Transform your practice with our foundational Internal Family Systems (IFS) course
A 4-month IFS training for healing professionals who know there’s a better way
"IFS is the only therapy that I'm aware of which is predicated on: there's nothing wrong with you. Shit has happened, our parts helped us cope, and now, we're able to go beyond coping, into the healing. That's what this is about."
You Know Something's Missing
You became a healer to create real change. Yet too often, you find yourself hitting walls with traditional approaches. Your clients remain stuck despite months of work. The tools in your toolkit feel insufficient for the complexity of human suffering you witness daily.
Maybe you’ve experienced IFS personally, perhaps it saved your life, or gave you breakthrough after years of other therapies, or simply made complete intuitive sense in a way nothing else had. Now you want to offer that same transformation to others, but you lack the confidence to navigate whatever arises in session.
You’re not alone. In our recent survey of 70 healing professionals, the #1 desire wasn’t theory or techniques—it was confidence. The confidence to guide clients through complex trauma, to trust the process regardless of what emerges, and to access that Self-led presence that allows real healing to unfold.
"After nearly 25 years of receiving psychotherapeutic support, IFS gave me the kind of awareness and self compassion I never knew I could have. Now I want to support others the way I've been supported."
The Derek Scott Legacy
Our founder Derek Scott spent over 40 years on the frontlines of healing, including nearly two decades serving queer communities, sex workers, and people navigating the AIDS pandemic. This work shaped his unwavering commitment to fostering safe, welcoming learning environments and his lifelong dedication to healing shame at its roots.
Derek brought a unique blend of depth and lightness to IFS work. He understood that healing doesn’t happen through rigid protocols but through genuine human connection, creativity, and our ability to hold the model with curiosity rather than dogma.
Even facing terminal cancer, Derek continued teaching with his trademark humour and warmth. His final message to students was simple: “I wish you ongoing access to the beauty at your core, to the magnificence of who you are in the world… the gift of you, the gift of your parts, the gift that you are bringing to humanity.“
What Made Derek’s Approach Different
Derek encouraged creative exploration. Where many focus on pathology, he saw magnificence. His legacy lives on in every IFSCA program – accessible, inclusive, and grounded in the radical belief that healing belongs to everyone.
Stepping Stones: IFS Training That Actually Works
This isn’t another theoretical course you’ll forget within months. Stepping Stones is a 4-month immersive journey designed specifically for healing professionals who want both competence and confidence in IFS practice.
You’re in the right place if…
⇨ You’ve experienced IFS personally and it changed your life – now you want to offer that same transformation to others
⇨ You’re already doing some “parts work” with clients but lack the confidence to go deeper safely
⇨ You feel stuck with complicated clients who aren’t responding to traditional therapeutic approaches
⇨ You want to expand your toolkit beyond surface-level interventions to address trauma at its roots
⇨ You’re drawn to non-pathologizing approaches that honour your clients’ inherent wisdom
⇨ You need practical skills you can integrate immediately, not just more theory
⇨ You value training that embraces both professional rigor and spiritual depth
We’ve designed Stepping Stones to address exactly these needs—not with theory, but with experience. To empower you with the flexible confidence that comes from understanding IFS at a cellular level.
The IFSCA Difference
At IFSCA we intentionally keep our cohorts small, with just 21 participants per group to foster deep connection and personalized learning. We devote half of every training to hands-on practice so participants gain confidence and embodied skill. Our mission is to make high quality IFS training accessible and affordable so more practitioners can bring this work to their communities.
👥 Intimate Learning Community
Only 21 students total, with practice groups of just 3-4 people. You’ll be known, seen, and personally guided, never lost in the crowd.
👐 Experience Over Theory
50% hands-on practice. Because real confidence comes from doing. You’ll leave with embodied skills, not just cognitive understanding.
✨ Creative, Not Rigid
Honouring Derek’s heart-led approach of being curious, innovative, and responsive to what emerges – rather than following scripts.
🌍 Spiritually Inclusive
At IFSCA we embrace the sacred dimensions of healing work, creating space for diverse spiritual perspectives and practices.
Your 16-Week Journey
Each weekly session runs 3 hours, carefully structured to build both competence and confidence:
💡 Module 1: Parts and Self – “Just Ask”
Learn to access and trust Self-energy while developing genuine curiosity about parts. Practice the fundamental art of asking rather than assuming.
🛡️ Module 2: Protectors – “What’s the Worry?”
Develop sophisticated skills for working with protective parts – the managers and firefighters that run the show for most of us.
❤️🩹 Module 3: Exiles – “Who’s Holding the Pain?”
Master the delicate art of exile work—how to create safety, build relationships, and facilitate unburdening experiences.
🪞 Module 4: Therapist Parts – “Who’s here? I’m here!”
Explore your own therapeutic parts and learn to maintain Self-leadership even when clients’ material triggers your own system.
What You'll Receive
⇨ 48 hours of live instruction from experienced IFS professionals
⇨ Small group practice sessions with personalized feedback
⇨ Access to all recorded sessions for review and integration
⇨ Comprehensive resources and supplementary materials
⇨ Certificate of Completion from IFSCA
⇨ Connection to a supportive community of like-minded practitioners
⇨ Expert consultations to work through challenging cases
"I've been using IFS with clients for about 2 years now but without formal training, my ability to use the model in its full potential has been limited. I have seen amazing progress with clients thus far and want to continue learning in order to take clients deeper safely and ethically."
Multiple Cohorts, One Vision
Every cohort meets weekly for 16 consecutive weeks. Choose the timing that works for your life:
🟢 Cohort A begins on Monday – Jan 12, 2026
- Weekly sessions held Mondays, 9 am – 12 pm (ET)
- Meet your teacher Mel: Watch her introduction video
🟡 Cohort B begins on Monday – Jan 12, 2026
- Weekly sessions held Mondays, 11 am – 2 pm (ET)
- Meet your teacher Gustavo: Watch his introduction video
🟠 Cohort C begins on Thursday – Jan 22, 2026
- Weekly sessions held Thursdays, 12 – 3 pm (ET)
- Meet your teacher Robyn: Watch her introduction video
🔴 Cohort UK begins on Thursday – Jan 15, 2026
- Weekly sessions held Thursdays, 11 am – 2 pm (GMT/BST)
- Meet your teacher Peter: Watch his introduction video
Is This Right for You?
Stepping Stones is designed for healing professionals who:
⇨ Have active client caseloads and want practical skills they can use immediately
⇨ Feel called to IFS work, often through personal experience with the model
⇨ Want confidence working with complex trauma and challenging cases
⇨ Seek training that honours both professional rigor and spiritual depth
⇨ Value inclusive, anti-oppressive approaches to healing
⇨ Can commit to 16 consecutive weeks of 3-hour sessions
⇨ Want to join a community of like-minded practitioners
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be able to call myself an IFS Therapist?
Upon completion, you’ll receive IFSCA’s Certificate of Completion and the designation “IFS Informed.” While IFSCA operates as an independent training organization (not accredited through the IFS Institute), our comprehensive curriculum and experiential approach prepare you to confidently integrate IFS principles into your existing practice within your scope of professional licensing. Many graduates find this foundational training provides the skills and confidence they need to begin using IFS effectively with clients.
How is this different from other IFS training programs?
Our approach emphasizes experiential learning over theoretical study, maintains intimate cohort sizes, and carries forward Derek Scott’s legacy of accessible, inclusive, creative IFS work. *Please note that Stepping Stones is not the equivalent of an IFS Institute Level 1 training.
What if I miss a session?
All sessions are recorded for review. However, 42 hours of attendance (minimum) are required for certification, so consistent participation is essential.
Can I practice IFS with clients during the training?
Yes, within your existing scope of practice and professional licensing. Many students find the integration of learning and practice enhances both their skills and their clients’ outcomes.
Do you offer scholarships?
Yes. At IFSCA, we believe healing shouldn’t be limited by economic privilege. For our January 2026 courses, we’re offering a limited number of sliding scale scholarships to support people who are passionate about this work but currently experiencing financial hardship. Complete our Sliding Scale Scholarship Application Form to apply for the January 2026 cohorts.
Still have questions?
- Check out our full FAQ page for more information.
- You can also contact us at hello@ifsca.ca We’re here to support your journey into this transformative work!
Be Part of the IFSCA Community
Join our mailing list to hear about upcoming cohorts, special masterclasses, and new resources designed to support your IFS journey.