Hi,
I think all the ideas listed are good. I haven't personally experienced IFS, but have heard of it and will be getting a taste of it during a trial period with a new t starting this week. I've also heard of NVC, but again have not experienced it.
I don't have personal experience with this process either, but have heard that co-counseling can be very helpful. It's a process where people interested take an eight week course or so on the fundamentals of the method, basically it's people interested in helping one another taking turns as the person who listens and supports, and the person who does the work... called "counselor," and "client," but these terms are different from how therapists use them.As I understand it, the "counselor," isn't like a therapist, but just another peer trained in the same methods and techneques as the "client," in helping facilitate expression of feelings, and other techneques that envolve helping someone do inner work in a nonjudgmental environment.
Because it's a peer relationship it doesn't have the professional limets of client and therapist. The only limets are normal ones, like perna pointed out, people going their separate ways, death, moving, ETC.
But from what I read it's a good alternative to therapy and seems to accomplish similar goals of knowing oneself better and how to connect to others in relationships.
Here's a link for more info:
What is Co-counseling - Co-Counseling International

If anyone has had actual experience with this and knows more please put in your thoughts.
Also, my sister who loves horses did try equine therapy and it helped her. You might also try finding a t who has a therapy dog they use in their work if you'd feel better about using the animal to bond with at first.