LIVE WORKSHOP SERIES · ONLINE OR IN PERSON · 45 CE HOURS
Diving Into IFS Basic Concepts
A live, experiential introduction to Internal Family Systems for therapists, counselors and social workers. Dates for the next series are in the works. Join the interest list to hear first and choose the format that works for you.
Access IFS training and earn CE hours
Internal Family Systems gives you a new way of seeing your clients and yourself. Dr. Robin Barre guides you through the foundational concepts of IFS: what the model is, how it works, and how to begin bringing it into your practice and your life. The workshop is experiential, with guided exercises and group practice that help the concepts take hold in how you work.
Whether you're brand new to IFS or have been curious about it from a distance, this is the place to begin.
Each series brings together a small group of clinicians for connection, supported practice and a deeper understanding of the model. It's led by a certified IFS therapist and approved consultant who has been in your exact shoes.
Who this workshop is for: therapists, counselors, social workers and psychologists who have heard of IFS and want to learn more.
"Robin's workshop is an inspiring brave space. I gained concrete tools, an abundance of curiosity, compassion toward my own parts, and a reimagined hope in working with others."
Karli S., LCSW
Learning objectives
In this course, participants will:
Describe the foundational concepts and theoretical background of Internal Family Systems, including Self-energy, parts, burdens, the systems perspective, and the model’s development by Richard Schwartz.
Compare IFS with at least three other therapeutic modalities or perspectives of the psyche (e.g., CBT, psychoanalysis, person-centered, Gestalt, Jungian), identifying how IFS’s non-pathologizing view of the mind differs.
Differentiate among Self, protectors (managers and firefighters), and exiles, and analyze their roles, fears, polarizations, and interactions using an internal system map.
Apply the Flow of the Model (the 6 F’s), unblending, and direct access to establish safety with protectors and facilitate the Self-to-part relationship, and outline the stages of unburdening exiles carrying personal, legacy, and cultural burdens.
Apply the 9-step validation practice and at least two strategies for maintaining therapist Self-energy, including working with therapist parts and introducing the IFS model to clients in accessible ways.
Workshop formats
Two ways to join. The series is planned in two formats. Choose the one that fits you when you join the interest list.
Three immersive weekends in [Richmond, VA] with a small group of clinicians. Each weekend combines teaching, live demonstration, guided exercises and group practice, with time to connect with others in the room. 15 CE hours per weekend.
The same foundational content, taught live over Zoom. [Schedule format to be Saturdays and Sundays for 4 weekends over 4 months.] Sessions are interactive, with guided exercises and small-group practice in breakout rooms.
What's included
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45 hours of live teaching, demonstration and practice with Dr. Barre
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Guided exercises and group process to experience IFS from the inside
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Workshop handouts and resources to continue your study
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A small community of practitioners learning alongside you
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A CE certificate for eligible clinicians
About Dr. Robin Barre
Dr. Robin Barre has 30+ years of experience working with adolescents in a range of settings, from teaching high school and middle school to running a private practice. She is a Level 3 certified Internal Family Systems therapist and an IFS Institute Approved Clinical Consultant. Dr. Barre earned MA degrees in counseling and depth psychology and a Ph.D. in depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is an LPC in Virginia and an LMHC in Washington State. She brings warmth, rigor and a deep belief that this work changes lives, including the lives of the people doing it.
Nearly 30 years in classrooms, agencies, and clinical practice * PhD in Depth Psychology * Level 3 certified IFS therapist * IFS-Institute approved consultant
Thank you so much! You have added to my professional life by teaching this course. A great combination of didactic and experiential material presented by a superb therapist and teacher. Thank you!
Terrie Buczek
This training was extremely beneficial to learning about the basic concepts of IFS. I left with a wealth of knowledge to begin using with my clients. Highly recommend!
Zara Walker Logan, LCSW
Dr. Barre's use of didactics, demonstrations, and dyadic practice facilitated more understanding of the principle of IFS and the therapeutic steps than 4 workshops with PESI did for me! I had wanted these skills and Dr. Barre's knowledge and expertise in presenting this material delivered more than I could have imagined! I look forward to using these tools effectively with my clients!
Nancy MacConnachie | Child & Adolescent Clinical Psychologist
"Dr. Robin Barre is the foremost expert in adolescent psychology. As a psychologist, her applied research integrates life as a therapist, a teacher, a parent, a poet, a soul-seeker... As an advocate for the adolescent in all of us, she understands the forgotten language of this part of life, those bridge years in between childhood and becoming an adult, and provides guidance into how to reclaim the exiled self."
Brenda Littleton, Jungian Coach, Retired Professor of Graduate Studies in Education, Marriage Family Therapist
Robin's workshop is an inspiring brave space. I gained concrete tools, an abundance of curiosity, compassion toward my own parts, and a reimagined hope in working with others.
Karli S., LCSW
Be the first to know when the next series opens.
Join the interest list and choose online, in person, or both.
FAQ
The workshop starts with the most basic concepts and theories of IFS, so it's a good fit if you've heard of IFS and want to learn more. If you've taken a few PESI courses and haven't quite gotten a grasp on the model, this workshop is for you. If you're still waiting to win the lottery for a Level 1 IFS Institute training, it can fill the gap.
Dates for the next series are being planned for both formats. Join the interest list and you'll be the first to know when registration opens.
Yes, you'll be able to use IFS. After the first weekend, you'll have enough knowledge and practice to begin using some of the basic skills with your clients.
No, you won't be an IFS therapist. Only those who have completed Level 1 training through the IFS Institute can use the title "IFS therapist." When you complete this workshop, you'll be an IFS-informed therapist with a toolbox full of ways to work with your clients' protective systems.
This workshop focuses on working with the protective system. Working with exiles and the Healing Steps of the model are covered in Part 2: Diving Into IFS Basic Concepts, The Healing Steps.
The workshop is $975. You can pay in full or in monthly payments.
CE hours are approved for licensed and associate licensed mental health professionals and social workers in the United States. Clinicians from anywhere are welcome to attend the workshop, however, CE’s cannot be provided outside of the US.