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)Internal Family Systems (IFS)

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

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

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

Step 2: Employ a Meditative Process, MindfulnessStep 2: Employ a Meditative Process, Mindfulness

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

Step 3: Work with Protective PartsStep 3: Work with Protective Parts

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

Step 4: Heal the WoundStep 4: Heal the Wound

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

Step 5: IntegrationStep 5: Integration

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

Synthesis and ApplicationSynthesis and Application

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

IFS and the TherapistIFS and the Therapist

• Recognize your therapist partsRecognize your therapist parts
• Understand the interaction of therapist parts with client partsUnderstand the interaction of therapist parts with client parts
• Increase therapist self-compassionIncrease therapist self-compassion
• Redefine countertransferenceRedefine countertransference
• Shifted therapist roleShifted therapist role

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF IFSCLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF IFS
Anxiety and DepressionAnxiety and Depression

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

TraumaTrauma

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

ShameShame

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

Relationship IssuesRelationship Issues

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

Problematic Behaviors RedefinedProblematic Behaviors Redefined

• Listen to the part that other parts hateListen to the part that other parts hate
• Listen to the part that hates that problem behaviorListen to the part that hates that problem behavior
• Emotional eating & binge eatingEmotional eating & binge eating
• AddictionsAddictions

Experiential Training INCLUDESExperiential Training INCLUDES

• Lecture & practiceLecture & practice
• VideosVideos
• Live demonstrationsLive demonstrations
• MeditationsMeditations