Internal Family Systems (IFS) Primer

Course Description:

The IFS model has gained acclaim as a most powerful and comprehensive approach that changes the entire psychotherapy landscape. IFS views multiplicity of mind as our natural state and our “parts” as sub personalities that may be healed and transformed by bringing the Self into its rightful role as leader of the internal system. The Self, a core of valuable leadership qualities, is our true nature–compassionate and loving.

We rarely experience this Self because it is obscured by Self-protective psychological mechanisms, or lost in the fear, pain, and shame of past trauma. When it is felt and experienced, the calmness, creativity and compassion that it brings creates great clinical progress. IFS is a flexible model that provides abundant opportunities for application with many populations including most notably those with a significant trauma history. 

Developed over the past four decades by psychologist Dr. Richard Schwartz, IFS provides an effective model for conceptualizing distress, non-pathologizing symptoms and empowering clients to better understand themselves and live healthy lives. This model is a powerful tool that will foster deep insight and lasting changes for clients.

Participants will learn about self-awareness to identify some of their own parts as well as helping clients identify theirs. Challenges and solutions in working with the IFS model will be shared. Participants will gain foundational basic knowledge of the IFS model as we as practical ways to incorporate IFS concepts into the therapy room. This primer is sure to whet your appetite for further IFS self-study as well as professional application. 

 Note: This course will provide clinicians with a solid grounding in the theory and application of IFS, but we are not affiliated with and do not offer IFS Institute certification credits.

Learning Objectives:

Upon the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define the conceptual basis of IFS
• Describe the nature of multiplicity of the mind and how it impacts behavior
• Identify the three basic categories of parts: managers, firefighters, and exiles
• Describe the attributes of Self-energy
• List three challenges IFS therapists encounter
• Identify three skills for working with clients using the IFS model

Sources and Resources (click to expand): 

CE Credits:

 6 CE Live Online Contact Hour(s)

Note: Live interactive webinar is considered the same credit status as live in person by New York, Maryland and many other State boards. Please confirm with your local board.

Core Wellness, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0569 and for mental health counselors, #MHC-0167. Note: This course provides 6 Contact Hour(s) live online credits (via interactive webinar). 

Core Wellness, LLC is authorized by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners to sponsor social work continuing education programs and maintains full responsibility for all programs. Our credits are accepted via reciprocity by the Maryland Board of Professional Counselors and Board of Psychologists. Please verify with your board.

ASWB ACE Approved:

Core Wellness LLC, #1745, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Core Wellness LLC, #1745 maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 05/18/2020 to 05/18/2021. Social workers participating in this course will receive 6 continuing education credits (in person or live online).

Content Access:

Upon purchase, all material (link to join the live/webinar, handout and evaluation form) instantly post to your account here (you must be logged in to access) and are also sent to your email on file. Please whitelist all messages from [email protected] Upon the submission of your evaluation form, the completion certificate is posted to your account here and is sent to your inbox within 1 business day.

Cancellation, Policies and Refunds:

Fee covers: Attendance, course material and CE award to those who complete the course. Registration is open until the course sells out (when this occurs, purchase option is disabled). We recommend signing up early to secure your spot and for early bird pricing. We provide a full refund upon request for cancellations submitted seven (7) calendar days before the webinar date. Cancellations received after that time frame will be granted: a transfer, credit or recorded webinar access, when available. For further questions, please see the FAQ section or contact us. In the rare event of a training cancellation, a notification and full refund (for the course fee only) will be automatically sent to you via your email on file.

Accessibility Accommodations:

We try our best to offer accommodations and accessibility. Please contact us with at least two weeks prior notice.

Financial Declarations:

The presenter and Core Wellness hereby declare that no conflict of interest, competing interest, or commercial support for the CE program are present. Presenter receives compensation for program delivery and sales.