Instructor: Amy Alexander, MD, MHSc
Location: Online Live Stream Event
Early Bird Cost: $199 CAD + GST/HST (if applicable) by April 1, 2024
Regular Cost: $225 CAD + GST/HST (if applicable) after April 1, 2024
**All prices are in CAD$. American Patrons - your dollar goes further! $1 CAD = $0.74 USD (as of January 29, 2024 - check online for current exchange rate)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 1, 2024 at 7:30am ET
* For information about Group Rates and Discounts click here.
For more information about Amy and her work, visit www.dramyalexander.com
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy: An Introduction
ONLINE LIVE STREAM EVENT
May 1, 2024, 10am – 5:30pm ET*
About the Presenter
Amy Alexander, MD, MHSc is a medical doctor, physician psychotherapist, and Level-3 Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist, who focuses on body-mind integrative care and specializes in hard-to-treat, complicated physical and mental health conditions.
Amy currently runs a private practice in Oakville, Ontario, where she provides individual and group IFS therapy, among other modalities. Additionally, she is an active staff member in the Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care Unit at the Southlake Stronach Regional Cancer Centre. She holds clinical appointments in both the Departments of Psychiatry and Family & Community Medicine.
Amy practices trauma-informed and integrative Psychiatry & Psychotherapy approaches informed by an Anti-Oppressive framework, Functional Medicine, Medical Acupuncture and Yoga Therapy.
Amy is part of the Global Team of Building from Within, a peace building project aimed at using an IFS therapeutic approach to support those working for peace in Palestine. She is a Clinical Member of the Medical Psychotherapy Association of Canada and is the Chair of its Psychotherapy Training Program Planning Committee.
Can’t attend live? Register anyway to get 60-day access to the workshop recordings and materials after the course.
Certificates of Attendance / CEU's / CE Information
For those requiring a Certificate of Attendance, certificates will be issued upon either:
1. Verification of 100% attendance during the live broadcast OR
2. Successful completion of a post-training quiz with a minimum score of 75% (multiple attempts allowed)*
*This option is for those who do not attend the full workshop “live”.
Certificates will indicate the number of direct education hours (6), not including breaks. Certificates may be used to qualify for eligibility for Continuing Education Credits from licensing boards and professional colleges; it is the participant’s responsibility to contact their college or association to confirm its requirements and the workshop's eligibility for CEU's / CE’s. This workshop has been pre-approved for 6 continuing education hours by the CACCF.
Cancellation Policy
An administrative fee of $50 will be charged for all cancellations. Cancellation 14 or more days prior to the workshop date – receive a refund, less $50 administration fee. Cancellation less than 14 days prior to the workshop date – receive a credit, less $50 administration fee, to be applied to a future workshop. No credit or refund will be issued if you do not notify us in advance of the workshop date. You may transfer your registration to another individual at no extra cost. In this case, please notify Mission: Empowerment of the name of the alternate person. The organizers reserve the right to cancel the event due to instructor illness, extreme weather, under-enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. If a workshop is cancelled, any registration payment will be returned in full. Liability is limited to a refund of workshop/live-stream fees only.
Refunds will not be issued in cases where a registrant did not receive the workshop login instruction email due to email issues. It is the registrant’s responsibility to contact us if they don’t receive the required login information at least 24 hours prior to the start time of the workshop.
Workshop Description
The Internal Family Systems (IFS) model is a scientifically validated model of therapy that has proven to accelerate the healing process and bring lasting relief to clients far more rapidly than traditional approaches. Endorsed by Dr. Gabor Maté, Bessel Van der Kolk, and many other leaders in the field, this approach is a “must have” for all therapists’ tool kits. Beyond the therapy room, it is also used in settings including jails, schools, coaching and business.
In addition to the benefits for clients, practitioners have also found IFS to be personally beneficial due to the ease of its implementation as well the fact that it helps to facilitate a client’s own healing from distress, relieving the pressure on the practitioner and countering burnout and/or vicarious traumatization.
IFS uses “parts” language and rather than pathologizing certain symptoms or behaviours, it views these as “parts” of ourselves that have good intent and are there for a reason. Rather than trying to “control” or “conquer” certain behaviours, the IFS approach offers a curious and compassionate inquiry of these parts, and then effectively works with each of them to achieve dramatic results. IFS also posits that we all have a “Self” (highest self/best self) which is a wise, compassionate, curious centre that knows what is best for us and that can and should lead the system. This understanding applies as much to helping professionals as it does to clients.
Through a variety of teaching modalities, including experiential exercises, guided meditations, and live demonstrations, this workshop will prepare you to effectively integrate some IFS tools into your practice to improve therapeutic outcomes. Various “parts” of the clinician that are often present in the therapeutic encounter will also be explored and participants will be taught a number of techniques for both accessing their own Self – both in and out of the therapy room.
Learning Objectives:
1. Foundational Understanding: Gain a thorough understanding of the basic principles and concepts of Internal Family Systems, including the nature of different parts within the psyche and the dynamics of the inner system.
2. Identifying and Naming Parts: Develop the ability to identify different parts within oneself and in
others, recognizing and appreciating their unique qualities, roles, and contributions to the individual's inner
system.
3. Exploring the Core Self: Understand the concept of the "Self" in IFS, and explore ways to connect with and cultivate the qualities of the Core Self as a central element in the therapeutic process.
4. Working with Protectors and Exiles: Learn to differentiate between protector parts, which aim to manage and control, and exile parts, which hold emotional wounds. Explore strategies for working with both types of parts in therapy.
5. Facilitating Internal Dialogue: Develop skills in facilitating internal dialogue between different parts, promoting communication, understanding, and collaboration within the inner system.
6. Experiential Learning: Engage in experiential exercises and activities to deepen personal understanding of IFS concepts, fostering a more embodied grasp of the model
7. Integration into Practice: Through Q & A, we may explore practical ways to integrate IFS into existing
therapeutic practices, considering its application in diverse clinical situations and client populations.
Who Should Attend?
Any helping professional who provides some form of counselling including (but not limited to), therapists, social workers, psychologists, and other mental health and/or health-care professionals.
You will receive:
- Login details and instructions emailed in advance of the workshop
- Downloadable handouts
- Certificate of attendance upon successful completion of a brief online quiz (if desired)
- Access to a recording of the workshop for a limited period of time after the workshop - so if you can’t join live, or need to miss part of the live workshop and want to view it afterwards, we’ve got you covered!