Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems
General Information
Title: Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems
Presenter: Frank G. Anderson, MD
Date: Thursday, December 7, 2023: 10:00 AM--1:00 PM ET
Fee: $130 (Earlybird discount until 10/1 $95)
Venue: Online Webinar

Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems
Description
Most modes of psychotherapy believe to have “parts” is pathological. NOT
in Internal Family Systems (IFS). In IFS, the idea of multiplicity of the mind is normal. Every part has a good intention, and every part has value.
Even for trauma survivors.
In the treatment of trauma, IFS differs from traditional phase-oriented treatments. Instead of starting with building resources in clients
before processing traumatic memories,
it welcomes extreme symptoms from the onset, learns about their positive protective intentions and gets their permission to access the traumatic wounds.
IFS is the treatment method that all clinicians should know. Nearly all clients with a trauma history have innate abilities that help them improve their mental health if they listen to their parts. IFS does just that. IFS is an evidence-based approach for clinicians working with traumatized clients. Once you see it in action, you’ll want to incorporate it into your practice.
Clients will leave your office with skills to use outside the therapy room to help them master their emotions. This experiential training will show video demonstrations and include exercises and meditation
techniques to use with your clients.
Instructor

Frank Anderson, MD, completed his residency and was a clinical instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is both a psychiatrist and psychotherapist. He specializes in the treatment of trauma and dissociation and is passionate about teaching brain-based psychotherapy and integrating current neuroscience knowledge with the IFS model of therapy.
Dr. Anderson is a Lead Trainer at the IFS Institute with Richard Schwartz and maintains a long affiliation with, and trains for, Bessel van der Kolk’s Trauma Center. He serves as an advisor to the International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP) and was the former chair and director of the Foundation for Self Leadership.
Dr. Anderson has lectured extensively on the Neurobiology of PTSD and Dissociation and wrote the chapter “Who’s Taking What” Connecting Neuroscience, Psychopharmacology and Internal Family Systems for Trauma in Internal Family Systems Therapy-New Dimensions. He co-authored a chapter on “What IFS Brings to Trauma Treatment in Innovations and Elaborations in Internal Family Systems Therapy” and recently co-authored Internal Family Systems Skills Training Manual.
His most recent book, entitled “Transcending Trauma: Healing Complex PTSD with Internal Family Systems” was released on May 19, 2021.
Dr. Anderson maintains a private practice in Concord, MA.
www.FrankAndersonMD.com
Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems
Objectives
- Present the IFS Model and design ways to integrate IFS into your clinical practice.
- Specify and work with your client’s parts as defined by developer Richard Schwartz, PhD.
- Model how to work with clinician’s own parts.
- Critique an alternate view of symptoms and psychopathology, reasoning that these are ways your clients are trying to protect themselves from emotional pain and psychological wounding.
- Communicate how IFS increases the therapist’s curious and compassionate self when working with difficult and challenging clients.
- Evaluate the neuroscience behind the healing process in IFS therapy
Application Deadline
December 5, 2023, or until all training spaces are filled, whichever comes first.
Notification of Acceptance
Applicants will be notified, via email, of acceptance when registration is complete, and payment is received.
Refund/Cancellation Policy
Tuition/registration payments are refundable (minus $25) until November 5, 2023. Cancellations after this date are non-refundable. In this situation, we will attempt to find someone to take your slot (based on our waiting list).
Accessibility
Conference is via webinar. For live options, there will be handicap accessibility.
Course level
Level of clinician
Accessibility
If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification
CE Information
References
Abramowitz, J.S., Deacon, B. J., & Whiteside, S. P. (2019). Exposure therapy for anxiety: Principles and practice (2nd ed). New York: Guilford Press.
Craske, M. G., Treanor, M., Conway, C. C., Zbozinek, T., & Vervliet, B. (2014). Maximizing exposure therapy: an inhibitory learning approach. Behaviour research and therapy, 58, 10-23.
Jacoby, R. J., & Abramowitz, J. S. (2016). Inhibitory learning approaches to exposure therapy: A critical review and translation to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Clinical psychology review, 49, 28-40.
Satisfactory Completion:
Participants must have paid the tuition fee, signed in or logged in and out each day, attended the entire webinar, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (for pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% is required.) Failure to sign/log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available electronically after satisfactory course completion. A link will be provided for those who have completed the training.
Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems
Schedule
December 7, 2023 | 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM: Welcome and Meditation 10:15 AM – 12:00 PM: 1. Overview of Internal Family Systems 2. Treating the various types of trauma 3
12:00 PM – 12:15 PM BREAK 12:15 PM - : 1:00 PM: The IFS Technique |