GAIA SOMASCA HOLISTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
Internal Family Systems therapy is a compassionate and collaborative approach meant to support you in understanding the different parts of yourself. Together, we cultivate a quality of presence - one that is curious, compassionate and confident - to foster inner healing and transform the way you relate to yourself and others.
My approach to Internal Family Systems relies on the belief that you possess a core of inner wisdom capable of healing. Together, we cultivate your capacity to relate to the parts of yourself with genuine curiosity, holding the awareness that each part of you carries its own wisdom— a wisdom that was once vital to your survival. Time and again, I have witnessed the life-preserving intelligence behind patterns of behavior that helped navigate times now forgotten. When these parts finally feel heard and valued, a sense of inner ease and safety begins to emerge.
By tending to these inner relationships between your Self and the parts within, you can begin to move through the world with more awareness and calm. You can feel like yourself again - leading your life from a place of authenticity where you are no longer driven by old triggers, embodying the freedom to choose how you respond to life.
This is the journey from surviving to empowered living. By healing within, you create the space to heal your relationships outside, finally moving through the world with purpose, joy, and the freedom to be your true self.
I invite you to explore this unique and deeply respectful approach to healing and learn how we can work together to cultivate greater harmony within.
What is Internal Family Systems (IFS)? A New Way of Relating to Yourself
Understanding the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model is about embracing an intuitive and deeply human way of seeing ourselves. It provides an opportunity to map to your inner landscape, viewing your mind and body not as a single entity, but as a system of interconnected "parts."
The fundamental principle of IFS is that the mind is naturally multiple. We all have various "parts" that hold our unique emotions, memories, and beliefs. You might recognize this in your own life when you feel conflicted, like one part of you wants to take a risk while another is terrified of failure. The goal of IFS is not to get rid of any parts, but rather to build a relationship with them from a place of genuine curiosity and compassion. By listening to what they have to say and understanding their roles, we can heal the conflicts that cause us pain, doubt and stuckness.
At the heart of this inner family is the Self, which is distinct from your parts. The Self is your innate core of wisdom, clarity, and calm. It is characterized by qualities like compassion, curiosity, connection, and courage. Through IFS, we cultivate these qualities so that you can related to your internal system with gentle and confident guidance. From this place of Self-leadership, you can offer healing to your wounded parts and bring your entire inner world into a more balanced state.
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Through IFS therapy we support the relationship between your Self and these parts so that you can come to know their their stories, and over time, support easing the pain they carry. When parts feel heard and understood, they no longer need to remain in their extreme roles, freeing you to live with greater choice, confidence, and inner freedom.
My Approach: A Collaborative Journey to Your Inner Landscape
I imagine our therapy space as a welcoming, safe cove where we can explore what has washed ashore on your consciousness. We move slowly, like when walking on the rocks at low tide, careful to respect the tender and often hidden parts of you that emerge when you feel truly safe. My journey to becoming a therapist began with my own. After growing up in Italy, I moved to a high-paced career in New York, where a time of deep personal crisis became a profound turning point. That experience opened the door to my own healing journey. Clients often tell me that I "get it." And that’s because I do, I’ve been in the client’s seat myself.
Our work together is a collaborative exploration of your inner world, and we will always move at your pace. You are the expert on your life. I serve as a compassionate guide, helping you access your own innate wisdom (your Self) to connect with, understand, and heal your parts. Together, we will discover what works best for you, ensuring the process feels empowering and deeply aligned with your needs.
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While IFS provides a core framework, my approach is holistic, integrating a rich tapestry of approaches. We honor the wisdom of the body through Somatic approaches and support releasing the effect of traumatic experiences with Brainspotting. We explore the language of your dreams through a Jungian and Depth Psychology lens. And we recognize our profound, healing connection to the more-than-human world through Ecotherapy. This integrated method allows us to tend to your whole being, mind, body, spirit, and your relationship with the world around you.
Finally, our work is grounded in a culturally sensitive and social justice-oriented perspective. I recognize that systems of oppression, discrimination, and racism cause profound harm. I strive to cultivate a kind and compassionate presence and to examine my privilege as a white, cisgender, able-bodied woman. Our work together will hold space for the pain these systems inflict as we strengthen your inner resources and reclaim your sense of wholeness and dignity.
Who Can Find Healing Through IFS Therapy?
While IFS can benefit anyone seeking deeper self-understanding and inner peace, it is a particularly transformative and healing approach for those navigating specific life challenges. This gentle, non-pathologizing model offers a powerful path toward restoring vitality for individuals who feel stuck in old patterns and are ready for deep, meaningful change.
This approach can be profoundly helpful if you are seeking support in the following areas:
Healing from Childhood Trauma or Complex Developmental Trauma: Gently addressing and healing the deep wounds from your past.
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Working with PTSD and Traumatic Experiences: Finding safety in your body and releasing the grip of past events.
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Recovering from Narcissistic Abuse and Toxic Dynamics: Reclaiming your self-worth and establishing healthy boundaries.
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Healing from Sexual Trauma: A gentle, paced, and supportive path toward reclaiming your body and spirit.
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Navigating Relationship Issues and Relational Trauma: Understanding your attachment patterns and fostering more secure connections.
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Overcoming People-Pleasing and Caretaking Patterns: Learning to honor your own needs and speak your truth with confidence.
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Easing Anxiety and Social Anxiety: Soothing the inner parts that feel overwhelmed or fearful.
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Lifting the Weight of Depression: Reconnecting with your inner life force and sense of purpose.
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Moving Through Grief and Loss: Honoring your pain and finding a new way forward.
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Navigating Life Transitions: Finding your footing and purpose during times of profound change.
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Working through Shame and Low Self-Esteem: Cultivating self-compassion and connecting with your innate goodness.
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Supporting individuals from Immigrant, Bicultural, and Multicultural backgrounds: Navigating the complex dynamics of identity, belonging, and cultural integration.
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Affirming and exploring LGBQT+ identities: Providing a safe space to explore identity and heal from experiences of rejection or discrimination.
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Addressing the unique challenges faced by women recovering from systemic oppression: Healing from invalidation and reclaiming your voice and power.
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Supporting Couples (Poly and Monogamous): Fostering deeper connection and understanding between partners.
This work is especially suited for individuals with a desire for depth work that expands beyond symptom relief. I gently invite you into a process where, together, we can explore new ways of relating to the multiple parts that live inside you and others. Overtime, we cultivate your capacity to be present and aware, allowing you to lead your life from a resilient and vital core.
The call of the heart
toward healing
The decision to enter therapy takes courage, and I know that reaching out for support can feel daunting. I am reminded that courage comes from the Latin word 'cor,' which means heart. So, I encourage you to let your heart guide you to find what feels most supportive for you at this time, so that the crisis you may be experiencing can become a catalyst for change—opening the path toward restoring your vitality and purpose.
If you’d like to explore therapy with me, I offer a free 15-20 minute consultation as our starting point. This time is an opportunity for us to connect, for me to hear what is bringing you to therapy, and for you to ask any questions you might have about me or my approach. It is a dedicated time for you to get a feel for how we might work together and to see if my style feels like the right fit for you.
During our call, we will also gently explore the outcomes you envision for yourself—how you would like to feel at the end of our journey together. My approach is client-centered and collaborative, which means that from the very beginning, we explore together what feels best for you.
If you feel compelled to take the first step, I invite you to reach out to schedule your complimentary consultation with me so that we can listen together to your heart’s call for healing.
Frequently Asked Questions about Internal Family Systems Therapy
Here are answers to some common questions I receive about the way I practice Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.
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Serving Our Community online and in person
I am committed to providing warm, compassionate, and effective online and in-person psychotherapy for individuals on their healing journeys.
I offer online sessions to clients throughout California and in-person sessions for those in the communities of Scotts Valley, CA and Santa Cruz, CA and surrounding areas.
If it feels appropriate for your journey, we can also integrate Ecotherapy sessions outdoors, meeting in a location we choose together within Santa Cruz County.
Dedicated to serving women recovering from narcissistic abuse, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with immigrant or multicultural identities, Gaia Somasca Psychotherapy provides a supportive environment for processing systemic oppression and relational trauma. The therapist employs a non-judgmental, client-centered approach that honors the intersection of privilege and oppression while addressing issues like low self-esteem, anxiety, and shame. Through a holistic lens that acknowledges the client's unique background, the practice fosters deep personal growth and healing for adults and young adults, who have experience trauma, oppression and discrimination.