Here's What You'll Learn for Free
- Comprehensive, compassionate, non-pathologizing treatment approach
- Paradigm-shifting perspective on “psychopathology”
- Easily integrated into other therapeutic modalities
- Teach clients to access inner wisdom and self-compassion to permanently heal traumatic wounds
- Development of the IFS model by Richard C. Schwartz, Ph.D.
- IFS as an empirically validated treatment: Summary of research support
- Concept of multiplicity: “We are all multiple personalities.”
- Components of the psyche:
- Wounded, vulnerable, parts
- Protective parts: proactive and reactive
- Burdens: Negative beliefs about oneself
- The Self: compassionate inner leader and internal source of wisdom and healing energy
- Guide clients to access their own inner wisdom and healing potential
- IFS-specific techniques for in-the-moment emotion regulation, helpful even with panic, flashbacks, and dissociation
- Assumptions of the model
- Goals of IFS therapy
- Flow of the IFS model over the course of treatment
- Flow of an individual IFS session
- Diversity and cultural sensitivity
- How IFS understands personality disorders, dissociative identity disorder, and addiction
IFS Step-by-Step
Step 1: Using Meditative Processes to Identify and Connect with a Target Part
- Differentiate the person from the symptom
- Access a state of compassion and curiosity essential for healing
- Establish a relationship with the target part
- Learn the history and benevolent intention behind the symptom
- Facilitate internal attachment work
- Learn and address the fears/concerns of protective parts
- Establish a trusting and appreciative relationship with proactive and reactive protectors
- Gain permission to proceed to healing
- Develop a compassionate, connected relationship with the wounded part
- Witness the pain rather than re-experience it: Learn to be “with”, not “in”, to avoid re-traumatization
- Retrieve the wounded part from “trauma time”
- Release/unburden thoughts, feelings, and beliefs
- Integrate change into the system and use maintenance and troubleshooting strategies
- Experiential exercise
- Video demonstration of IFS therapy with a real client
- Step-by-step commentary to solidify understanding of techniques illustrated in the video session