The Internal Family Systems Model of Psychotherapy: Curiosity, Courage, and Compassion in Action

Friday, October 24, 2025, 1:00 PM–5:15 PM ET

Online via Zoom

Continuing Education Offered

• 4 hours regular live interactive online

Description

At its core, the Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach is about learning to turn inward and listen deeply to both our own and our clients' inner experience with curiosity and respect. It is a journey of discovering and seeking to more fully understand the true complexity contained within each of us, an internal mosaic of many different parts, each with its own set of thoughts, feelings and needs. IFS invites us to enter into a relationship with both our clients' and our own internal family system of parts, uncovering both the challenges and wisdom it contains, and offering it the healing energy that is unique to each of us. This model repositions the counselor or therapist as a knowledgeable guide and collaborator instead of "expert," and in so doing leads clients to become adept explorers of their own systems, and to pursue and value their personal inner guidance, which the model labels as "Self."

Through experiential exercises, interactive discussions and didactic presentation, this workshop is intended for all social workers engaged in working with individuals, groups or organizations that could benefit from this framework. Because the path to internal and external harmony can seem elusive when we, and our clients, so often feel fragmented and overwhelmed (given the current state of our world), this introduction to the practice of the Internal Family Systems model can provide insight and practical tools for self-healing and personal, along with potentially societal, growth.

Objectives

1. Describe at least three of the four primary goals of the Internal Family Systems approach.
2. Describe at least three research outcomes with regard to the IFS model and its efficacy.
3. Identify and "map" at least 2-3 of their own parts.
4. Identify three ways in which "Self," as described in the IFS model, was experienced in this workshop and can be present to these parts.

Agenda

Friday, October 24, 2025

• 1:00pm–1:15pm Opening, Introductions and Overview of the Workshop
• 1:15pm–1:45pm Introduction to the Internal Family Systems Model (including a discussion of current research on its efficacy)
• 1:45pm–2:15pm The Nature of "Parts" and the Nature of "Self" with Discussion
• 2:15pm–2:45pm Exercise: "Getting to Know Your Parts," with Parts Mapping, Discussion and Questions
• 2:45pm–3:00pm Break
• 3:00pm–3:30pm The System of Internal Parts and the Relational Nature of the Model
• 3:30pm–4:15pm Demonstration of the IFS Model with Discussion
• 4:15pm–4:45pm Exercise: "The Four Drawing Exercise," with Brief Discussion
• 4:45pm–5:15pm Wrap Up and Closing: Discussion, Questions and Conclusion

Instructor

Tanis Allen, LMSW, ACSW, is a certified IFS psychotherapist in private practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has been practicing, training in, teaching and living the IFS model for over 25 years, having presented many many workshops and trainings in the Midwest and Canada, and as a guest lecturer at the University of Michigan. She earned both her Master of Social Work degree and her Bachelor of Arts in Honors Psychology from the University of Michigan, and her professional experience includes clinical social work in education, both mental and physical healthcare settings and hospice care. Her clinical specializations include work with anxiety and depression, all forms of eating disorders, grief, loss and trauma issues, and adjustment to physical illness and relationship concerns. As an IFS clinical consultant, she also provides supervision and mentorship to psychotherapists learning the model, established and directs the IFS Great Lakes Retreat which is held annually in northern Michigan, and is the author of "The Self-Led Internal Family Systems Workbook: Learn IFS Skills to Understand and Love All Your Parts," which was published by Penguin Random House books in early 2025.

CE Approval Statement

The University of Michigan School of Social Work, provider #1212, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The University of Michigan School of Social Work maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 5/15/2023-5/15/2026.

Social workers participating in this course will receive 4 general continuing education contact hours.

Please see the CE Policies page for more information about continuing education.