Understanding IFS Therapy

We all have different parts of ourselves. You are still one whole person, but different sides of you naturally show up in different situations. For example, imagine you've had an argument with a friend. You may have a part that feels hurt, another that becomes critical, and another that tries to help you avoid uncomfortable feelings. IFS can go deeper than simply talking about what happened or how you are reacting. It helps us connect with the implicit, emotional and symbolic parts of our experience IFS therapy helps you get curious about these parts with compassion, so you can work directly and effectively with the different sides of yourself to create greater calm, healing and agency in your life.

If therapy is new to you, you don’t need to know what to say or how it works. We’ll start by getting to know you, and I will provide you with information about the sessions in more detail. The first sessions will focus on understanding what brought you to therapy, and exploring what you’d like to be different. IFS therapy is collaborative and gentle. In IFS we say "all parts are welcome" which means there is space for the parts of you that aren't sure about therapy, the parts that are conflicted about something, and the ones who are numb and detached to the ones who are full of emotion. Together, we’ll become curious about the different parts of you and what they may be trying to communicate or protect. You set the pace, and there’s no pressure to talk about anything before you’re ready.

Yes! IFS can be a great fit for men who want to better understand themselves and make meaningful changes without feeling pressured to talk about emotions before they’re ready. Developed by male therapist Richard Schwartz, IFS is grounded in curiosity, compassion, and respect for each person’s pace.The approach is non-judgmental and empowering, giving you practical tools to better understand yourself, navigate challenges, and make the changes you want in your life. The goal isn’t just to feel better in the moment, but to develop skills and self-understanding that stay with you long after therapy ends.You don’t have to know how to talk about your feelings or have everything figured out. We’ll start where you are and work together to understand the different parts of you and what you need to move forward.

Therapy isn’t only for when something goes wrong, have a crisis, a breakthrough, or a list of things to talk about to make therapy worthwhile. In fact, sessions on quieter weeks are often more productive. They give us the chance to slow down and notice what’s happening beneath the surface, work towards your overall goals, become curious about the different parts of you, and explore the parts and patterns you may not notice. Think of therapy as a space to build self-understanding and create lasting change.

The consultation call is a chance for you to get a feel for me and decide whether we’re a good fit. You don’t need to prepare anything or have the right questions. The most important thing is to notice how you feel talking with me. Do you feel comfortable, heard, and respected?Some questions people ask are:What can I expect during our therapy sessions?How do you use IFS in therapy?Will I be expected to talk about things I’m not ready to discuss?How collaborative is the therapy process?How will I know if therapy is helping?And one important note: the day and time you select for your consultation call is not necessarily the day and time of your ongoing therapy sessions. During our call, we’ll talk about scheduling and find a regular appointment time that works for both of us.

I am an in-network provider with Aetna, BlueCross and BlueShield, Cigna and Evernorth, Johns Hopkins, Medicare, Optum, and many other insurance providers. For out-of-network clients, our office can provide a superbill to help you seek reimbursement from your insurance provider. Please reach out to discuss how we can keep therapy affordable for your unique situation.​To find out about insurance and copays please reach out to Joey Bravo at (301) 233 - 5021  or bravopsychologicalgroup@gmail.com

I'm glad you asked!  Please reach out to me at msandreatheis@bravopsychologicalgroup.org or counselingwithandreatheis@gmail.com and then we will set up an intake call for 15 to 20 minutes. This call will most likely be at a different time than your regular therapy sessions. This call helps us connect and see if I am a good fit for your needs. During the call, you are welcome to ask me questions. At the end of the call we will set up a time for regular sessions. You are also welcome to reach out to our office manager Joey Bravo to start the intake process at ‪(301) 233-5021‬ or bravopsychologicalgroup@gmail.com.

I am able to meet with people who live in Maryland or D.C. virtually. I also see people in person in the Bravo offices in Gaithersburg.

I get this question a lot! In the few minutes I have in-between sessions I ground myself so that I am present and focused for the next session.  I also may stretch my legs and take a bio break.