Our Step One: This is an interactive 13 hour live online course for mental health professionals who treat individuals with a trauma history.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.Participants must attend the course in its entirety and complete a course evaluation to earn CE credit. EMDR has long had concerns related to dissociation, defenses, and complexity. Ego state therapy in various forms has been highly recommended by notable leaders in the EMDR and trauma treatment field as a necessary adjunct. IFS is becoming widely known for its systemic, relational, non-pathologizing features.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.The participant should be familiar with IFS basic concepts from reading, prior workshops, or their own personal IFS therapy to optimally benefit from this course. A bibliography is available below.With participants having that preparation, lectures can be short and experiential learning from live volunteer demos and Guide-supported practice sessions can be optimized.

Hosted by Syzygy Institute, LLC online for 13 CEs. For more info, visit www.syzygyinstitute.com.