Integrating Astrology and Internal Family Systems (IFS)

How I Integrate Astrology and IFS in Therapy

One of the most common questions I get in initial consultations is: How do you combine astrology and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy? It’s a great question and one I try to explain on my website, but I realize it deserves a deeper dive.

The Foundation: IFS First, Astrology as a Supportive Tool

IFS therapy is at the core of my work because it provides a deeply experiential and transformative approach to healing. Unlike astrology, which offers insight and context, IFS allows clients to build real, lasting relationships with their inner parts, leading to meaningful change. I view astrology (as well as psychedelics) as a highly supportive tools in the IFS process, but not replacements for it. In the context of psychotherapy, I am first and foremost an IFS therapist, and my use of astrology is always in service of the therapeutic process.

I also offer standalone astrology readings for those who aren’t in therapy with me or who already have an established therapeutic relationship elsewhere. These readings are structured differently, as those clients are not under my care as a psychotherapist. Therapy clients, on the other hand, are in an ongoing, structured relationship with me that requires ethical considerations, consistency, and regular sessions (weekly or biweekly) to ensure their well-being.

Astrology as a Map, IFS as the Guide

A useful way to understand how astrology and IFS work together is through the metaphor of a map.

Your natal chart is a map of your life—it shows your potential, challenges, strengths, and the terrain ahead. As an astrologer, I interpret this map for you. I might say: There’s some rough terrain ahead, but here’s a beautiful garden that just needs a bit of tending. Or, In a few months, you’re going to have a big mountain to climb—if you don’t initiate the ascent, life may push you into it.

So now you have the map. You have a deeper understanding of yourself through astrology. But what do you do with that knowledge? That’s where IFS comes in.

IFS is an experiential therapy, which means it’s best understood through direct experience rather than explanation. It helps us navigate the terrain astrology reveals. For example, I might see indications in your chart of difficult childhood experiences. That validation can be powerful, but it doesn’t resolve the emotional wounds. IFS provides the tools to build safe, trusting relationships with the parts of you that carry those wounds.

Healing Through IFS

Let’s say you have a part that developed a people-pleasing strategy in childhood to maintain peace in a chaotic home. Or maybe a part of you feels responsible for everyone around you because a caregiver was emotionally unavailable. These are what IFS calls managers—protective parts that work hard to prevent deeper wounds from being triggered.

Beneath these managers are often exiles—younger, more vulnerable parts of you that hold pain, fear, or harmful beliefs like I’m not enough. The protectors won’t stop their patterns (people-pleasing, hyper-responsibility, etc.) until those exiled parts receive care and healing.

Healing these parts takes time, just like building any important relationship. The more consistently you show up with openness, curiosity, and compassion, the deeper the trust becomes. That’s why I strongly recommend weekly therapy at first—it allows for momentum and faster relief. Biweekly sessions are also an option, but the process may feel slower. That said, I recognize therapy is a financial commitment, and we work with what’s possible given your resources.

Example of how a session might look

Your first session will be an astrology reading. But because the plan is to work together long term, it will be discussion based and collaborative. I'll highlight what stands out to me in your chart, as well as through transits and progressions (timing techniques to look ahead). In our second session and beyond, we'll start to get to know your parts. I'll help you find and identify your parts in and around your body. Parts show up via thoughts, visual images, body sensations, and/or energy around your body. I'll work with you to connect with them and get to know them, just like you'd get to know a new friend. You'll most likely have your eyes closed for a lot of the session. 

Most people experience this type of connection with their parts very differently than traditional talk therapy. Think about living in a house with a partner. Talk therapy is kind of like talking about someone, even when they aren't in the same room. IFS is kind of like sitting down with your partner, looking them in the eyes, and trying to build an honest, respectful relationship. 

Once trust is built with your parts, we can heal and reprocess trauma, past experiences, or pain that is being held in the body.

The Limitations of Astrology in Healing

One potential pitfall of integrating astrology into therapy is the temptation to stay in the realm of intellectual understanding. Some clients want to keep reading and analyzing their chart, hoping that if they understand it deeply enough, they’ll feel better. In IFS terms, this often comes from an intellectual part that believes knowledge alone will create healing.

While astrology can provide context and validation, true healing happens through direct connection with your parts. Your wounded parts don’t heal because your mind understands your chart—they heal through compassionate presence, inner connection, and experiential work.

Because of this limitation, I typically only look at a client's chart in the first session. From there, we transition to IFS, keeping the astrology in mind as we get to know your parts. After several months, we often revisit astrology again. For my long term clients, we usually stick to discussed astrology in depth once or twice a year. 

Final Thoughts

Astrology offers a profound way to understand yourself, but insight alone isn’t enough. IFS provides the tools to turn that insight into meaningful change by fostering direct relationships with your inner parts, healing past wounds, and creating lasting transformation. IFS provides the tools to navigate your inner world, heal past wounds, and step into a more integrated, self-led life.

If you’re interested in this approach, I’d love to work with you. Whether through therapy or an astrology reading, my goal is to help you move beyond just reading the map—to actually walking the path toward healing and transformation. I’m a Level 2 trained IFS therapist, and I’ve been giving astrology readings since 2018. If this resonates with you, I invite you to book a consultation where we can explore how this approach might support your healing journey.