Not All Healing Is Created Equal: Why Working with a Qualified Practitioner Matters
Let’s be real—healing is sacred work. And in the age of social media soundbites and TikTok therapy, it’s easy to get swept up in practices that look healing but might actually bypass the depth your system truly needs.
Terms like “IFS” (Internal Family Systems) and “trauma-informed” are popping up everywhere. And while it’s incredible that more people are talking about nervous system safety and inner child work—it’s also never been more important to make sure the person guiding you actually knows what they’re doing.
Because working with untrained or underqualified practitioners doesn’t just slow your progress. It can re-activate old wounds, leave you confused, or worse—make you feel like your healing didn’t “work.”
And you deserve better.
The Truth About IFS Training (And Why It Matters)
IFS is a powerful, clinically-backed therapy model that helps you heal the deeper emotional patterns driving things like self-doubt, people-pleasing, and anxiety. But it’s not just a mindset shift or journaling practice—it’s trauma work.
It requires skill, training, and the capacity to hold someone safely through their most vulnerable parts.
Here’s how IFS training is structured through the official IFS Institute:
🌀 Level 1: The Foundation (90+ hours)
Trainees learn the core IFS model, practice guided sessions, and begin developing the skills to work with parts safely. This level is the minimum requirement for practicing IFS-informed therapy or coaching.
🌀 Level 2: Advanced Specialization
Practitioners go deeper into trauma healing, addictions, attachment wounding, and more complex applications like couples and group work.
🌀 Level 3: Mastery & Integration
Reserved for seasoned practitioners, Level 3 is about deep personal integration, advanced facilitation, and the ability to hold highly complex systems with skill and grace.
What Level of Support Do You Need?
Here’s how to think about your own healing needs:
For general self-growth, emotional clarity, or inner critic work: a certified Level 1 IFS practitioner is trained to guide you safely.
For deeper relational wounds, trauma, or complex emotional patterns: you’ll want someone who’s done Level 2 training and has experience with your specific concerns.
For multifaceted, long-term trauma or sensitive clinical issues: a Level 3 practitioner offers the most advanced level of care and personal integration.
The Risk of Working with Someone Untrained
IFS, or “parts work,” involves working with deeply vulnerable aspects of the psyche—like younger selves that carry shame, fear, or pain. If a practitioner doesn’t have the skill or capacity to guide you safely, those parts can become overwhelmed, shut down, or activate protectors that reinforce shame, dissociation, or emotional chaos.
It’s not just ineffective—it can be damaging.
So when someone markets “IFS”, “parts work” or “trauma-informed coaching” without proper training or supervision, they may mean well, but they’re working outside their scope. And your healing journey is too important to leave in untrained hands.
How to Vet a Practitioner (Without Feeling Awkward)
Here’s what you can do:
Ask about their IFS training. What level are they trained to? Did they complete it through the official IFS Institute? If the answer is no, they are not officially trained in IFS.
Check directories. The IFS Institute Directory lists certified practitioners worldwide. In Australia, you can also check platforms like Mind Beyond for additional resources.
Ask about experience. Do they work with issues like yours? What’s their process for creating safety in sessions?
Trust your gut. You’re not “too much” or “too picky” for wanting to feel safe, seen, and fully supported.
You’re Allowed to Be Discerning
A few years ago, I was paired with a psychologist who I didn’t connect with. I stayed for a number of sessions out of politeness, then finally called the practice and asked to be matched with someone else. It felt terrifying at the time—but it changed everything. The practitioner I saw next was the exact support I needed, and the work we did together was some of the most transformative of my life.
So let me say this clearly:
You don’t owe anyone your healing.
You are allowed to speak up. You are allowed to ask questions. You are allowed to move on.
Your Healing Deserves the Real Thing
There is so much power in this work. But only when it’s done safely, skillfully, and with someone who truly gets what it takes to hold space for your full self.
Whether you’re exploring IFS therapy, group work, or 1:1 containers, make sure the person guiding you has done the training, walked their own path, and knows how to help you meet your inner world with compassion—not chaos.
You don’t need to figure it out alone.
If you’re ready to explore IFS with a trained, experienced practitioner, check out MAGNETIC or my private 1:1 offerings. I’d be honoured to support your healing in a way that’s safe, structured, and actually works.
References:
• Internal Family Systems: Exploring Its Problematic Popularity