Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) with Children and Parents: Innovative Interventions that Combine the Strength of IFS with the Power of Play – Leslie Petruk

Salepage link: At HERE. Archive:

Most therapeutic models with set agendas do not work with children, especially when they are not ready to tell their story because of behavioral challenges, trauma, anxiety, and depression.

Play is the natural language of children. Discover how integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) with Play Therapy allows the child to move at their own pace. Both are evidence-based modalities that will easily get you the tools and strategies you need to transform the work you do with children and families!

In this unique integrative training, practice creative and playful approaches to successfully engage children, move at their own pace and help them overcome their challenges. You’ll be given an all-new process to follow so you can:

• Integrate IFS and play into the therapy you’re already doing
• Apply techniques with children so that they don’t have to tell the story out loud
• Help kids “go inside” to discover their strengths and access their inner wisdom

If you only purchase one continuing education program this year make it this one! Give yourself the gift of joy as children begin to view their behaviors and feelings with a kinder, more self-loving lens so they can heal and transform. Buy this recording today!

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.

INTERNAL FAMILY SYSTEMS (IFS) MODEL

• 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

Working with the Protective Parts

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

Heal the Wounded Part

• 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

IFS-Informed Play Therapy Strategies

• 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

IFS-Informed Parenting Strategies

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