Fran D. Booth, Jory Agate – 2-Day Experiential Course Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS): Core Competencies and Techniques to Change Your Practice

Outline

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

• Comprehensive, compassionate, non-pathologizing paradigm
• Evolution of the model by Richard C. Schwartz, Ph.D.
• Integration with various therapeutic modalities
• Shift perspective on “psychopathology”
• Understand the inner world of clients, Self and parts
• Facilitate access to inner wisdom and self-compassion
• Heighten internal strengths for healing
• Unburden and heal burdens
• Empirically validated treatment (Study limitations: small sample size, no control group)
• Risks: review clinical considerations

IFS STEP-BY-STEP
Step 1: Identify, Understand, Connect

• Translate the presenting concern into part/parts
• Map the system of parts
• Identify protectors and exiles
• Know where to begin

Step 2: Employ a Meditative Process, Mindfulness

• Differentiate the person from the symptom
• Access a state of compassion
• Help clients to become curious
• Connect with the target part
• Facilitate internal attachment work

Step 3: Work with Protective Parts

• Learn the history and benevolent intention behind the symptom
• Establish a trusting relationship with proactive and reactive parts
• Understand the fears and address concerns of protective parts
• Discover the real story behind the symptom
• Resolve internal conflicts
• Gain permission to heal

Step 4: Heal the Wound

• Inner attachment work for wounds
• Connect with the wounded part
• Witness the pain rather than relive it
• Allow compassion to flow
• Retrieve the wounded part from past
• Release feelings, thoughts, sensations, negative beliefs

Step 5: Integration

• Invite additional inner resources
• Integrate systemic reorganization
• Solidify strengths/gains

Synthesis and Application

• Flow of the model
• Goals of IFS therapy
• How to start an IFS session

IFS and the Therapist

• Recognize your therapist parts
• Understand the interaction of therapist parts with client parts
• Increase therapist self-compassion
• Redefine countertransference
• Shifted therapist role

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF IFS
Anxiety and Depression

• The IFS lens on anxiety & depression
• Allow parts a voice without overwhelm
• Mindfulness vs flooding
• Strategies to help anxious and/or depressed parts

Trauma

• Techniques to work with the extreme symptoms
• Flashbacks and dissociation
• Roadblocks to healing trauma
• New strategies for suicidality and intense rage
• Understand and heal the family lineage trauma

Shame

• Identify the critic and/or part that shames
• Recognize part that experiences shame
• Implement different clinical approaches for these parts
• Appreciate the protective system that develops around shame
• Confidently address the shame system

Relationship Issues

• Think systemically, multiple systems
• Understand the parts cycle
• Ability to unbend from reactive parts and do a U-turn

Problematic Behaviors Redefined

• Listen to the part that other parts hate
• Listen to the part that hates that problem behavior
• Emotional eating & binge eating
• Addictions

Experiential Training INCLUDES

• Lecture & practice
• Videos
• Live demonstrations
• Meditations