IFS Dedicated Practitioner Training

The IFS Dedicated Practitioner Program is a 12-week intensive training designed to build comprehensive skills in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy through a blend of theory, practical exercises, live demonstrations, and community interaction. It features weekly live sessions on Saturdays (10 AM - 2 PM CST for teaching and practicum) and Sundays (10 AM - 12 PM CST for demos and debriefs), plus ongoing access to a Kajabi membership platform for Q&A and resources. Below is a detailed week-by-week breakdown of the curriculum, highlighting key topics, activities, and optional practice suggestions to ensure progressive skill-building, with a strong emphasis on peer practice and client simulation:

Module 1: Foundations of IFS (Weeks 1-3: Feb 21 - Mar 13)

Week 1 (Feb 21-22): Introduce the IFS model, focusing on the multiplicity of the mind and the distinction between parts and Self through interactive lectures and group discussions on client applications. Practice basic parts identification in peer role-plays simulating initial client sessions during Saturday practicum. Sunday's live demo showcases a facilitator guiding a student volunteer (as a client stand-in) through witnessing a part, followed by a debrief analyzing the protocol and providing feedback on facilitation techniques. (Optional: Facilitate a short mapping exercise with a peer or volunteer to reinforce concepts.)

Week 2 (Feb 28-Mar 1): Explore types of parts (protectors, exiles, managers) with case studies on client dynamics and Q&A during Saturday teaching, transitioning to practicum breakout groups for unblending exercises in mock client scenarios. The Sunday session demonstrates live unblending with a volunteer, including a detailed debrief on building client safety and adapting to resistance. (Optional: Conduct an unblending dialogue with a peer partner, sharing anonymized notes on the Kajabi platform for group critique.)

Week 3 (Mar 7-8): Consolidate foundations by reviewing Self-access techniques through client-focused discussions and advanced mapping in Saturday's practicum, emphasizing peer-led simulations of intake sessions. Sunday features a demo of accessing Self in a volunteer session, with an extended Q&A debrief to refine client-centered approaches and prepare for deeper work. (Optional: Guide a peer through Self-access and post session reflections on Kajabi for facilitator and community input.)

Module 2: Working with Parts (Weeks 4-6: Mar 14 - Apr 3)

Week 4 (Mar 14-15): Examine protector roles and their fears via theory lectures on client presentations, followed by practicum exercises in building alliances through peer role-plays as therapist-client pairs. Sunday's live demo illustrates engaging a protector with a volunteer, debriefing on techniques for client trust and handling pushback. (Optional: Facilitate an alliance-building session with a peer (simulating a client), and discuss outcomes asynchronously on the platform with facilitator guidance.)

Week 5 (Mar 21-22): Dive into burdens carried by parts, with Saturday sessions combining client case examples and practicum role-plays for exploring fears in therapist-guided peer interactions. The Sunday demonstration focuses on a live exploration of a volunteer's burdened part, with protocol analysis in the debrief to address facilitation nuances. (Optional: Lead a burden exploration with a peer volunteer, with platform posts encouraging shared strategies for client empathy.)

Week 6 (Mar 28-29): Address internal polarizations and conflicts, teaching resolution strategies on Saturday alongside group practicum for mediating in peer-simulated client conflicts. Sunday's demo shows a facilitator navigating a volunteer's polarization, followed by a debrief emphasizing client integration and troubleshooting. (Optional: Mediate a polarization in a peer session, sharing anonymized feedback on Kajabi for collaborative refinement.)

Module 3: Advanced Protocols and Integration (Weeks 7-9: Apr 4 - Apr 24)

Week 7 (Apr 4-5): Master the unburdening process for exiles, starting with Saturday lectures on client healing steps and practicum simulations where peers alternate as therapist and client. Sunday's live session demos an unburdening with a volunteer, debriefing on witnessing client burdens and ensuring ethical release. (Optional: Facilitate an unburdening sequence with a peer, posting session breakdowns on the platform for peer review.)

Week 8 (Apr 11-12): Focus on fostering Self-leadership in therapy, with Saturday teaching exploring client applications and practicum role-plays for guiding peers toward Self-energy in mock sessions. The Sunday demo highlights Self-leadership in action with a student, including a step-by-step debrief on client differentiation. (Optional: Lead a Self-leadership exercise with a peer, encouraging Kajabi discussions on adaptations for diverse clients.)

Week 9 (Apr 18-19): Learn to integrate IFS with other modalities (e.g., somatic or cognitive approaches), through Saturday workshops with peer-led simulations tailoring to client backgrounds. Sunday features a demo of integrated protocols, with debriefs providing tips on client-specific cultural adaptations. (Optional: Blend IFS in a peer session with your modality, shared on the platform for group critiques.)

Module 4: Application and Mastery (Weeks 10-12: Apr 25 - May 16)

Week 10 (Apr 25-26): Cover ethical considerations and client safety in IFS, with Saturday lectures on professional boundaries and practicum discussions on peer-simulated ethical dilemmas. Sunday's live demo addresses safety in a volunteer session, debriefing on red flags and interventions. (Optional: Facilitate a session with a peer while applying safety protocols, with platform interactions for feedback.)

Week 11 (May 2-3): Explore cultural adaptations and session structuring, teaching on Saturday how to customize IFS for client diversity alongside practicum mock sessions with peer clients. The Sunday demonstration focuses on adapted protocols, with mastery insights in the debrief for client tailoring. (Optional: Design and lead a culturally adapted session with a peer, posting for community refinement.)

Week 12 (May 9-10): Achieve mastery through capstone projects on Saturday, where participants lead full mock client sessions with peers, including review and facilitator oversight. Sunday's advanced demo and extended Q&A serve as program closure, including certification issuance and strategies for applying IFS with clients. (Optional: Conduct a peer-facilitated self-assessment of client work skills, shared on Kajabi.)

Participants receive a certificate upon finishing all requirements, with optional activities encouraged to enhance peer collaboration and client-focused practice.

We understand that life happens, and occasional absences are sometimes unavoidable. If you miss a session, we encourage you to review the recorded material at your earliest convenience to stay on track with the content. However, keep in mind that you'll miss the interactive practicum elements, which are a core part of the hands-on learning experience and can't be fully replicated through recordings alone.

To earn your certificate of completion and be listed as a program graduate, you may miss no more than 2 Saturday sessions (as these include critical teaching and practicum time). Sunday sessions are more flexible—you can catch up by watching the recordings without impacting certification eligibility. If you miss more than 2 Saturdays but still wish to complete the program, we'll provide a dedicated make-up space for you to accumulate the necessary additional practicum hours, ensuring you meet all requirements - as long as the request is reasonable.

You can expect to invest a total of 84 hours in live sessions over the 12-week program, plus additional time for membership engagement on the Kajabi platform (e.g., Q&A discussions, reviewing posts, or optional peer practice). Depending on your level of participation, the overall commitment could range from 74-100 hours—factoring in any occasional missed sessions (with recordings to catch up) or deeper involvement in community interactions.

Per week, this breaks down to:
- Live Sessions: 7 hours (5 hours on Saturday for teaching and practicum + 2 hours on Sunday for demos and debriefs).
- Membership Engagement: 0-2+ hours (optional but encouraged for Q&A, content review, and peer collaboration; more if you actively post or respond to discussions).

This structure allows flexibility while ensuring you gain hands-on skills through consistent participation.