clients often find they can enter EMDR sessions with more confidence and inner support. Protective parts may be more willing to step back, allowing deeper healing to unfold.

3. Healing the Whole System

Trauma doesn’t just impact isolated memories—it affects how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we feel in our own bodies. IFS helps address the ongoing effects of trauma by working with the parts of us that carry fear, shame, or guilt, while EMDR helps resolve the specific events that triggered those feelings. Together, they help restore a sense of wholeness.

4. Compassionate Integration

After EMDR sessions, IFS can be used to check in with parts that were activated or affected during the trauma processing. This integration helps ensure that healing is not just intellectual, but also emotional and embodied. It’s a way of honoring the full complexity of your experience, at a pace that feels right for you.

A Personalized Approach to Healing

We understand that trauma affects every person differently. That’s why we approach healing with flexibility, empathy, and respect for your individual journey. Whether you’re just beginning to explore therapy or have been doing deep work for years, we’re here to support you with approaches like IFS and EMDR that meet you where you are—and walk with you toward where you want to be.

If you’re curious about how these modalities might support your healing, we invite you to reach out. You don’t have to navigate this path alone.

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About our Scarsdale EMDR Therapist Annabella Lipson

Annabella Lipson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor at Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling in Scarsdale, NY.

She enjoys working with young adults & adults who are dealing with grief, constant sadness, anxiety, PTSD and other heavy emotions that make it difficult to enjoy the present moment. 

Annabella has an innate ability to make her clients feel comforted and cared for as they confront their grief and loss.  She incorporates a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), EMDR Therapy, Ego-state Interventions and Mindfulness practices in her counseling sessions.