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41 | 041: Internal Family Systems Therapy Anchored in Faith: How to Develop Healthy Boundaries for Your Soul

Preconference Workshops

PRESENTERS

Kimberly Miller, M.Th., M.A., and Ann-Marie Bowen, M.A.

CE CREDITS

Approved For CE

APA, ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling

Approved For CME/CEU

TBA

LEVEL

Advanced

Summary 

Summary:

Painful burdens can hold clients back from building the lives they want to live. This experiential workshop is designed for psychologists and licensed mental health professionals working with Christian clients, offering practical guidance on integrating key principles from the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of psychotherapy. With an emphasis on a Christian perspective, participants will learn how to help clients befriend parts of their souls burdened with unwanted thoughts and emotions. Based on IFS, the “Five Steps of Taking a You-Turn” framework will be introduced to help clients develop healthy boundaries and secure attachments with challenging thoughts and feelings. Through didactic lessons, guided exercises, and dyad practice, participants will learn to empower clients to cultivate “self-leadership” and lead their internal parts with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This approach aims to help clients avoid being overwhelmed by their inner experiences and instead navigate their thoughts and feelings in a spiritually guided way.

APA, ASWB, NBCC, NAADAC, Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling

Learning Objectives

1. Outline the steps of working with parts of the soul according to IFS, describing what each step entails and its application within Christian counseling
2. Apply techniques for identifying, focusing on, and befriending parts of the soul burdened by difficult emotions or thoughts while establishing healthy internal boundaries with these parts to promote healing
3. Demonstrate the ability to invite God’s presence into the process of healing and assist clients’ parts in releasing burdens and adopting new roles within their internal family system, with an emphasis on Christian principles