Top-Rated Chicago IFS Therapist
Feeling like you're constantly running on empty while your inner critic works overtime? If you're a high-achiever struggling with burnout, anxiety, or that nagging feeling that you're somehow not enough despite all your accomplishments, you're not alone—and you don't have to keep white-knuckling your way through life. IFS therapy can help you embrace all parts of you, especially those that have gone unseen for so long.
Meet your Chicago IFS therapist
Elizabeth Bodett Dresser
Hi, I’m Elizabeth. I know what it's like to live caught in anxious overthinking and constantly overfunctioning—I've been there too. I also know, through both my personal journey and my professional experience, that it’s possible to break these patterns and start feeling like your true self.
I specialize in helping overwhelmed high-achievers quiet their inner critic and embrace authenticity through Internal Family Systems therapy. Sessions with me are a safe space where perfectionism can finally take a back seat, and you can reconnect with the confident, calm person underneath all that pressure to perform.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Clientele: Adults
Location: Chicago, IL
Virtual therapy: Yes
FAQs about IFS therapy
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Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is a therapy framework that sees people as being made up of different “parts,” all with their own roles in our inner “family.”
There are the manager parts (like your inner critic and perfectionist) that try to keep you safe by controlling everything, the firefighter parts that jump in during crisis mode, and the exiled parts that hold your deeper wounds and emotions.
At your core is the Self—the calm, wise, compassionate leader who can care for all these parts. Instead of letting your anxious manager parts run the show, IFS helps you access your Self Energy so you can lead your internal system with confidence, kindness, and compassion.
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IFS can be helpful for lots of different people, but I’ve noticed that it can be particularly powerful for high-achievers who feel stuck in patterns of perfectionism, anxiety, and burnout. If you're someone who's great at taking care of everyone else but struggles to trust yourself, or you have a lot of outward success and drive but have a hard time being vulnerable (or even admitting that, yes, you do have human needs), IFS can help. It's especially helpful for people who intellectually know they should be kinder to themselves but can't seem to actually do it.
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IFS isn't a quick fix—it requires patience and a willingness to slow down and look inward, which can feel uncomfortable at first for people used to staying busy and productive. Some clients initially find the concept of "parts" a bit abstract, though most warm up to it once they start recognizing their own patterns. It's also deeper work than just learning coping strategies, so it requires commitment to the process.
But it can be totally transformative in the long run. Plus, you don’t have to go it alone—I’ll be here to support you every step of the way. So if you’re open to considering a new, gentler way of being in the world, please reach out to schedule an intro call.
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I help clients recognize and befriend their different parts, especially those overworking, self-critical voices that have been trying to keep them safe through achievement and perfection. Rather than trying to eliminate these parts, we work toward self-compassion and internal balance. My goal is to help you become the calm, confident leader of your own life rather than feeling constantly hijacked by anxiety and self-doubt.
I’m also trained in EMDR, which we can integrate alongside IFS for even deeper healing.
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I specialize in working with high-achievers dealing with burnout, anxiety, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome. Many clients come feeling like they can't keep up the pace anymore, struggling with relationship issues because they can't be vulnerable, or dealing with unresolved trauma that shows up as chronic stress and self-doubt. I also help with work-life overwhelm, difficulty setting boundaries, and that exhausting cycle of never feeling "good enough."
If this sounds like you, I invite you to reach out for a free intro call, where we can chat more about what’s coming up for you and how I may be able to help.
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We'll start by mapping out your internal landscape—identifying the different parts of you and understanding how they've been trying to help, even when they're causing problems. Early sessions focus on building awareness and self-compassion. Over time, you'll learn to access your "Self"—that calm, wise core that can lead with confidence rather than anxiety. Expect the work to feel both challenging and deeply relieving. And again, I’ll be here alongside you throughout the entire process to support and guide you.
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You might be a good fit if you're tired of feeling like you're performing your life rather than living it, if you're successful on paper but struggling internally, or if you're ready to do deeper healing work beyond just managing symptoms. I work best with people who are willing to slow down and do the deeper work of therapy rather than just wanting to learn coping skills. And if you value authenticity and humor in therapy, we'll probably click.
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The first step is scheduling a free intro call where we can chat about what's bringing you to therapy and see if we're a good fit. If we decide to move forward, we'll schedule your first session, where we'll start building an understanding of your internal world and getting to know the different parts of you. No need to have it all figured out before we start—that's what therapy is for.