PA Administrative Orientation
Our PA Administrative Orientation is a FREE 60-minute webinar that will introduce you to the administrative expectations and role of an IFSI Program Assistant. As we work to support the PA role, it is our hope that all current (experienced and new) Program Assistants will have completed this orientation.
Below are our upcoming webinars. Registration and live attendance are required for the PA Administrative Orientation (no recordings made). No CE credits are offered for this free webinar.
- Wednesday, February 18th 2:00pm-3:00pm Central Time - Register Here
- Friday, May 22nd 11:00am-12:00pm Central Time - Register Here
- Wednesday, August 19th 2:00pm-3:00pm Central Time - registration not open
- Friday, November 13th 11:00am-12:00pm Central Time - registration not open
We hope that you leave this orientation aware of what is expected of a Program Assistant. You will also learn where to go to get your questions answered and how to get support. Below is the complete IFS-Institute's Program Assistant Handbook.
PA Development Workshop
Those who complete attendance in a PA Administration Orientation webinar will be eligible to register for an upcoming full-day PA Development Workshop or Experienced PA Development Workshop. The workshops are not mandatory in order to apply for a PA role. These sessions are limited to 42 participants and will be supported by a 3:1 participant to staff ratio. The online workshops will be offered at a fee for the day to cover administrative costs and offers CE credits. The cost of this online workshop is $225.
PA Development Workshop:
The workshops are designed for mental health professionals and others in allied fields, interested in being a Program Assistant in an IFS Training. This workshop's focus will be to increase participants awareness, offer skill building and structure to become effective Program Assistants and to facilitate better IFS oriented interventions in clinical practice. This training will be led by Program Assistant staff and IFS Lead Trainers.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the role and responsibilities of a Program Assistant, including the ability to handle challenges and opportunities that arise during sessions, work with their own parts, and model Self-led feedback.
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of speaking for parts and the ability to identify when it is appropriate to do so in order to help others identify and connect with their own parts.
- Identify and assess power differentials within a group/training setting and understand how these can impact the therapeutic relationship.
- Identify how cultural and legacy burdens inform our navigation in life, and how these may influence others' experiences and perspectives within the therapeutic setting.
- Apply skills with greater confidence when teaching and holding space for participants, including the ability to facilitate group exercises and provide feedback to participants.
- Demonstrate the ability to bring more Self-energy into a group setting, including the ability to step in, interrupt, and slow down when necessary to create a safe and supportive therapeutic environment.
- Demonstrate greater skill and understanding of the IFS model and the ability to teach it to others, including the ability to integrate the model in a group setting.
Experienced PA Development Workshop:
Those who completed the first PA Development Workshop and have been a PA in a training at least once will be eligible to register for The Experienced PA Development Workshop. This experienced workshop is a one-day, immersive learning experience tailored specifically for seasoned Program Assistants who are ready to deepen their impact within IFS trainings. Designed to enhance presence, refine facilitation skills, and broaden understanding of the Program Assistant (PA) role, this advanced workshop supports participants in stepping into their work with greater clarity, confidence, and Self-led leadership.
Rooted in the core principles of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and grounded in embodied practice, the workshop offers a rich environment for exploration, reflection, and integration. It invites experienced PAs to examine and expand their awareness of the unique responsibilities and relational dynamics involved in holding space as part of a training staff team.
Learning Objectives:
- Build upon their experience as a Program Assistant and PA Development Workshop participant
- Deepen their understanding of power and responsibility in the PA role
- Refine group leadership and relational repair skills
- Practice real-time application of advanced IFS tools
- Explore the parts that arise in response to leadership and projection
- Strengthen their ability to hold space with clarity and Self-energy
Registration opportunities will be offered to those who have completed a PA Administrative Orientation, in addition to have received a Certificate of Completion from a Level 1 training. Once registration for a PA Development Workshop is scheduled, an email with registration details will be sent to those who have completed the PA Administrative Orientation.
2026 PA Development Workshop Dates
All workshops are from 9:00am-5:00pm Central Time
- Friday, February 27 with Rina Dubin
- Monday, April 6 with Terri Dalton
- Wednesday, July 8 (Global Majority) with Margaret Conley
- Friday, September 11 with Leslie Petruk
- Tuesday, October 27 with Gwen Hurd
- Friday, November 5 (Experienced PA Development Workshop) with Rina Dubin
- Friday, December 11 with Terri Dalton
These programs are designed for trainings organized by IFS Institute. International Program Assistants are welcome; however, some administrative procedure policies may differ for trainings organized by International Partners.
We hope to see you at an upcoming PA Administrative Orientation webinar and one of our PA Development Workshops. On behalf of the IFSI Talent Management team we look forward to connecting with you and supporting everyone on their Program Assistant journey.
Frequently Asked PA Questions
Who selects the PA Staff? Trainers? IFSI?
The trainer team selects their PA staff. Trainers try to have a mix of both experienced and inexperienced PAs since experienced PAs can provide mentoring to inexperienced PAs. It is also suggested that an inexperienced PA complete at least one year of private practice working with the model after completing their Level 1 and being a PA.
Am I required to attend the PA Admin Orientation and PA Development Workshop to be a PA?
No, it is not mandatory to attend either the PA Admin Orientation or PA Development Workshop, however, we strongly recommend that PAs attend the PA Admin Orientation at a minimum. The PA Application asks if the applicant has attended the PA Admin Orientation so that Trainers will know who has attended when they receive their PA applications. Trainers may give stronger weight to those who have attended the PA Admin Orientation.
Can I apply to be a PA if I don't live in the United States?
Those who want to be a PA in a North American Training must have a US Social Security Number or Canadian Social Insurance Number in order to be a PA in a North American Training. PAs must also be able to receive payment by check to their residence.
Can a practitioner be a PA or become a trainer?
Yes, practitioners can apply to be a PA. We are currently working on a separate track for practitioners and the trainers for that track can be either therapists or practitioners.
Is there a pathway for PAs to have grievances heard and attended to with transparency?
You may review the IFSI Complaint Policy on the website at Help Center | IFS Institute's Complaint Policy. The person making the complaint will be asked to submit their complaint in writing, via the online complaint form that can be found at the bottom of the contact us page of our website. We will review the complaint, in consultation with the Executive Committee, and will issue a response within 30 days of receipt of the written complaint.
Is there a way to apply to be a PA using the information from a previous application?
Unfortunately, there is no way to save information in Submittable which is the platform used for PA Applications. Some PAs save their longer written answers in a Word document and then cut and past them into their next PA application.
Is there a list to join to be available to Trainers who need a PA on an emergency or short term basis?
Yes, you can join the list at the bottom of this page: https://ifs-institute.com/trainings/program-assistants
How do I become an IFSI Trainer?
You can find information on the IFSI Trainer Career Path at IFS Trainer Career Path | IFS Institute (ifs-institute.com)
Do the Mentoring Programs on the IFSI Trainer Career Path have a cost?
No, the ATP (Accelerated Training Program), the ATMP (Assistance Trainer Mentee Program) and the LTP (Lead Trainer Program) have no cost to the mentees.
Are evaluations of the Trainers anonymous to everyone at IFSI?
The Staff-to-Staff surveys are anonymous to the Talent Management staff and Trainer Team.
What are Bridge Days and are they paid?
Bridge Days have replaced what used to be Teleconferences. Bridge Days are 5.5 hours long which allow for more practice time of the model or for any other topics that the trainers think necessary. For the most common L1-3 training, there are two Bridge Days which take place between Sessions 1 & 2 and Sessions 3 & 4. Bridge Days are paid the same as a training session day - $155.
What is IFS Institute's Dual/Multiple Relationship Policy
Please see Help Desk | IFS Institute's Dual and Multiple Relationship Review Policy to view the Dual Multiple Relationship Policy.