Intro to IFS for EMDR Therapists
2-day Experiential Workshop
ASWB ACE approved, also NY SW, MHC, MFT & PSY board approved - see below!
Presented via Zoom by Syzygy Institute
March 23 & 24, 2023 - Thursday & Friday - 9AM-4:30PM US Eastern Time - $600
Presenters: Beau Laviolette & Erik Anderson
Register early!
This workshop is limited to 30 participants for each date.
This is an introductory experiential IFS course.
Designed for the EMDR therapist preparing for our IFS-Informed EMDR courses. Of course, since it focuses predominantly on teaching the basics of IFS, non-EMDR therapists are welcome and will benefit as well.
What you will learn:
In IFS, ego states are parts are embedded in an adaptive and protective system and can be guided by a (higher) Self, which is qualitatively different from those parts. The Self is capable of healing burdened, stuck, wounded, or extreme/symptomatic parts through its energetic presence in a healing relationship. Self-Energy, a product of Self-Presence has a healing effect on such parts.
Participants will be introduced to the assumptions and basic concepts of the model via powerpoint lecture, and then shown the process in volunteer demo sessions, followed by practice sessions in the roles of therapist and client, coached by an experienced Guide. There is a 3-1 participant-to-Guide ratio in the course.
Read up, and be prepared.
With participants having that preparation, lectures can be short and experiential learning from live volunteer demos and Guide-supported practice sessions can be optimized.
Background of Syzygy Institute
Syzygy Institute, a partnership between Bruce Hersey and Michelle Richardson, is the culmination of Bruce's 15 years developing and teaching a systematic integration of the models: IFS-Informed EMDR. It is the mission of Syzygy to provide high quality advanced integrative training in these converging healing models within a connected community atmosphere, and establish a certification program based upon recognized training in both models and progression through advanced integration courses.
EMDR therapists have become familiar with the helpful notion of ego states, which frequently inhabit our workspace when attempting to process traumas with our (quite commonly) complex clients. Many have identified Internal Family Systems (IFS) as a user-friendly comprehensive ego state model, and are eager to learn an integration of EMDR and IFS.
At Syzygy Institute, we require that anyone being trained to integrate the two models are first fully trained in EMDR, and secondly have a fundamental experiential understanding of IFS. Nothing is better for that purpose than Level One Training by the IFS-Institute. We recognize that IFS Level One training is costly, time-consuming, and currently there are substantial waiting lists and lottery systems to get in.
Those EMDR therapists who have started or completed an IFS Level One do not need to take Intro to IFS for EMDR Therapists to qualify for our main course; the IFS-Informed EMDR 2-day workshop.
To fill the gap for those EMDR therapists unable to obtain IFS Level One, we have developed Intro to IFS for EMDR Therapists workshop as a basic requirement to fulfill before attending the IFS-Informed EMDR 2-day workshop.
We then offer an advanced IFS-Informed EMDR course: Discovery & Beyond 2-day IFS-Informed EMDR Advanced Experiential.
Advancing through these workshops with additional approved consultation, in addition to specified requirements in the separate models, will be the path to an IFS-Informed EMDR certification.
Steps of SYZYGY IFS-EMDR Integration Program
Intro to IFS for EMDR Therapists 2-day:
Experiential introduction to IFS model with guided practice. Meets minimal IFS experience requirements to advance to Step Two. Waived with IFS Level One training (which is preferred).
Syzygy Step Two --
IFS-Informed EMDR 2-day: Provides overall integration rationale and systematic strategies, introducing relevant ideas from Coherence Therapy addressing memory reconsolidation. Prerequisite for Step Three.
Syzygy Step Three --
Discovery & Beyond 2-day: Deepens understanding and application of IFS-Informed EMDR in Direct Access conditions; working with blended protectors, further integrating Coherence Therapy concepts.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this program, participants will be able to:
1. Describe concerns about using the EMDR Standard Protocol without additional knowledge and skills.
2. Describe the unique advantages of IFS as an Ego State model for use in combination with EMDR.
3. Explain the makeup of parts and how IFS gathers information about parts as targets for processing.
4. Describe the three categories of parts in IFS.
5. Describe at least 8 unique qualities of the Self in IFS.
6. Explain what blending with a part is, and describe the IFS process of unblending.
7. Explain what the IFS therapist does when a part won’t unblend.
8. Describe Witnessing and list the 6 F’s of Witnessing in IFS.
9. Explain the IFS concept of burdens.
10. Describe the two components of a Protector’s Positive Intention.
11. Recite the 3 ingredients of “Special Sauce” IFS witnessing ‘cadence comments’ and explain their importance in witnessing.
12. Explain the role of the Self in IFS healing.
13. Describe final two IFS healing processes that follow witnessing.
Click below for workshop schedule:
Click below for course bibliography:
The content of this course is evidence-based.
There is no known commercial support nor conflict of interest for this program.
Continuing Education Information
Participants must attend the course in its entirety and complete a course evaluation to earn CE credit.
EMDRIA
Approved for 13.0 CE distance education through EMDRIA (EC Provider #22005).
IFS-Institute
Approved for 13.0 CE for IFS recertification (submit certificate with IFS recertification application).
ASWB ACE
IFS-Informed EMDR 2-day, Course #4267, is approved by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program to be offered by Syzygy Institute as an individual course. Individual courses, not providers, are approved at the course level. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. ACE course approval period: [dates]. Social workers completing this course receive 13.0 Clinical continuing education credits.
New York Social Workers
Syzygy Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0724.
New York Psychologists
Syzygy Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #PSY-0229.
New York Mental Health Counselors
Syzygy Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0267.
New York Marriage & Family Therapists
Syzygy Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Marriage & Family Therapists as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0113.
Massachusetts Marriage & Family Therapists
All Syzygy courses are approved by NEAFAST on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions, for LMFT professional continuing education.
Meet our Syzygy Institute Trainers!
Bruce Hersey
Bruce Hersey, LCSW, is a Co-Founder of Syzygy Institute and the founder of emdrifs.com, a website for self-learning through prerecorded CE courses on IFS, EMDR, & Coherence Therapy integration.
Bruce is an experienced presenter, and workshop leader, known for his clarity, humor, warmth and humility. He has led and co-led numerous introductory IFS and IFS-Informed EMDR workshops, in-person and online.
An EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Level 3-trained Approved IFS Clinical Consultant, Bruce presented twice at the IFS Annual Conference, AASECT, and EMDR UK.
Bruce has also published short animated educational introduction videos on IFS (Finding Your Parts) and EMDR (EMDR at a Glance) on YouTube.
You can listen to Bruce taking about IFS-Informed EMDR on The Therapy Explained Podcast with James Lloyd, and The One Inside Podcast with Tammy Sollenberger.
Michelle Richardson
Michelle Richardson, MSW, LCSW is the Co-Founder of Syzygy Institute as well as the owner of Mindful Soul Center for Wellbeing, a thriving group practice located in southern New Jersey. There, she specializes in the treatment of complex trauma and dissociation in addition to providing clinical supervision and consultation to clinicians in varied stages of their professional journey.
As an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and IFS Level 1 & 2 Therapist, Michelle helps clinicians wade through the often murky and complex waters of psychotherapy towards clarity and confidence in their work. At Syzygy Institute, it is Michelle’s mission to introduce therapists to the place where IFS and EMDR meet to generate lasting healing for their clients. Michelle has additionally been a featured guest on both the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast and The Woman Worriers Podcast, where she speaks about Internal Family Systems therapy, anxiety, and the inner critic.
Elizabeth Venart
As a practitioner, I guide individuals and couples to develop greater compassion for themselves and heal the trauma at the root of where they feel stuck. What results is an experience of greater resiliency, freedom, and joy. My specialties include working with Highly Sensitive persons (HSPs), who are empathic, creative, and intuitive. I have a focus on trauma, anxiety, job burn-out and career transitions.
For nearly ten years, I've worked in non-profit crime victim centers providing individual and group counseling—as well as crisis intervention and critical incident stress management services—to women, children, and men impacted by traumatic grief and crimes of violence.
Through providing supervision and consultation as an LPC Supervisor in Pennsylvania and an EMDRIA Approved Consultant, I have supported many therapists seeking to advance their skills and deepen their understanding of trauma and resiliency. Completing IFS Training Levels 1 and 2 has powerfully amplified my abilities in these roles, taking it to a new level just as in my therapy practice.
In addition I founded Montgomery-Bucks (Greater Philadelphia
region) EMDRIA Regional Network and served as Regional Coordinator from
2011 – 2020.
I'm an experienced leader of workshops, trainings and retreats. In these, I've sought to inspire resiliency, healing, growth and laughter. Teaching Laughter Yoga, IFS, EMDR, and IFS-Informed EMDR renews my spirit.
Beau Laviolette
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Baton Rouge, LA, where I happily reside with my wife and two sons. Along with my family, I have counted on my spiritual faith and love of nature to support me in my journey.
As a former United States Marine, I am proudly passionate about serving fellow military veterans on my current path as a professional healer. I co-founded the IFS Healing Corps, an organization that brings IFS (Internal Family Systems Therapy) to veterans and active duty military, previously co-founded the Student Veteran Association at Tulane University
(SVAT), and served as president of that body.
Being an EMDR Approved Consultant, Certified IFS Therapist, and IFS-Informed EMDR teacher, trainer, and consultant has enabled me to better help clients and therapists alike to advance in their personal and professional growth and healing. Nothing is more rewarding for me than helping people discover their true potential through education and counseling.
I also have a background as a certified addictions counselor (previously) and am familiar with the burdens those afflictions impose on the addict and their loved ones.
Crystal Whitlow
I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in South Bend, Indiana where I reside with my husband, two sons, and three rescue dogs. There, I have a private practice focused on helping adults suffering from complex trauma.
As an experienced EMDR Trainer and EMDRIA-Approved Consultant, I've been passionate about teaching advanced trauma therapy skills to mental health professionals. With a background in IFS (Internal Family Systems Therapy), I offer IFS-Informed EMDR training and consultation to advanced professionals.
I consider myself a lifelong learner and passionate educator and connector. I attend advanced trainings whenever possible, seeking the most cutting-edge treatments for my clients and to pass along through teaching to my colleagues and community of therapists around the world.
My background includes significant experience in assisting sexual abuse and domestic violence survivors. I've also served as EMDRIA Regional Coordinator for State of Indiana, 2012-2018.
Nancy Simons
From my solo private practice as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Western Massachusetts, I have been providing trauma treatment, training, and consultation for over 30 years.The resiliency of the human spirit is what inspires me most. I engage in treatment through the combined lenses of EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Self-Compassion Training and the neurobiology of trauma and attachment. Currently, I use IFS-informed EMDR as my primary therapeutic modality. My areas of focus include the treatment of depression and anxiety, dissociative disorders, attachment issues and medical trauma.
I'm a Clinical Supervisor for an In-home therapy program supporting refugee families, with expertise working with refugee communities, utilizing translators to coordinate the delivery of services for trauma treatment and emotional wellness.
I had been the Clinical Director at Trauma Recovery Humanitarian Assistance Program, overseeing the development of a National Trauma Recovery Network with EMDR clinicians. Additionally, I worked as a clinician in an Integrated Primary Care Practice developing a protocol for treating medically related stress.
I have advanced training in Cultural Competency, Somatic Experiencing, Structural Dissociation and IFS-Informed EMDR.
I am an EMDRIA Approved Consultant & EMDR Trainer, and also offer my own EMDRIA-approved trainings in Self-Compassion for Trauma Treatment. Most recently I have been assisting with IFS-informed EMDR trainings.
Erik Anderson
I have a small private practice and have worked since 2016 at the University of Michigan's academic medical center, Michigan Medicine, providing counseling services to medical faculty, staff, and their families. Working in this medical environment has yielded unique insight into factors impacting clients working in the medical field and especially common job-related psychological conditions such as burnout, moral distress, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, & suicidality. Helping helpers has its challenges and rewards.
While I am trained in both traditional talk and cognitive behavioral therapies, over the past 8 years I have been drawn towards transformational psychotherapies, particularly Internal Family Service(IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP). These models with the right therapist invite a deeper level of healing and change.
Becoming an EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Certified IFS Therapist have both contributed to the advancement and fulfillment of my trainer and presenter parts, who keep me nourished and refreshed professionally.
Accommodations for the Differently Abled
Cancelation Policy
Registration may be transferred to a specific later offering of the same workshop, if space is available, for a $60 service fee until 30 days prior to workshop, and thereafter is $100.
Grievance Policy
All grievances must be in writing to hello@syzygyinstitute.com, and will be replied to within 5 - 10 business days.