Clinician Spotlight: Marshall Huggins, IFS Therapist in California
Internal Family Systems SM (IFS) therapy, developed by Richard Schwartz Ph.D., is more than just a method — it is a paradigm-shifting approach for deeply understanding and appreciating every part of ourselves. The IFS framework encourages a gentle inquiry that allows us to understand ourselves, our families, and our world in a new and holistic way.
We are excited to welcome Marshall Huggins, a Licensed Therapist with a warm, down-to-earth approach that blends Internal Family Systems (IFS), existential philosophy, and Buddhist practices. Marshall specializes in supporting clients through anxiety, depression, burnout, relationship challenges, life transitions, and spirituality, with additional expertise in psychedelic integration and ketamine-assisted therapy. His work emphasizes self-trust, alignment with personal values, and nurturing inner harmony.
Describe your approach to working with clients….
First, I like to spend some time getting to know you. I aim for a warm, safe, and down-to-earth vibe where you feel like you can be yourself. Trust is the secret sauce. Humor is welcome.
I am an existentialist and my IFS approach often comes back to a focus on freedom, meaning, and connection. I am also heavily influenced by Buddhist practices, including non-attachment.
I listen deeply for what’s going on on the surface and below. I’ll ask questions and reflect. We’ll map out parts and see what’s hurting or out of tune. We’ll dig into what matters to you, and how to get more in alignment with your values. Eventually, when we get clear on the goal or direction, i.e. what parts need extra care, we can discuss how to nurture your relationship with those parts and establish some accountability if that feels helpful.
When processing heavier emotions, grief, loss, anger, etc. we’ll compassionately give it space to see what messages are there. Often there is nothing to “fix” or do, but just to tenderly hold those parts of us that are fearful or in pain. Trauma blocks love, and love heals trauma.
I also acknowledge the myriad of external influences on us. We don’t live in a bubble. You are always welcome to process what’s happening in the world and your community with me.
What is your professional background? Are there any areas of interest you specialize in?
The main areas I specialize in are anxiety, depression, men’s issues, burnout, relationship issues, life transitions, substance abuse, grief, spirituality, and psychedelic integration. The last few years I’ve worked in ketamine therapy and supported hundreds of folks through their journey. I also work as a facilitator for clinical trials on psychedelic medicine for depression. I started my mental health career in residential treatment, an IOP recovery center for dual diagnosis patients, and ecotherapy. Before that, I worked in tech consulting and tropical rainforest conservation. Environmental work is a huge passion of mine, and my career there gave me a strong personal understanding of the anxiety and grief of a dying planet.
What are some internal conflicts you notice in a lot of your clients? If so, how do you help them?
The conflict between prioritizing others’ needs and prioritizing their own; an old way of being (tied to their identity and belonging) and a new way of being that inspires them; “Should I invest more in where I am? Or move on to somewhere new”, be it a job, relationship, place. In all these situations, there is a fear of the unknown and lack of trust in one’s Self to make decisions. I help people be more honest with themselves about what their body, intuition, and spirit is telling them. Drawing upon my DBT training, we also focus on holding two opposites to be true simultaneously.
Finish this sentence: "Therapy is for you when..
… you are ready to take an honest look in the mirror. When you need to feel, explore, understand, and to be witnessed. Therapy can help you check blind spots, stay accountable, and cultivate a vision of life that inspires you to change. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure. Therapy is dynamic, and should serve what you need in the moment.
What is it about IFS that speaks to you?
It resonates with my inner reality. I have always felt like a multi-faceted person. IFS helped me embrace that instead of thinking something was wrong with me and denying who I am. The amount of love and understanding that is baked into the model feels way more heart-centered than other modalities, which leads to a really felt sense of I’m enough, I’m okay, I’m connected. I feel harmony and peace within me.
What Personal experiences drew you to this field? How did you know this is the career path you wanted to pursue? How did you get started? What made you interested in being a mental health professional?
I became a therapist because I never had one when I needed it most. I didn’t have a wise, honest, compassionate, listening ear to sit with me in my suffering, to help me sort through what I actually wanted from life, to explore my patterns and parts. To be able to offer this to clients gives my life deep meaning and satisfaction. And my clients in turn teach me so much about what it means to be human. Even though it can really feel like it, we are not alone in our pain.
The saying “In order to find your way, you have to get lost” could be a tagline for my life. I’ve jumped around more places, people, passions, and perspectives than I can count. It’s been rewarding and challenging. Through all the exploration, my yearning for purpose guides me. I began my career in tech consulting after graduating with a business degree from UT Austin. Feeling unsatisfied and freshly back from a trip to the Amazon, I joined a rainforest conservation non-profit. I was in love with the mission, but burnout struck me hard, and I did some soul-searching. In this period of darkness, a few synchronicities pointed me to the idea of being a therapist. So, I gave it a shot. I worked at an eco-therapy center in Hawaii, got my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, worked at a few ketamine therapy providers, and now offer psychotherapy, mostly IFS. Recently, I began working as an assistant facilitator for FDA clinical trials of psychedelic medicines for depression.
The golden thread that connects all these paths is service. I feel my best when I’m doing something for the greater good – and remembering to take care of myself. IFS has helped a lot in tending to my many parts with love and understanding.
What social issues, population, or diagnoses are you passionate about?
I am passionate about working with folks dedicated to service – healthcare, activism, public service, NGOs, business leadership. I help them give back to themselves, assert boundaries, and to replenish their cups to allow them to pour love back into the world. I also really enjoy working with people who are caught in transitions – career, relationship, spiritual emergence. I have been there so many times and see how the trajectory of our next chapter is set in the transition. One of my beloved teachers, Thich Nhat Hanh, puts it very simply that, “The next moment is made of this moment. So, the best way of taking care of the next moment is taking care of this moment.”
How do you stay grounded in Self energy?
Nature, playing music, surfing, dance, yoga, meditation, breathwork, and regularly punctuating my day with moments of mindfulness and gratitude. I laugh. I prioritize time in my life with others who exude Self energy and I limit my time with individuals who take me out of Self energy.
How do you explain IFS to clients?
Our parts are like children in a car. You don't want them driving your car because they may crash it. You don’t want them in the trunk because they might die. You want them in the back seat, where they can be seen and heard, but they’re not controlling anything. So if you are feeling a strong emotion and a part is taking over, maybe there is an important message you need to attend to, but remember that emotions pass. The kids in the back may be in distress, but you are able to stay with them until the storm passes. They can be held by your patient and loving Self in the driver’s seat.
Finish this sentence: The therapeutic relationship should...
Be a strong, safe, and open vessel for you to explore. Like being aboard a sturdy ship in the ocean. You may get uncomfortable at times, but you always feel safe and supported. You feel fully accepted, but are open to being called in when you drift off your stated course. You set the sails and choose where we go, and if you need me, I’m here as your guide.
Does Marshall sound like the right therapist for your path to healing? If you are based in California, contact our Client Care Coordinator or call 503-447-3244 to schedule a consultation.
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