63. Internal Family Systems Explained: A Guide to IFS Therapy

Today, Alice Mills Mai, LPCC-S, NCC joins the podcast to talk all about a modality everyone is talking about: Internal Family Systems (IFS).

The conversation explores the origins, basic concepts, and therapeutic applications of IFS, including defining parts like managers, firefighters, and exiles. They also delve into the qualities of the self and how practitioners can guide clients through parts work and guided imagery. The experts share insights on integrating IFS with other modalities like EMDR, and discuss the significance of IFS training and certification.

00:00 Introduction to the Therapist Thrival Guide

00:27 Alice's Background and Introduction to IFS

01:23 Understanding Internal Family Systems (IFS)

02:40 The Development and Structure of IFS

05:10 Parts Work in IFS: Managers, Firefighters, and Exiles

14:03 Guided Imagery and Experiential Techniques in IFS

22:57 Introducing IFS to Clients

24:41 Training and Certification in IFS

26:45 Comparing IFS with Other Therapies

28:46 Understanding the Self in IFS

31:37 Applying IFS in Therapy

38:22 Final Thoughts on IFS

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of THRIVING by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise, clinical interests, and personal experiences of being a therapist. This podcast will be covering topics like burn-out, self of therapist, cultural considerations, client retention, session structure, advancing clinical skills, innovations in therapy, and balancing professional relationships with our personal lives. Every now and then, we'll even cover the happenings of how therapists are portrayed in pop culture.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#mentalhealth

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Alice is both a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC-S) and National Certified Counselor (NCC). Her mission is to create culturally affirming spaces that foster wholeness, accountability, and liberation where people (therapists and clients) can thrive, learn, and grow. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Internal family systems (IFS). Alice enjoys working with all of her clients, especially immigrants and children of immigrants, exploring trauma and its implications on our lives. She is the clinic director of Ellie Mental Health in Westerville, Ohio.