IFS is simple but not easy– While the IFS model is conceptually straightforward, applying it effectively in therapy requires deep skill, patience, and an ongoing commitment to practice.

Risk of harm through protector backlash– Without proper guidance, working with exiled parts too soon can trigger strong protective mechanisms, leading to emotional overwhelm, retraumatization, or resistance from clients.

IFS requires experiential learning– IFS is not something that can be mastered through reading alone. To truly integrate the model, therapists must experience it firsthand, practicing on themselves and with others to develop a felt sense of the process.

It requires exploring your own internal system first– Effective IFS work demands that therapists do their own inner work before guiding clients. Without understanding and healing their own parts, therapists risk projecting their internal dynamics onto clients or struggling to stay in Self-energy.

The challenge of maintaining Self-energy in sessions– IFS requires therapists to lead from a state of calm, curiosity, and compassion, but staying in Self while navigating a client’s intense emotions or protectors can be incredibly difficult, especially without proper support and practice.

IFS trainings aren't always accessible– Getting formally trained in IFS can be a long and costly process. Some trainings have extensive waitlists and can take months or even years to secure a spot, with initial costs starting at $4,000—making it inaccessible for many therapists eager to learn.