Integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy with Children & Parents

Credit

Handouts

Faculty

Leslie Petruk, MA, LPC-S, NCC, BCC Related seminars and products

The Stone Center For Counseling & Leadership

Additional Info

Access never expires for this product.

This product is not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with the IFS Institute and does not qualify for IFS Institute credits or certification.

Objectives

1. Investigate Internal Family Systems (IFS) concepts, process and techniques to broaden treatment intervention options working with children in play therapy.
2. Assess how IFS brings a non-pathologizing perspective of mental health disorders by translating common comorbidities into parts language and how to apply this perspective in working with children in play therapy.
3. Evaluate the IFS view that clients’ symptoms and psychopathology are attempts to solve an emotional problem and how to help children improve challenging behaviors.
4. Role-play a clinical session to deepen one’s understanding of IFS treatment strategies working with children.
5. Practice parts identification and mapping to begin to understand the IFS process and how it can be applied in the context of play therapy and working with parents.
6. Formulate the benefits of conceptualizing cases and applying IFS to one’s current clinical practice within the context of play therapy with children and parenting.

Outline

• How it’s different than traditional therapy models
• Basic assumptions, goals of therapy
  • What are parts? Managers, firefighters and exiles
• Limitations of the research and potential risks

THE IFS PROCESS

Identify and Connect with the Target Part

• Separate the client from the symptom
• Find the real story behind the symptom

• Address the fears and concerns of the parts
• Develop a relationship with the protectors

• Witness the pain rather than re-experiencing it
• Release and unburden thoughts, feelings, and beliefs

BLENDING IFS INTO PLAY THERAPY

Non-Directive, Child-Centered

• Basic assumptions across both models: Child chooses the nature of play
  • Trust that the parts will emerge during play
  • Unconditional positive regard remains paramount
• Getting started: How to help parts feel safe and welcomed
• Presenting Issues: Trauma, attachment, behavioral challenges, anxiety, depression
• Track the client’s parts (and yours!) throughout session
• Work with blended parts & how to externalize parts
• Direct access vs. in-sight
• Developing a Self-to-part relationship

• Interviewing the parts
• Parts mapping
• Shaping your parts
• Parts’ drama
• And more!

LET’S PLAY – BRING IFS TO LIFE

Activities, Case Studies & Videos

• Externalizing a part clay activity
• Sand Tray therapy video
• Parts, exiles, and Self in the Sand Tray
• Developing Self-to-part relationship activity

*Bring your own favorite play things – mini’s, paper, pencils, oil pastels, crayons, markers, clay squares

IFS AND PARENTING

Improve Connection, Communication, and Cooperation

• Weaving IFS concepts into discussions with parents
• Help parents identify their parts and how they are activated
• How shame and punishment create exiles
• Help parents let go of agendas and meeting the kids where they are at
• Successfully engage even the most disconnected parents

• Doing the YOU turn
• Befriending vs. managing the child’s parts
• Parts mapping
• The 8 C’s of Self
• And more!

Target Audience

• Psychologists
• School Psychologists
• Counselors
• School Counselors
• Marriage & Family Counselors
• Social Workers
• Educators
• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Creative Arts Therapists
• Nurses
• Any mental health professional who works with children

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