Welcome to Luna Counseling!

Lorri Ballard is a Certified IFS Therapist

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is an evidence-based therapeutic modality that identifies and addresses multiple sub-personalities (parts) or families within each person’s mental system. These parts are created in situations to help protect and survive. These parts consist of wounded parts and painful emotions such as anxiety or anger, and parts that try to control and protect the person from the pain of the wounded parts. The parts can be in conflict with each other and with one’s core Self. Self is a concept in IFS that describes the confident, compassionate, whole person that is at the core of every individual. IFS focuses on healing the wounded parts and restoring mental balance and harmony by changing the dynamics that create discord among the sub-personalities and the Self. Our inner parts contain valuable qualities and our core Self knows how to heal, allowing us to become integrated and whole. In IFS all parts are welcome.

Sandplay is a well-documented and recognized therapeutic modality that is used with clients of all ages. Sandplay is based on the work of Carl Jung and was developed by Dora Kalff. This modality is used frequently with clients who have experienced trauma or who are experiencing anxiety and/or depression as a way to identify and reconcile conscious and unconscious conflicts. It provides a language beyond words and access to deeper parts of Self that ego tends to keep hidden. The client creates a picture in the sand that is a symbolic representation of their experience; the picture often will reveal truths that cannot be accessed through words.

The therapist provides the client with a “safe and protected space” to allow both conscious and unconscious content to emerge so that is can be processed and integrated into the client’s conscious reality so that life can be lived more authentically.

In my practice I use a combination of cognitive behavioral techniques and techniques taken from dialectical behavioral therapy. Through this type of therapy clients take a close look at both destructive and constructive thought and behavior patterns in order to identify what is serving them to reach goals and what is deterring them from reaching their goals. This type of therapy is directive and involves practicing skills outside of the therapy room. Some of the skills taught, practiced and explored during a therapy session include: emotion regulation, mindfulness, tracking and charting behaviors/thoughts, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. These techniques and skills can be very useful in creating dramatic behavioral and thought pattern change in clients and help with interpersonal interactions.

Depth therapy is a process of bringing unconscious material (behaviors, thoughts, ideas, dreams) into the conscious realm so they can be explored, processed and integrated to create a more authentic way of living in the world. Techniques used to explore this realm include Internal Family Systems (IFS), sandplay, collage, insight-oriented talk therapy and dreamwork. Depth therapy can create a more aligned and profound connection with Self, others and the world.

The depth therapy that I employ in my practice is based primarily around the psychology developed by Carl Jung. It involves looking closely at the personal unconscious but also how it is interwoven and influenced by the collective unconscious, which involves taking a closer look at the archetypal realm. This process journeys toward greater wholeness and consciousness, ultimately carving a path of greater individuation, or a more authentic and whole Self. 

Transformational coaching is a process that incorporates modalities that support and invite clients to choose from a Self-led place, which seamlessly leads to integration of meaning and purpose and aligns clients with authentic life goals.  

Lorri primarily utilizes the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model to support coaching clients with living and choosing more authentically.  Transformational coaching allows space for clients to realize that their creativity, curiosity, compassion, confidence, clarity, courage, calmness and connectedness are inherent and inextricable from who they are and how to consciously and intentionally manifest these qualities both personally and professionally. 

This type of coaching is meant for those who desire inner congruence and are willing to suspend the status quo and welcome transformation in the multitude of ways it can show up.