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

Description

Handouts

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

Faculty

Fran D. Booth Related seminars and products: 1

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Frances D. Booth, LICSW is a certified IFS therapist and trainer with over 40 years of direct clinical experience in a wide variety of settings. As a national and international IFS trainer, she collaborates with Dr. Richard Schwartz, founder of Internal Family Systems, to bring IFS and Self-leadership to diverse populations worldwide.

Fran’s clinical specialties are: trauma, anxiety, depression, cancer and medical concerns, eating disorders, and attachment disorders. She has successfully integrated IFS principles into her practice and she consults widely to clinicians on using IFS. She brings to this workshop a depth of experience for integrating IFS into practice. A dynamic, engaging speaker, Fran’s unique blend of theoretical understanding and clinical expertise will provide a solid IFS foundation.

Fran graduated from Cornell University and Simmons School for Social Work and has held faculty positions at Smith College School for Social Work, Tufts Medical School and William James College.