Foundations & The Protective System
Core Concepts & Foundations
- Overview of IFS as a non-pathologizing, parts-based model
- Goals of IFS in therapy
- Therapist self-awareness (therapist’s own parts in the room)
- Research, risks and treatment limitations
The Internal System
- Parts categories: Managers, firefighters, exiles
- Self & the 8 C’s qualities
- Mapping client systems & “parts director” mindset
Protective Roles & Development
- How protectors form
- The protective system as adaptive survival
- Experiential exercise – Parts mapping/journaling
Getting to Know Managers, Firefighters, and Protectors
- Traits, intentions, and common burdens
- Interviewing managers, firefighters, and protectors (demos)
- Building trust & permission
- Common protector fears and how to address them
Skill Practice – Accessing Parts
- Trailheads
- Direct access
- In-sight
- Externalizing methods
The 6F’s, Exiles & Introduction to Unburdening
Core Skills for Protector Work
- Unblending
- Differentiating self from parts & self-like parts
- Language for inviting space from blended parts
The 6F’s Process
- Find, Focus, Flesh Out, Feel Toward, Befriend Fears
- Demo
Permission from Protectors
- Using the 6F’s to gain access to exiles safely
Working with Exiles & Intro to Unburdening
- The exile role
- How exiles hold burdens (personal & legacy)
- Cultural, intergenerational, and epigenic burdens
Noticing and Meeting Exiles
- Contracting for no overwhelm
- Self-to-part connection & witnessing
Introduction to the Unburdening Process
- Six steps: trust, witnessing, retrieval/do-over, releasing, reclaiming qualities, integration
- Emphasis on readiness & pacing
Integrating with Other Modalities, Experiential Practice and More
- Integrating IFS with EMDR, CBT, somatics and other modalities
- Embodying exiles exercise
- Body mapping or guided imagery for exile connection
- Closing & integration


