IFS Certification Reviewers

INTERVIEW

Ralph Cohen, PhD, LMFT is a Professor in the Department of Counseling and Family Therapy at Central Connecticut State University where he is director of the Master's program in Marriage and Family Therapy and coordinates the Internal Family Systems Continuing Education Program. He is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and is an Approved Supervisor for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He recently served on the Connecticut Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Board as Secretary and is a founding member of the Advocacy Committee. Dr. Cohen is a founding co-editor of the Journal of Self Leadership, and IFS-oriented professional publication. As a licensed psychologist and Marriage and Family therapist, Dr. Cohen has a private practice in Newington, Connecticut, providing IFS-based therapy for individuals, couples, and families.

Michael Elkin is an IFS Senior Lead Trainer who has been teaching the model throughout the US and Europe since 1999. He brings a background of hypnotic and strategic technology to his practice of IFS,

and has contributed innovative approaches to addictions, phobia, and anxiety. His teaching is humorous and stimulating. His current focus is on healing and sustaining relationships.

INTERVIEW

Kay Gardner, MS, LCPC, is a certified Hakomi therapist who incorporates body work into her therapy practice.  She is the creator of several workshops, including "Men and Their Mothers" and "Women, Sexuality, and Power."

INTERVIEW

Paul Ginter, EdD is a private practice psychologist in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Paul primarily uses the Internal Family Systems Model in his work with individuals, couples and families.  He is particularly interested in incorporating spiritual practices such as meditation into his work with clients.

Mary Kruger, MS, LMFT, founded Rimmon Pond Counseling, an IFS-based private practice in Connecticut, and has specialized in addictions, eating disorders, trauma, and relationships for over 20 years.  Mary incorporates IFS with her own penchant for the experience, and has developed a variety of creative ways to work with parts and access Self-energy in individual, relational, and group contexts.  She enjoys sharing her experience in her teaching and consulting on a national level. Mary is noted for her humor, creativity, passion, and love of dancing and people.

INTERVIEW

Susan McConnell has taught IFS throughout the US and in Europe since 1997.  Her involvement as Senior Trainer with the Center includes developing training curricula, training IFS training staff, and designing and leading somatic psychotherapy retreats and seminars.  In her private practice in Chicago, Susan specializes in recovering the wholeness of body, mind and spirit, drawing from her bodywork and movement experience and her Buddhist practice. She brings commitment and passion to her work and her play with her partner and her dogs along Lake Michigan's shores.

Paul Neustadt, MSS, LICSW is an IFS Co-Lead Trainer and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. He has a private practice in Arlington, MA where he specializes in couples therapy, parent coaching, and IFS consultation. For 17 years he was the director of a community counseling and prevention program for children, adolescents, and their families, and before that he worked in a college counseling center and a community mental health center. He taught couples and family therapy at a family therapy institute and in two graduate programs. As a trainer Paul creates a safe and accepting atmosphere, attending thoughtfully to group process and making sure all parts are welcome. He teaches the Model with a clear, down to earth and open-hearted manner.

INTERVIEW

Mariel Pastor, MA, LMFT, is an IFS Lead Trainer and consultant based in Portland, Oregon. Trained in IFS since 1998, she leads workshops and retreats on the Unburdened System mandala internationally and online. She is the principal author of the IFS Institute Level 1 Participant Training Manual and is Co-founder and Clinical Director of the IFS Telehealth Collective, a multi-state group practice with IFS-trained and licensed clinicians.  Mariel is a compelling teacher widely known for her clarity, warmth, and humor.  She has a special interest in Integral Psychology and incorporates somatic psychotherapies and spirituality within the framework of IFS.  Her previous work in the entertainment industry and love of working with artists inspired her to create Character Mapping – an experiential psychological toolbox for actors, writers, and directors to create authentic characters and use the craft to find their Selves.  Information about all of these offerings can be found at www.marielpastor.com  www.Character-Mapping.com, www.ifstherapyonline.com  

INTERVIEW
Ann L. Sinko, LMFT has over 30 years of clinical experience and is licensed marriage and family therapist in Connecticut. She is in private practice and has been teaching as a adjunct Professor in the Marriage and family therapy program at Central CT State University for 26 years. She has integrated IFS theory and technique in all facets of her creative work with families, couples, individuals and groups. She establishes a safe environment in which clients experience unconditional acceptance. She has a background in gestalt therapy and uses sandtray therapy and in her work. Ann is passionate about teaching and believes that theory is best integrated though experiential learning. She brings has a down to earth, concrete style along with a sense of humor to her teaching. Ann is a seasoned world traveler, loves the outdoors and is a avid gardener

Nancy Sowell is an Internal Family Systems lead trainer and consultant in private practice on Cape Cod and in Newton, Massachusetts. She is a teaching associate at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Psychiatry at the Cambridge Health Alliance, where she has been a clinical supervisor for many years. Nancy has been a psychotherapist since 1992, working with individuals, couples, and groups. She has pursued training from many therapeutic schools of thought and in various therapeutic techniques, such as hypnosis, biofeedback, EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and meditation. She integrates mindful awareness of the body, emotions, thoughts, and deeply held beliefs, as they influence our mood, behavior, health, and relationships. Specializing in behavioral medicine and IFS-based treatment for pain and illness, Nancy co-created an IFS treatment program for rheumatoid arthritis patients in a pioneering research study at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. She knows both personally and professionally the power of Self compassion in healing and restoring health.

Elizabeth Taeubert LCSW, RN, MS is an Internal Family Systems Therapist and Lead Trainer for CSL. She has extensive experience as a group facilitator and educator with an approach that is sensitive, respectful, and empowering. Elizabeth is in private practice in Denver and Boulder Colorado. She works with adult individuals and couples. She also works with clients via phone and skype.

Mona Barbera, PhD, CC, is a psychologist in private practice in Rhode Island. She offers IFS couples therapy, IFS couples workshops and is the author of the award-winning IFS relationship book, Bring Yourself to Love: How Couples Can Turn Disconnection into Intimacy. She is a former board member of the New Society for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, and is trained in EMDR and Imago Relationship Therapy. She is an Assistant Director and Shambhala Assistant Director for Shambhala Buddhist meditation.

Kevin Davis, LCSW, LMFT, LCAS, Approved AMFT Supervisor, is an IFS therapist who specializes in addiction, trauma and the impact of early imprints. She has a passion for helping clients connect to and use the inherent treatment plan that lives in all of us as individuals, relationally and in community. Kevin is Co-Founder of Hospice at Charlotte, and founder of the Family Therapy Training Institute at United Family Services. With over 30 years of experience, Kevin uses mind/body approaches to help others enhance resilience and achieve purpose.

Rina Dubin is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Newton, MA who works with individuals and couples.  She has been involved with the IFS community since 2004.  She has a broad background in trauma and offers supervision and consultation.  She loves being involved in the process of healing and IFS has become the centerpiece in this work.  She has also been involved with IFSNE since its beginning in 2009 and as a member of the Steering Committee from 2010 - 2018, and is excited and overwhelmed about the huge explosion of interest in IFS.

Katelyn Staecker, LCSW, is a Certified Practioner of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy, and a psychotherapist, teacher, workshop leader and IFS assistant trainer. She has been in private practice on the North Oregon Coast for over 20 years. Katelyn facilitates workshops and retreats on Spirituality, Conscious Eating, Personal Growth and Relationship Skills. She has a special interest in developing communities of all types and teaching the interpersonal skills necessary for sustaining them. She works with a gifted co-therapist, Sophie, who is a Labradoodle and oh so cute.

Einat Avni Bronstein, MSW, LCSW, Co-founder of The Israeli Institute for IFS, earned a masters in clinical social work from Washington University and graduated earlier from the Tel Aviv University Law School. An experienced psychotherapist with 23 years of practice in individual, couples, family, and group therapy. Einat led multiple workshops, seminars and trainings in the US and in Israel, she has completed Levels 1, 2 and 3 training in IFS and is a certified IFS therapist, IFS supervisor and IFS lead trainer. She is also an instructor in the Marriage and Family Therapy program through Continuing Education at Tel Aviv University.

Osnat (Osi) Arbel, PhD, LMFT is a Lead Trainer in Israel. As the Co-founder of the Israeli Institute for IFS she is training, supervising, and facilitating groups while living the IFS model both personally and professionally. In her private practice she provides IFS-based therapy for individuals, couples, and families. Dr. Arbel is an AAMFT Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor currently dividing her time between Israel, and Colorado. In Israel she is teaching MFT courses at Tel-Aviv University and Tel-Hai Academic College and supervising MFT practicum courses. In Colorado she holds an Assistant Professor appointment at Argosy University/Denver campus, teaching at the Counseling and MFT programs. Visit her on the web: www.ifs-israel.org ; On facebook: facebook.com/DrOsnatArbel ; Join her on LinkedIn: il.linkedin.com/in/oarbel

Kathy Cox, MSW, LICSW, is a Certified IFS Therapist and IFS Assistant Trainer and has been a psychotherapist for more than 25 years.  She lives in Olympia, Washington where she offers IFS therapy, training and consultation to therapists learning IFS.  Kathy has a special interest in trauma, grief and loss, and spirituality, and is known for her humor and warmth. 

Jory Agate, MA, LMHC, MDiv, IFS Certified. Jory comes to the field of psychotherapy after a 10-year career in Unitarian Universalist ministry that focused on youth, families, sexuality, leadership development, and multiculturalism. In her current practice of psychotherapy and spiritual counseling she specializes in working with individuals, families, clergy, couples and staff teams. Fluent in American Sign Language, Jory provides therapy for those who communicate in ASL. She maintains a private practice in Cambridge, MA and is a frequent trainer for IFS Institute, PESI, and the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Leslie Petruk, LCMHC-S, NCC, BCC is an IFS-Level-3 and IFS Certified therapist, a Board Certified Coach and the Director of The Stone Center For Counseling and Leadership (www.thestonecenternc.com) in Charlotte, NC. Her group private practice serves children, individuals, couples and families.  One of her specialty areas is working with parents utilizing the IFS model.  In addition, Leslie provides consultation and supervision to individuals and groups seeking licensure or IFS Certification.  She has taught introductory IFS workshops as well as the application of IFS for clinicians working with children and parents.  Leslie has presented at the IFS National Conference on Parenting, The Application of Sandtray to IFS, IFS and Play Therapy, and applying IFS to Work with Children and Parents.  She has also developed a parenting program that applies IFS principals for all parents which she offers in a workshop format.

Gwen Hurd, LCSW, NCCE, NCPC, is a Certified IFS Therapist and Clinical Consultant.  She graduated from the University of Chicago with her MSW in 1994. She was introduced to IFS during her graduate program and began her level one in 1998. She finished her level three training in 2014 and began Program Assisting in 2015.  She has used IFS in her work as a Child Protection Investigator in the Chicago area and with at-risk youth and families both as a therapist and program director, in northwest Indiana.  She moved to St George, Utah in 2008.  She has taught at both the bachelor's and master's degree levels.  She is currently the Clinical Director and Therapist/Custody Evaluator at Sage Circle Counseling Center in St George. She is currently licensed in Utah, Nevada, Texas, and Nebraska.