1:1 IFS Coaching
Let’s go inside and meet the parts who are running your life.
The ones you know about, and the ones you don’t.
Who I Work With
Healers
You’re awesome at holding space for others, but perhaps you don’t have enough places where someone is holding space for you.
Creators
Your work is brilliant. But perhaps procrastination, inner conflicts or self-doubt make it less joyful than you wish it could be.
Leaders
Boards, investors, teams and customers all pull at you, but the voices that matter most are inside. IFS helps you listen within, so you can lead from a place of deep alignment with your values and vision.
Founders & Builders
You can build great things, but perhaps parts won’t let you rest and drop in to enjoy the life you’ve created. IFS helps unravel root burdens like the belief “I’m not good enough,” so you can build on a solid sense of Self.
IFS Coaches & Therapists
When your parts get triggered by clients, support for your own work helps return you to a Self-led space where you feel playful, present and patient at work again!
Anyone Who Loves IFS
You want to go further inside than you can go alone.
I only work with clients who specifically want to use IFS. If you’re not sure IFS is for you, but you’re curious, I still invite you to reach out.
“A part of me wants to… another part doesn’t.”
How many times have you had trouble making a decision because one part of you wants one thing, and another part wants something else? Parts who want to try new things are blocked by parts who fear change. Parts who want to get things done are stumped by parts who procrastinate. Parts who want to be healthier are undermined by parts with other priorities!
If you’ve tried to control, cajole or criticize your way to inner consensus, you already know how well that works. There is an easier way. You can learn to work directly with the parts of yourself, using Internal Family Systems. That is what we do in coaching.
What We Actually Do
We go inside. In our first sessions I get to know your system: who the protectors are, what they’re protecting, and why the whole arrangement makes sense. Then we build relationships with those parts, one at a time, until they trust you enough to let go of what they’ve been carrying.
IFS is gentle. There is no harsh breaking down of anyone’s defenses. In 24 years it is still the most powerful method for personal growth I have ever found. I’ve seen it transform parents, teens and couples; entrepreneurs, engineers and artists; leaders, teachers and healers. I use it because it works.
I don’t want you to need me forever. I want you to have your own relationship with Self, so that over time your parts turn to you.
Inner Work, Your Way
Coaching is about you becoming clear about what is right for you, in every aspect of your life. That includes how we work together. Want to meet every three weeks for 90 minutes? Talk on the phone some weeks and Zoom other weeks? Need a half-hour call every now and then? Whatever suits your schedule, budget and goals, I do my best to make it happen.
I can offer that freedom because my practice is small: around four client sessions a week, and never more than two in a day. Why so few? Because I average about 15 hours of IFS work on myself every week, and I’ve found I need to stay at about 18 to 20 hours of IFS a week in total, my own work and my clients’ combined. The more inner work I do on myself, the better I am at guiding you in yours.
Session Details
Where
Phone.
Zoom.
In person in Chicago, near Lawrence and Kedzie.
I’m in the Central Time Zone and can schedule sessions from anywhere.
How long
We start with 60-minute sessions.
If longer sessions work better for you, we schedule accordingly.
I leave time at the end, so if extra time is needed it’s there. Extra time is pro-rated at our usual rate.
How often
Weekly.
Every few weeks.
Every now and then.
You decide, and we find the rhythm your system needs.
Availability. I currently have one or two spaces open at my executive coaching tier. I invite you to connect if my approach feels right — if it’s not the perfect match, I’ll help with a referral to someone else who might be.
Rates. Because my availability is so limited, I have a tiered rate structure. As one tier fills, I open the next. Ask me on our call and I’ll tell you exactly where things stand.
Insurance. I don’t take insurance. Coaches don’t; therapists do.
From People I’ve Worked With
“Aha!” moments come on fast and furious when I’m working with Melissa. She kindly and firmly challenges me and I leave each session with new insight and concrete skills.
If you could do one thing right now to move yourself forward on your path in the most “fuel efficient” way, I would recommend the action step of calling Melissa and signing on to work with her!
Curious About Coaching?
I NEVER pressure people. Being honest and straightforward are two of my key personal values, so if you tell me you’re swimming in piles of lost papers, I won’t try to convince you that you need coaching. I’ll refer you to a personal organizer.
Schedule a Free ConversationFAQ
- What will we talk about?
- Your questions about IFS
- Questions about how I work
- Questions about what you’re seeking:
- IFS 1:1 coaching
- IFS couples coaching
- An IFS Coaching group for 3 people
- A 5 person IFS class
- IFS on-demand videos
- Something else
- Is it free?
- Yes, the initial conversation is free!
- How long?
- A 20 minute Zoom call with me.