“Derek has an incredible grasp of the model and is a great teacher. He is a sensitive, engaging and highly skilled facilitator who both models and teaches Self-leadership. I recommend him.” – Dr. Richard Schwartz, Founder, Internal Family Systems
What if there was nothing wrong with you, or me, or any of us?
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Stepping Stone: 16 week Comprehensive IFS course
The goals for this course are for you:
- to learn and understand the IFS model and be able to apply it to your own systems, your patients/clients and one another
- to be able to ask as many questions as you need and know where to go for further information
- to form peer support groups so that your practice can continue to evolve
- to be invigorated in your practice and to see remarkable and permanent changes in many of your clients
The following modules will be repeated on a 4-week basis.
3 Hours
For our first meeting, module #1, week 1 “Just Ask” we will say hello to each other and establish group guidelines. We will talk about the basics of the model, including the 3 types of parts we typically encounter in session, and introduce the concept of Self energy. We will focus on (and you will practice) being a “parts detector” as well as how to establish the Self-to-part connection
Subsequent week-1 topics will include: Module #2 “What’s the Worry?” Working with Protectors and the 11common manager concerns in order to be able to stay with the target part. Module #2 also features a live demo. Module #3 “Who’s Here?” has a focus on Therapist parts, Exploring your own system (parts map), and a review of the work including unburdening the exile, introducing the model to new and/or existing clients. Module #4 “I’m Here” focusses on your ability to hold your own Self energy and how that facilitates safety for the client to be able to go deeper into their intrapsychic healing.
The focus throughout the course will be on speaking for, not from your parts
At the second didactic session I will ask for a volunteer to be the subject of a demonstration and after the demonstration there will be time for questions and answers.
You will be invited to do your own work in the demonstrations; an IFS therapist needs to know their own system and that cannot be achieved from role-playing, but only from working with your own parts.
A 1 hour lecture reinforcing the teaching points from each didactic session will be emailed to participants
Didactic sessions are taught by Derek or senior IFSCA staff.
This will be a supervised practice session and you will be working with the HIPPA-compliant* Zoom video platform in groups of three or four. Each group will work with IFSCA support staff that have taken the course and who will supervise your work, offering suggestions where necessary. The intent of these practice sessions is to support your development in the therapist role.
The supervised sessions will be recorded and only your practice group will have access to the recording so that you may review your work if you choose. In deference to safety and confidentiality you will only receive the recording if you are present for the session.
You will each have an opportunity to work as therapist for up to 45 minutes, and as client, and as observer. There will be up to 15 minutes after each practice session for feedback.
*HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) A United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information.
This will be a practice session with your peers from week 2. You will be working with the HIPPA-compliant* Zoom video platform in groups of three or four.
A group member will volunteer to record the session and only your practice group will have access to the recording so that you may review your work if you choose. Out of respect for confidentiality and safety you will only be sent the recording if you attended the session.
You will each have an opportunity to work as therapist for up to 45 minutes, and as client, and as observer. There will be up to 15 minutes after each practice session for feedback.
*HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) A United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information.
3 Hours
You will meet as a large group again with Derek Scott or an IFSCA senior staff person and you will be invited to bring questions arising from your own practice and/or from learning the theory. We may choose to do a piece of work if you are feeling stuck with a particular client or using the model. We may explore your own parts getting triggered by clients to help you get clarity and possibly unburden a part of your own.
This is a good forum to get to know your therapist parts. Challenging issues like active suicidality, difficulty with unblending and working with trauma, addictions etc. may be brought here.
A 90 page Teaching Manual is included as part of the course as well as handouts on “How to Watch a Demo”, “How to do a Triad” and others.
You are invited to view the 10-part video series “IFS for Therapists” to enhance your learning during the course. In addition there is a five episode video series, “IFS Q&A” that addresses common questions you will encounter.
Required reading for the course is “Internal Family Systems Therapy Second Edition” by Richard C. Schwartz and Martha Sweezy available from the IFS Institute Bookstore.
Recommended reading includes: “No Bad Parts” also by Dick Schwartz and “Many Minds, One Self” by Dick Schwartz and Robert Falconer
In addition to reading I have developed annotated training videos: I hour sessions which have been edited to highlight choice points and illustrate where therapist parts have wanted to intervene.
There are many interesting articles on the resources page of my site and several will be recommended during the course.
The course will be run three times a year, starting in September, January and April with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 people. It is open to social workers, therapists, counsellors, coaches and other mental health professionals. To get the maximum benefit from this course it is preferable to be working 1:1 with people in a professional capacity. The didactic and consultation sessions are taught by IFSCA Senior Staff.
The cost for the entire 4 Month course is USD $2,100
Each 3 hour teaching/practice session will be recorded and the recordings will be made available only to participants; as will the didactic teachings and consultation groups. If you are unable to attend a day you will receive the session recording, with the exception of practice groups that were not attended or if there is a demo (this is to preserve safety and confidentiality). In order to pass this course and receive the certificate of attendance you must attend a minimum of 42 of the 48 live hours. Graduates are recommended to refer to themselves as offering IFS-Informed Therapy. CEUs are not available.
Once you have graduated the course you will be invited to join the Facebook page for Stepping Stone graduates and welcome to participate in the free biweekly consult group led by IFSCA Senior Staff.
If there are any questions about the following areas please click on the FAQ icon.
- Admission and Registration
- Course Structure
- Structure of Practice Sessions
- Course Fees
- Staff Availability
- The 4-Day Intensive
- After the course
For more Information or to register please CLICK HERE and scroll down
Please click on the images below to see the power of an IFS session
“Derek is a great teacher. He is a sensitive, engaging an highly skilled facilitator who both models and teaches Self-leadership”
“Derek created a safe and welcoming learning environment allowing for my own personal exploration as well as enhanced my sensitivity for all of my clients. I would highly recommend him.”
“Derek is a superb leader, bringing thoughtful insight and open-heartedness to his teaching. He offers compassionate guidance to help heal our wounds. I have learned a lot from Derek, emotionally and intellectually, and highly recommend him!”
“Derek’s skilled, measured facilitation created safety for experiential exploration, and allowed space for participants to share their own fresh insights with the group. I am better prepared to guide my clients. Highly recommended!”
“Derek Scott is a sensitive, bright highly skilled clinician, author, and workshop leader. I highly recommend Derek’s work; don’t give up an opportunity to work with him … you’ll be delighted you did!”