Parts Work Primer: An Intro to IFS for Clinicians Working with Trauma and Relationships
Date and Times:
Friday, October 31st, 2025: 9am to 12pm
LOCATION:
1700 W Irving Park Rd, Suite 302 Chicago, IL 60613
Virtual option available. Link will be emailed upon registration.
Workshop Description:
This three-hour experiential workshop introduces clinicians to the Internal Family
Systems (IFS) model, a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach that conceptualizes the mind
as an inner family of parts led by the Self. Originally developed by Richard Schwartz, IFS has
been applied to a wide range of clinical concerns, including trauma, depression, anxiety,
substance abuse, and relational conflict (Anderson, Sweezy, & Schwartz, 2017). With a
particular focus on trauma and relational distress, participants will explore the roles of managers,
firefighters, and exiles, and learn how protective strategies emerge in response to early wounds.
Through lecture, case examples, mapping exercises, and experiential activities, participants will
gain practical skills in identifying protective patterns, unblending parts, and learning how to
foster a Self-to-part connection (Chang, 2019).
Recent research underscores the effectiveness of IFS in treating complex trauma. A pilot
randomized controlled trial found IFS to be a promising treatment for complex PTSD, improving
symptoms of dissociation, affect regulation, and overall functioning (Diedrich, Lampe, Nitsche,
& Fuchs, 2023). These findings complement broader trauma-informed applications of IFS in
clinical practice, highlighting its adaptability and utility for diverse populations (Roemer,
Williston, & Schwartz, 2022).
During the workshop, attention will be given to integrating cultural humility, somatic
awareness, and expanding the view of self-leadership into clinical work. Facilitated through the
lens of Chang (2019), who situates IFS within queer and trans frameworks, showing how parts
work can affirm identities and dismantle internalized oppression. Similarly, the workshop will
encapsulate the work of Kennedy’s (2023) memoir, The Tender Parts, which illustrates how
personal and collective trauma can be held with compassion and transformed through the
development of Self-leadership.
Further, the workshop will integrate somatic and neurobiological perspectives to support
embodied healing. Theories of trauma in the body (Levine, 2010; Ogden & Fisher, 2015) and
polyvagal regulation (Porges, 2011) align with IFS by recognizing how nervous system
responses shape protective strategies and childhood wounds. Together, these perspectives equip
clinicians to support clients in cultivating greater curiosity, connectedness, and compassion for
themselves and others.
Participants will also examine therapist Self-energy and clinical presence as a critical
factor in creating a healing climate, as well as the ethical considerations of pacing, direct access,
and working with trauma. This workshop is designed for mental health professionals who wish
to expand their knowledge of IFS and integrate it with cultural responsiveness and embodied
clinical practice with individuals and couples.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this 3-hour continuing education training, participants will be able to:
Describe the foundational concepts of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, including the Self and internal parts.
Differentiate between managers, firefighters, and exiles, and explain their relevance to trauma and relational dynamics.
Identify protective strategies and patterns that emerge in clients with sexual shame and relational challenges.
Practice IFS-informed techniques such as parts mapping, unblending, and the 6 F's of working with protectors.
Apply strategies to enhance client emotional regulation, internal attunement, and Self-to-part connection.
Evaluate therapist self-energy, cultural considerations, and ethical pacing in using IFS with diverse populations.
Differentiate between implicit and explicit direct access and assess their appropriate clinical use.
Audience:
Professional Counselors
Social Workers
Substance Use Counselors
Marriage and Family Therapists
Psychologists
Presenter Biographies:
Dr. Monica F. Boyd, PhD, LCPC
Dr. Monica F. Boyd-Layne, PhD, LCPC (she/they) is the owner of Pierce Counseling &
Consulting Services, a virtual practice specializing in supporting individuals through life
transitions, identity exploration, and mental wellness. Her clinical work emphasizes racial
identity development, the professional growth of counseling practitioners, and affirmative
practice with members of the Queer community. Her clinical background is working with
individuals, couples, and families that have experienced trauma and addictions, having worked in
both outpatient community mental health settings as well as intensive outpatient and inpatient
treatment centers focusing on alcohol and drug addiction. Her therapeutic approach is framed in
person-centered therapy and grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS), an evidence-informed
model that honors and engages all parts of the self, including those that are often marginalized or
pathologized, to facilitate meaningful and enduring change.
Dr. Boyd-Layne holds Level 2 training in both Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Internal
Family Systems (IFS) and is currently a candidate for IFS certification. In addition to her clinical
practice, she is an Associate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling and holds a Ph.D. in
Counselor Education and Supervision. She provides clinical supervision for licensure in Illinois,
offers consultation to experienced clinicians, and develops and delivers workshops, trainings,
and keynote presentations at the regional and national levels. Her scholarly contributions include
peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations addressing counseling practice,
supervision, and equity in mental health.
Committed to advancing culturally responsive and accessible mental health care, Dr. Boyd-
Layne created Therapy Thursday, a weekly social media series offering insights and education
on a range of topics that influence mental well-being. Additionally, she and a colleague are
producing a YouTube podcast, Watch Your Mouth: Where therapy meets culture, which explores
the intersections of therapy, culture, and social context. Across clinical, academic, and public
platforms, her work centers on dismantling mental health stigma and positioning psychotherapy
as a liberatory practice, particularly for women and members of the global majority.
Continuing Education Hours:
This program is recognized as providing 4.0 CE* Hours for:
• LPC/LCPC (IDFPR license # 197.000360)
• LSW/LCSW (IDFPR license # 159.001584)
• Licensed Psychologist (IDFPR license # 268.000146)
References:
Anderson, F. S., Sweezy, M., & Schwartz, R. C. (2017). Internal family systems skills training manual:
Trauma-informed treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD & substance abuse. PESI Publishing.
Chang, S. C. (2023). All parts welcome: A queer and trans guide to internal family systems. Jessica
Kingsley Publishers.
Diedrich, A., Lampe, A., Nitsche, J., & Fuchs, P. (2023). Internal family systems therapy for complex
PTSD: A pilot randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 14(1), 1–
14. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2023.2170261
Kennedy, I. (2023). The tender parts: A memoir. Penguin Life.
Levine, P. A. (2010). In an unspoken voice: How the body releases trauma and restores goodness.
North Atlantic Books.
Ogden, P., & Fisher, J. (2015). Sensorimotor psychotherapy: Interventions for trauma and attachment.
W. W. Norton & Company.
Porges, S. W. (2011). The polyvagal theory: Neurophysiological foundations of emotions, attachment,
communication, and self-regulation. W. W. Norton & Company.
Roemer, L., Williston, S. K., & Schwartz, R. C. (2022). Trauma-informed applications of Internal
Family Systems therapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 197–209.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23217
Schwartz, R. C. (2001). Internal family systems therapy. Guilford Press.