Program Assistant Development

 

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 - registration closed
  • Friday, May 22nd 11:00am-12:00pm Central Time - registration closed
  • Wednesday, August 19th 2:00pm-3:00pm Central Time - Register Here
  • 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.

 

What are the Program Assistant Development Workshops?

Stepping into the Program Assistant role can sometimes feel like a mystery because every training team, practice group and interaction is different. PA Development Workshops are experiential learning opportunities designed to help Program Assistants deepen their effectiveness in the role. Through demonstrations, guided reflection, and real-life practice, participants explore how to work with their own system and the unique dynamics that arise while serving as a PA. These workshops are a space to bring your questions, experiences, and uncertainties, practice with real-world scenarios, and learn from experienced PAs, Assistant Trainers, and Lead Trainers.

  • Must complete PA Administration Orientation and a Level 1 training in order to be eligible.
  • Workshops are limited to 42 participants and maintain a 3:1 participant-to-staff ratio.
  • The registration fee is $225, with 7 CE credits being offered.

 

1. PA Development Workshop

Build confidence, role clarity, and facilitation skills as a Program Assistant while deepening your understanding of your own internal experience in the role.

Program Assistants often wonder:

  • What exactly is my role?
  • When should I step in and when shouldn't I?
  • How do I handle conflict or challenging group dynamics?
  • How do I give feedback without causing harm?
  • How do I create safety while still helping participants grow?

If these questions resonate with you, this workshop provides a space to explore and practice different approaches, deepen your understanding of the role and learn how to effectively support participants.

Focus includes:

  • Understanding the PA role, responsibilities, and expectations
  • Knowing when and how to intervene effectively when facilitating groups and giving feedback
  • Managing conflict, activation, and challenging group dynamics
  • Working with power dynamics and cultural considerations
  • Bringing more Self-energy and IFS understanding into training spaces
  • Learning to track and work with your own system as it arises in the PA role

Ideal for aspiring, new, and developing PAs seeking greater clarity, confidence, and practical experience in the role.

 

2. Advanced PA Development Workshop

Strengthen your ability to navigate conflict, power dynamics, and complex group situations through the lens of rupture and repair.

Once you've served as a PA, you begin to encounter situations that don't have simple answers:

  • How do I respond when a participant is upset with me?
  • What happens when conflict emerges in a practice group?
  • How do I repair a rupture when I've contributed to it or support repair when I haven't?
  • What projections might participants place on me because of my role and identities?
  • How do I stay grounded when difficult dynamics arise?

Conflict, misunderstandings, and ruptures are a normal part of relational work. This workshop moves beyond role fundamentals to explore the complexity of power, responsibility, rupture, and repair in relational learning environments

Focus includes:

  • Navigating difficult group dynamics, challenging participant interactions, and rupture and repair
  • Understanding power, role authority, projection, and the responsibilities of leadership within your own system
  • Strengthening your ability to remain grounded and lead with Self-energy throughout trainings
  • Applying advanced IFS tools to complex relational and leadership challenges in the PA role

This workshop is ideal for experienced PAs who have already served in an IFS training and are looking to deepen their effectiveness in complex dynamics.

 

How do I sign up?

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, September 11 with Leslie Petruk - registration opened (emailed to eligible participants)
  • Tuesday, October 27 with Gwen Hurd - registration opened (emailed to eligible participants)
  • Friday, November 5 (Experienced PA Development Workshop) with Rina Dubin - coming soon
  • Friday, December 11 with Terri Dalton - coming soon

If registration for a workshop you are interested in is closed, please join the waitlist to be notified by email if a spot becomes available. 

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.

2026 PA Handbook.pdf

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.