Step One - Details

Intro to IFS for EMDR Therapists

2-day Experiential Workshop

This is an introductory experiential IFS course.

Designed for the EMDR therapist preparing for our IFS-Informed EMDR courses. Of course, since it focuses predominantly on teaching the basics of IFS, non-EMDR therapists are welcome and will benefit as well.

Registration $600

$100 discount for repeaters!

If you have taken this 2-day course already, you qualify for a $100 discount. The registration form will allow you to indicate that you have taken this course before and then you will pay only $500.

  • Read up, and be prepared.

    You should be familiar with IFS basic concepts from reading, prior workshops, or your own personal IFS therapy to optimally benefit from this course. A bibliography is available below.

    With participants having that preparation, lectures can be short and experiential learning from live volunteer demos and Guide-supported practice sessions will be optimized.

  • What you will learn:

    EMDR has long had concerns related to dissociation, defenses, and complexity. Ego state therapy in various forms has been highly recommended by notable leaders in the EMDR and trauma treatment field as a necessary adjunct. IFS is becoming widely known for its systemic, relational, non-pathologizing features.

    In IFS, ego states are parts are embedded in an adaptive and protective system and can be guided by a (higher) Self, which is qualitatively different from those parts. The Self is capable of healing burdened, stuck, wounded, or extreme/symptomatic parts through its energetic presence in a healing relationship. Self-Energy, a product of Self-Presence has a healing effect on such parts.

    Participants will be introduced to the assumptions and basic concepts of the model via powerpoint lecture, and then shown the process in volunteer demo sessions, followed by practice sessions in the roles of therapist and client, coached by an experienced Guide. There is a 3-1 participant-to-Guide ratio in the course.

  • Learning Objectives:

    At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:

    1. Describe concerns about using the EMDR Standard Protocol without additional knowledge and skills.

    2. Describe the unique advantages of IFS as an Ego State model for use in combination with EMDR.

    3. Explain the makeup of parts and how IFS gathers information about parts as targets for processing.

    4. Describe the three categories of parts in IFS.

    5. Describe at least 8 unique qualities of the Self in IFS.

    6. Explain what blending with a part is, and describe the IFS process of unblending.

    7. Explain what the IFS therapist does when a part won’t unblend.

    8. Describe Witnessing and list the 6 F’s of Witnessing in IFS.

    9. Explain the IFS concept of burdens.

    10. Describe the two components of a Protector’s Positive Intention.

    11. Recite the 3 ingredients of “Special Sauce” IFS witnessing ‘cadence comments’ and explain their importance in witnessing.

    12. Explain the role of the Self in IFS healing.

    13. Describe final two IFS healing processes that follow witnessing.

Intro to IFS for EMDR Therapists Bibliography 

 

Anderson, F.G (2021). Transcending Trauma: Healing Complex PTSD with Internal Family Systems Therapy. Eau Claire, Wisconsin: PESI Publishing.

 

Anderson, F.G., Sweezy, M., & Schwartz, R.C. (2017). Internal family systems skills training manual: Trauma-informed treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD & substance abuse. Eau Claire, Wisconsin: PESI Publishing.

 

Ecker, B., Ticic, R., & Hulley, L. (2012). Unlocking the emotional brain: Eliminating symptoms at their roots using memory reconsolidation. NewYork: Routledge.

 

Forgash & M. Copeley (Eds.), Healing the heart of trauma and dissociation with EMDR and ego state therapy. New York, NY: Springer publishing.

 

Goulding, R.A., & Schwartz, R.C. (2002). The mosaic mind: Empowering the tormented Selves of child abuse survivors. Oak Park IL: Trailheads Publications, The Center for Self Leadership.

 

Holmes, T. & Holmes, L. (2007). Parts work: An illustrated guide to your inner life. Chicago: Winged HeartPress.

 

Lepak, M. M., & Carson, G. D. (2021, November 4). Presence Psychotherapy: A Novel Integrative Trauma Treatment Model

for Thorough Memory Reconsolidation. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration. Advance online publication. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/int0000273

 

O’Shea Brown, G. (2021) Internal Family Systems Informed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: An Integrative Technique for Treatment of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorders. International Body Psychotherapy Journal The Art and Science of Somatic Praxis

Volume 19, Number 2, Fall/Winter 2020/2021, pp. 112-122

 

Schwartz, R.C. (1995). Internal family systems therapy. New York, NY: Guilford.



Schwartz, R. (2001). Introduction to the internal family systems model. Oak Park, IL: Trailheads Publications.

 

Schwartz, R.C. & Sweezy, M. (2020). Internal Family Systems Therapy (2nd ed.). New York NY: Guilford Press.

 

Shapiro, F. (2001). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Basic principles, protocols and procedures (2nd ed.) New York, NY: Guilford Press.



Twombly, J. H. (2000). Incorporating EMDR and EMDR adaptations into the treatment of clients with dissociative identity disorder. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 1(2), 61–81.

 

Twombly, J.H. (2005). EMDR Processing with dissociative identity disorder, DDNOS, and ego states. In R. Shapiro (Ed.), EMDR solutions: Pathways to healing (pp. 88–120). New York: Norton.

 

Twombly, J.H .(2013). Integrating IFS with Phase-Oriented Treatment of Clients with Dissociative Disorders. In: Sweezy and Ziskind (Ed.)  Internal Family Systems Therapy: New Dimensions. New York: Routledge.

 

Twombly, J. H., & Schwartz, R. C. (2008). The integration of internal family systems model and EMDR. In C. Forgash & M. Copeley (Eds.), Healing the heart of trauma and dissociation with EMDR and ego state therapy (pp. 295–311). New York, NY: Springer publishing.

 

van der Kolk, B. (2015). Putting the Pieces together: Self-Leadership. The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma. (pp. 279-297). New York: Penguin Books.

 

van der Kolk, B. (2015). Letting Go of the Past: EMDR. The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma (pp. 250-264). New York: Penguin Books.

 

Watkins, J.G., & Watkins, H. (1997) Ego States: Theory and Therapy. New York: Norton.

The content of this course is evidence-based.

There is no known commercial support nor conflict of interest for this program. 

Continuing Education Information

EMDRIA

This SYZYGY INSTITUTE course is approved by EMDRIA for 13.0 EMDRIA CE for those who have completed basic EMDR training (EC Program Approval Number: #22005-04).

Massachusetts LMFT CE's approved through NEAFAST

This activity has been certified by NEAFAST on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions, for LMFT professional continuing education. Certification # PC-041415.

Individuals needing only EMDRIA and NEAFAST proof of attendance will receive certificate by email after completion of course evaluation.

ASWB ACE

Intro to IFS for EMDR Therapists 2-day Experiential, #4266, is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program to be offered by SYZYGY Institute, LLC. as an individual course. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE course approval period: 09/09/2022 - 09/09/2024. Social workers completing this course receive 13 Clinical continuing education credits.

Many state boards accept ASWB ACE approval for counselor, MFT, or addiction professionals continuing education hours. Check with your state.

Accommodations for the Differently Abled

This workshop is held in a facility and/or delivered in a manner that is in compliance with the Americans Disabilities Act. Please contact hello@syzygyinstitute.com, if special accommodation is required.

Cancelation Policy

Registration fees will be refunded minus a service fee of $60 if canceled 30 days or more before the workshop start. After that, no refunds.

Registration may be transferred to a specific later offering of the same workshop, if space is available, for a $60 service fee until 30 days prior to workshop, and thereafter is $100.

Grievance Policy

All grievances must be in writing to hello@syzygyinstitute.com, and will be replied to within 5 - 10 business days.

Schedule

Zoom platform.  Email invitation and password will be sent a few days ahead

Day One

 

9:00-10:15                Welcome, Introductions & Overview

                                    EMDR Concerns, Introducing IFS

Therapist parts

10:15-10:30              2x2x2 Exercise

10:30-10:45              break

10:45-11:15              Starting with a part

                                    Find, Focus, Flesh-Out

                                    Managers, Firefighters, Exiles  

11:15-11:45              Finding Parts (exercise one): Demo

11:45-12:30              Finding Parts (exercise one): Practice

12:30-1:00                Lunch

1:00-1:45                   Self, Blending, Unblending, Direct Access

1:45-2:30                   Unblending Parts (exercise two): Demo

2:30-2:45                   break

2:45-4:15                   Unblending Parts (exercise two): Practice

4:15-4:30                   Wrap-up, Q&A

 

Day Two

 

9:00-10:00                Witnessing, 6F’s, Burdens

10:00-10:15              break 

10:15-11:00           Witnessing (exercise three): Demo

11:00-12:30              Witnessing (exercise three): Practice

12:30-1:00                Lunch

1:00-1:30                   Healing, Re-do, Retrieval, Unburdening

1:30-2:30                   Healing (exercise four): Demo

2:30-2:45                 break

2:45-4:15                   Witnessing or Healing (exercise four): Practice

4:15-4:30                   Wrap-up, Q&A