Internal Family Systems (IFS) & Anxiety, Depression, and Shame

Course Description

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IFS and Depression, Anxiety and Shame with Michael Elkin and Ann Sinko

Anxiety and depression are the most presented symptoms of people seeking psychotherapy and shame is the engine that fuels both. How you define a problem limits its solutions. Questions we will explore include: Is depression anger turned inward? Unresolved grief? A chemical imbalance?   Is anxiety low self-esteem? An inability to make decisions? Fear? Or just free floating? What if we did not have to define, but rather ask?

The IFS model provides us an innovative way of understanding and working with these universal human problems. Understanding that our symptoms are actually the coping mechanism of our parts trying to protect us from pain, provides a framework that makes entrenched symptoms workable.

This course is an in-depth exploration of shame, depression and anxiety through the lens of the IFS model. Our intent is to challenge your beliefs and enhance your understanding of the systemic organizing nature of shame. This course will deepen your IFS skills and provide more tools for your IFS tool box.

Module 1

The IFS Paradigm of Depression, Anxiety and Shame

This month will highlight how IFS defines depression and anxiety, not as a disorder but as a coping mechanism responding to a constraint in the internal or external system. This understanding provides a foundation for a uniquely powerful approach to these all too common symptoms

You will learn:

• How IFS compares and contrasts with other models of treatment for depression, anxiety and shame
• How a relational and systemic approach can uncover and heal deep shame where other methods might get stuck
• The impact of shame as an organizing principle in our internal systems

Module 2  

The Many Faces and Flavors of Anxiety and Depression

We will delve into the protective system; polarizations and alliances, protector strategies and therapist parts. These constellations of parts evolve when there has been a loss of Self leadership and are more effectively helped when addressed systemically in relationship to one another.

• In this month you will learn to:
• Understand the Common Constellations of protectors that can cause depression and anxiety
• Recognize and work with different protector strategies
• Handle polarizations and alliances
• Differentiate grief from depression, and how to approach each

Module 3

Strategies for working with Depression, Anxiety and Shame

This will be an in-depth exploration of obstacles and strategies for working with these obstacles. We will present case examples and highlight what we have found to work even in the most entrenched internal systems.

In this month we will cover:

• Clinical examples
• Obstacles and their solutions
• Addressing parts’ fears and concerns
• Using Direct Access in difficult systems

Richard Schwartz, PhDRelated seminars and products

IFS Institute

Richard Schwartz began his career as a systemic family therapist and an academic and he is now on the Faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Meadows treatment center in Arizona. Grounded in systems thinking, Dr. Schwartz developed the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model in response to clients’ descriptions of various parts within themselves. In 2000, he founded the Center for Self Leadership (now IFS Institute – www.ifs-institute.com), which offers three levels of trainings and workshops in IFS for professionals and the general public, both in this country and abroad. A featured speaker for national professional organizations, Dr. Schwartz has published many books and over fifty articles about IFS.

Mike Elkin, LMFTRelated seminars and products

Michael Elkin is an IFS senior trainer who has been involved with the model since 1995. He has been a popular presenter, conducting scores of trainings and workshops throughout the US and Europe and has taught level one trainings in Boston every year since 2003. He was a pioneer in applying hypnotic and strategic approaches to addiction treatment and has integrated those tools into IFS treatment. He is the author of, -Families Under the Influence and several articles.

Ann Sinko, LMFTRelated seminars and products

Ann Sinko has been a creative therapist for over 30 years. She is a senior IFS trainer and has integrated the IFS Model into all facets of her work with families, couples, individuals and groups. Ann is a natural teacher. She brings a down to earth, concrete style along with a sense of humor to her teaching. Currently, she uses her gifts to teach IFS, (level 1 and 2), and workshops. Ann has been adjunct faculty in the Marriage and Family therapy program at Central CT State University since 1995 and is in private practice in Portland, CT. She authored a chapter on Legacy Burdens in “Innovations and Elaborations in Internal Family Systems Therapy.