From Inner Critic to Inner Ally: Healing Harsh Parts with IFS

Written By Rachel Pfeiffer

One of the most common inner parts people struggle with is the inner critic. This voice often seems harsh, shaming, or relentless—but in IFS, we understand that even this part has a protective intention.

Why the Inner Critic Exists

Most inner critics formed early in life as a way to:

  • Prevent rejection or failure

  • Motivate achievement or perfectionism

  • Shield vulnerable parts from shame

In IFS, we build a relationship with this part—not to silence it, but to understand its fears and help it soften.

Healing the Inner Critic in Therapy

  • Externalize the critic: Give it a voice, a shape, or a name

  • Get curious: “What is this part afraid would happen if it didn’t criticize me?”

  • Meet the exiles it protects

  • Invite the Self to offer compassion, not control

North Sydney Therapy for Inner Criticism

If your inner dialogue feels punishing or exhausting, IFS offers a new path: one where your mind becomes a friend, not a battlefield.

Rachel Pfeiffer https://www.theembodiedmind.com.au
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