IFS THERAPY | MARYLAND
Julia Stephenson, LCPC
Guiding You Toward Emotional Healing and Authentic Living
Welcome.
I’m glad you’re here.
You are taking an important step toward improving your relationship with yourself, which will positively influence how you navigate the world and engage with others—an accomplishment that is no small feat! As technology progresses, many individuals struggle with heightened levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Our minds find it difficult to handle the ongoing stress and the myriad of distractions around us, which often leads to feelings of disconnection from others and even ourselves.
Therapy provides a sacred opportunity to pause amidst all the noise around you and within you, allowing you to make meaning of your inner thoughts and feelings.
Using Internal Family Systems therapy, I will support and guide you through these challenges. Together, we will embark on a journey to reconnect with your true self and cultivate a life where you can thrive. We will create a nurturing and safe environment for you to explore your emotions, inner world, and past experiences with genuine curiosity and compassion. This exploration will help you create new meanings of painful past experiences and allow you to rediscover your most authentic self.
I’m excited for you to experience the positive changes that await you on this journey.
I work with adults in all stages of life, from early adulthood to later years, supporting a wide range of challenges, from stress and anxiety to addictive cycles.
Through my experience working in inpatient treatment settings, I developed a deep understanding of the protective nature of more extreme symptoms. I focus on understanding emotions and behaviors without judgment and providing a personalized and compassionate therapeutic experience.
My style is genuine and holistic.
I integrate the insights of psychodynamic, existential, and humanistic philosophies with the transformative principles of Internal Family Systems (IFS) theory. This unique approach allows us to address the root causes of your struggles, help you let go of beliefs that no longer serve you, preparing you to live your most authentic life.
Whether you are feeling stuck, conflicted, or struggling with emotional and psychological pain, I can help.
Julia Stephenson, LCPC
Experience and Training
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Advanced Review and Deepening into the IFS Model
Trauma and Addiction from an IFS Perspective
IFS and Larger Systems: Couples, Families and Groups (expected May 2025)
The Self of the Therapist and Spirituality and IFS (expected June 2025)
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Completed April 2025
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Completed The Professional Training Program through the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation on the following topics:
The Complexities of Complex Trauma
From Complex Trauma to Dissociative Disorders
Level III Advanced Topics in Complex Trauma and Dissociative Disorders (expected 2026)
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Provided individual and group psychotherapy:
Trauma Disorders Unit - Sheppard Pratt
Eating Disorder Unit - Sheppard Pratt
Adolescents and Family - Sheppard Pratt School and Residential Treatment Center
Substance Use Disorders - Ashley Addiction Treatment
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What Is Internal Family Systems Therapy?
Internal Family Systems therapy is an evidence-based model, also known as “parts work,” that views the mind as multiple, as a system of protective and wounded inner parts led by a core Self.
Self is in everyone. It can’t be damaged. It knows how to heal.
Just like members of a family, parts are forced from their valuable states into extreme roles within us — think of parts that use shopping, work, substances, food… to cope with difficult experiences.
In therapy, we will begin to connect compassionately to these parts by helping you rediscover and access more self-energy and, from that core, come to understand and heal all parts within. You will begin to feel more harmony within, which will extend to the world around you.
Healing Comes From Within
Throughout therapy, I will invite you to explore your inner world and connect with different parts of yourself. By engaging in a dialogue with the parts of you that contribute to destructive emotions and behaviors, you can start to build relationships with them. This connection enables you to release emotional burdens and resolve inner conflicts.
IFS therapy can help you with:
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You will understand how critical thoughts are protecting you and what unmet needs are behind these thoughts. You will begin to see your real potential and step into that space.
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Discover your true self by uncovering your motivations and clarifying your values and goals. This journey will help you conserve energy and focus on what truly matters, leading to a more fulfilling life.
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You will uncover a deeper understanding of your role in your environment, allowing you to breathe new life into both familiar and emerging connections. Embrace conflict as an opportunity for growth and navigate the complexities of intimacy with curiosity and compassion.
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Process change and better manage the effects of this painful, challenging experience. By doing so, you can turn adversity into opportunity and emerge stronger than before.
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Free yourself from what holds you back or instills fear, sadness, or despair. Embrace a life of empowerment and liberation by letting go of what no longer serves you.
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You will overcome the limiting beliefs that stand in the way of breaking free from destructive patterns and unlock your true potential for positive change.
Book a Discovery Call 〰️
I offer a complimentary 15-minute discovery call to ensure we are a good fit.