Abstract Have you ever had a trauma client who was great at getting under your skin? Or where you and the client got into repetitive struggles, you found yourself falling asleep, or beginning to daydream? Or where important discussions during sessions don’t seem to lead anywhere? This talk will demystify some of these situations through discussion of various styles of non-verbal communication including countertransference/transference patterns and the concepts of projective identification and reenactment. In addition, the use of the Internal Family System’s Fire drill process to identify and work with non-verbal communication will be taught, demonstrated, and practiced.
IFS is an elegant ego state model which has appealed to a wide range of clinicians – some 10,000+ over the world have been trained - many of whom would have never learned to work with ego states without it. One downside to IFS is that clinicians unfamiliar with IFS are often confused when discussing cases with IFS clinicians and clients, as jargon is different as is their path to healing. Another downside is that, although IFS teaches that standard IFS will treat everyone with any disorder or diagnosis, it teaches that there is no need for coping skills, leaving some with complex trauma disorders in distress and confusion as to why they are not healing.
Participants in this webinar will learn the basics of standard IFS as taught by its developer Richard Schwartz, PhD, and where IFS differs from more traditional treatment for complex PTSD and dissociative disorders. After that, the basics will be put into use by learning and practicing IFS’s Fire Drill exercise which identifies and works through counter transference reactions and non-verbal communication. The Fire Drill will also be discussed as a strategy and teaching tool for use with consultees. Case examples will be presented throughout, and there will be time for questions and discussion.
Timed Outline 15 Minutes - Introduction 30 Minutes - Invisible to Visible: Non-verbal communication 45 Minutes - Overview on Internal Family Systems 30 Minutes - Break 15 Minutes - Practicum Instructions 60 Minutes - Practicum 15 minutes - Questions and Discussion
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to:
Describe the stages of IFS therapy and modifications that make it possible to use IFS with clients with complex trauma disorders
Identify common countertransference patterns, and their nonverbal communication
Describe enactments, and projective identification. and use them to inform treatment
Explain how to unlock countertransference reactions through an Internal Family Systems practice called the Fire drill
