Why I Bring CliftonStrengths and IFS Together in Coaching
For me, the two belong together.
CliftonStrengths gives us a trusted map. It’s a framework that has been around for decades, used by organizations worldwide, and it can quickly reveal what you do best when you’re at your best. Many clients breathe easier when they see their talents named so clearly on the page. It feels validating. It feels grounding.
And yet — a chart alone can’t capture the whole story of how you move through the world. That’s where IFS comes in.
IFS (Internal Family Systems) reminds us that we are not just one voice. We’re made of many “parts” — some excited, some cautious, some visionary, some protective. They all carry their own wisdom and concerns. When we layer your CliftonStrengths results into this internal landscape, something shifts:
Your Strategic talent isn’t just a word on a page — it’s the part of you scanning ahead for what could go wrong.
Your Relator shows up as the part that longs for closeness but sometimes gives too much of yourself away.
Your Ideation becomes the part that lights up with possibilities — and occasionally overwhelms you with too many.
Instead of trying to flatten these experiences into one label, we explore how they live and breathe inside your unique system. That’s where real clarity emerges.
I find this blend works especially well for people in transition — those who feel in-between chapters, restless for change, or tired of spinning their wheels. And it seems to resonate deeply with people who think a little differently: creatives, multi-passionate professionals, and yes, many with ADHD.
CliftonStrengths offers structure and language. IFS offers compassion and flexibility. Together, they create a way forward that is both grounded and deeply personal.
If you’re standing in that in-between space — not where you used to be, not yet where you want to be — this combination can help you find your footing, trust your strengths, and move toward what’s next with clarity.
