Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy understands the mind as made up of different parts, each with its own feelings, perspectives, and roles. The model helps clients develop a compassionate relationship with these parts and access self-energy as a resource for healing.
This two-workshop series with Cleo Haber offers a foundational introduction to IFS, followed by a more advanced workshop on working with protector parts. Participants may register for either workshop individually or attend both at a discounted rate.
Trigger warning: Participating in these workshops may evoke powerful feelings and can trigger participants who have experienced personal trauma.
WORKSHOP 1: An Experiential Introduction to the ModelÂ
Date: April 8, 2027
Time: 9:30am to 5:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Format: Live Online Workshop
This workshop provides an experiential introduction to IFS therapy for clinicians who are curious to learn about the model and are seeking guidance on how to begin working with clients informed by this approach. The day will consist of didactic teaching, experiential exercises, and a live demonstration of the model.
Participants will be guided through personal meditation exercises to get to know parts of their own system and engage in a ‘Parts Mapping’ exercise. This will help participants gain a felt sense of the approach to better facilitate the model with their clients. Participants will have the opportunity to watch a demonstration session and practice the model. There will be ample time for questions and discussion.
Participants will learn the basic principles and structure of an IFS session and gain an understanding of how to approach working with their clients informed by the model. They will learn how to name and speak for parts and gain knowledge about the different parts of the internal system:
i) The protective parts—managers and firefighters
ii) Exiled parts that hold wounds from the past and
iii) Self-energy which is not a part; everyone has a ‘Self’ that can bring harmony and healing to the system.
Objectives
Participants will:
- Gain an understanding and learn the basic principles of IFS therapy.
- Participate in experiential exercises to get to know parts of their own system.
- Learn the structure of an IFS session.
- Gain the tools to begin working with clients informed by this model.
 WORKSHOP 2: Working with Protector Parts
Build from foundation to practice in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy
Date: April 29, 2027
Time: 9:30am to 5:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)
Format: Live Online Workshop
This workshop deepens clinical skills in working with protector parts, supporting clinicians in skillfully engaging with client defences to transform protectors into allies in the healing process
The workshop will include didactic teaching, experiential exercises, and a live demonstration. Participants will review the basic structure of an IFS session, focusing on how to facilitate the Self-to-Part connection, identify a target part, check for Self-energy, and support connection while working with protective parts’ concerns.
Participants will learn how to engage with protective parts, apply strategies to support un-blending, use implicit and explicit direct access, and work with polarizations. This portion of the workshop serves to deepen participants’ skills in working with protector parts, which is a critical step before addressing deeper emotional wounds.
Participants will watch a live demonstration session and have the opportunity to break into small groups to practice interventions. There will be ample time for questions and discussion.
Please note: If you are willing to volunteer to be a participant in the live demonstration, please indicate this during the registration (does not guarantee that you will be the volunteer).
Objectives
Participants will:
- Gain a deeper understanding of the role protector parts play in your clients’
- system
- Learn strategies for working with protector parts
- Participate in experiential exercises to practice working with protector parts
- Gain more tools to work with clients informed by this model
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ABOUT THE PRESENTER
Cleo Haber, BSW, MSW, RSW is the founder and Clinical Director of North Star Therapy. She has over 20 years of experience in the field, specializing in mental health and working with individuals, couples, and groups.
In addition to providing psychotherapy and clinical supervision, Cleo regularly facilitates workshops and professional development training. She brings extensive post-graduate training and a commitment to ongoing learning, integrating the latest research into her work.
Cleo works from an anti-oppressive, strengths based and client-centred perspective. She integrates multiple evidence-based clinical approaches including: Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal therapy (IPT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and
Mindfulness.
