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Introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS) (Live Online)


Credit Available - See CEs/Contact Hours tab below.

Average Rating:
Not yet rated
Categories:
IFS/Internal Family Systems
Trainer:
Michelle Lepak, LCSW
Course Levels:
Beginning and Intermediate
Duration:
12.5 hours
Format:
Live Online

Dates
Schedule at a glance



Description

Course Format

Live interactive webinar: Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussion by unmuting and directly asking questions or through the chat feature in Zoom. 


Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapeutic model that views the mind as composed of multiple "parts," each with distinct beliefs, roles, feelings, and perspectives, alongside a core Self that embodies healing qualities including compassion. The IFS model helps individuals explore and heal wounded or protective parts by working with the core Self to find balance within the internal system. Through this process, IFS empowers individuals to address inner conflicts, heal trauma, and cultivate greater emotional resilience and self-awareness.

This course provides an overview of the theory and practice of the IFS model.  Concepts and skills will be taught through a combination of lecture, experiential learning, and video of IFS session excerpts to demonstrate key concepts.  Students will have the opportunity to learn and practice IFS techniques that can be applied to clinical practice. 

Learning Objectives:

  1. Explain the value of utilizing Internal Family Systems in trauma work.
  2. Describe Internal Family System's non-pathologizing understanding of presenting problems.
  3. Define Exiles, Self, Managers and Firefighters
  4. List the steps of the Flow of the IFS model.
  5. Describe Self to Part Connection.
  6. Name 3 strategies for working with blocking protectors
  7. Explain and Apply Implicit Direct Access
  8. Use the Protector Interview using Implicit Direct Access
  9. Identify the value of Witnessing and Unburdening in the IFS model.

Research: More information about IFS can be found on the IFS institute website:  https://ifs-institute.com/resources/research

Target Audience: social workers, mental health practitioners, creative arts therapists, marriage and facility therapists, psychologists, addiction professionals, case managers, and other interested individuals.

Customer Service

We are happy to respond to any concerns or questions you may have. Please contact us at by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or by phone at 716-829-5841.

ADA Accommodations: If you require any support for your ADA needs in the United States, please contact us by email at least 3 weeks prior to the event by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or by phone at 716-829-5841.


Registration

Registration open until: 7/27/25


CEs/Contact Hours


NYSED LMSW & LCSW CEs/Contact Hours

University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0001. Continuing education contact hours: 12.5 Live Online


NYSED LMHC CEs/Contact Hours

University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0008. Continuing education contact hours: 12.5 Live Online


NYSED LMFT CEs/Contact Hours

University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0007. Continuing education contact hours: 12.5 Live Online


NYSED LCAT CEs/Contact Hours

University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed creative arts therapists #CAT-0003. Continuing education contact hours: 12.5 Live Online


NYSED PSY CEs/Contact Hours

University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0062. Continuing education contact hours: 12.5 Live Online


ASWB ACE approved continuing education

University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education, #1773, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 02/23/2022 - 02/23/2026. Social workers completing this course receive 12.5 continuing education credits.


UBSW - NYS OASAS

NYS OASAS Provider #0045: 12.5 hours for  pending



Trainer

Michelle Lepak, LCSW's Profile

Michelle Lepak, LCSW Related Seminars and Products


Michelle developed the Presence Psychotherapy trauma treatment model. She has been clinical associate faculty at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Psychiatry, and has taught psychologists, social workers and LPCs trauma treatment at Rutgers University as well as postgraduate training institutes such as The National Institute for the Psychotherapies (NIP) and The Training Institute for Mental Health. Michelle has published in the Journal of Integrative Psychotherapy, The International Journal of Trauma Care, and the Journal of Hospital and Community Psychiatry. Michelle has trained in many trauma models, including EMDR, three years Somatic Experiencing, AEDP level 1 and is a certified IFS therapist and IFS consultant. Michelle has been a psychotherapist and meditator for 30 years and maintains a private practice in Montclair, NJ where she provides online consultation and training for psychotherapists.


Equipment Requirements

Required Hardware
- A computer (desktop/laptop) or mobile device (smartphone/tablet).
- Speakers/headphones/earbuds OR access to a phone to call in to the Zoom room.


Strongly Encouraged Hardware
- Webcam or mobile device with a camera for interacting in course activities.


Internet Connection
- A stable Internet connection of 56K or greater is required. (However, please note that a 56K connection may degrade the quality of your experience.)

Any questions about these requirements or other technical questions can be directed to sw-ce@buffalo.edu.

Online Course Access

Upon successful registration of the course you will be able to access the course materials. 

How do I test my system / access the online training?

To access the program, please log into your account. Please plan to log in 10 minutes prior to the start time. Click on the Launch Webinar button next to the program title. You will enter the room with your microphone muted and your camera off. For the best experience, please leave these settings as is unless instructed otherwise. 

How do I access the course materials

To download course materials, log into your account. Under the course name click on the blue Handouts button.

For some trainings, the course handouts may not be available until the morning of the program.

Completion Requirements

No partial credit is given for partial attendance.

Live Online Completion Requirements 

In order to receive a certificate of completion for this course participants must complete the following.

Please note all requirements can be found in your UBCE21 portal. 

- Attend the entire course.  Zoom attendance is used to verify viewing requirements. Zoom can take up to 48 hours to confirm attendance. Participation in small group activities is required.

- Document participation codes and respond to poll questions. Single letter participation codes will be displayed throughout the training. Participants must input the codes in the orange "Evaluation & Certificate" button. Participants must record at least 75% of the codes correctly and participate in at least 75% of the polls.

-  After the training, complete the evaluation by clicking on the "Evaluation and Certificate" button for this course.

The certificate of completion will be immediately generated in your account upon completion of all course requirements. Certificates may be downloaded, printed, or left in your account. 

Agenda

Coming soon!

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellation Policy:

Live (In-Person, Online, and Hybrid) Trainings

The cancellation and refund policy below applies to individual courses. If you purchased multiple courses at one time they may be subject to individual processing fees. Participants can make payment or refund inquiries by contacting the Office of Continuing Education by phone 716-829-5844 or by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu. Standard business hours for the Office of Continuing Education are Monday – Friday 9:00am to 4:30pm. Any requests made outside of these days and times will default to the next business day.

Up to 3 CEs/Contact Hours

  • Up to 30 days prior to the training date refund will be issued in the form of (1) a gift card in the full payment amount OR (2) a refund to the original method of payment minus a $15 processing fee 
  • 29 days to 2 days prior to the training date refund will be issued in the form of (1) a gift card minus a $15 processing fee OR (2) a refund to the original method of payment minus a $25 processing fee 
  • 24 hours or less prior to the training no gift cards or refunds will be issued

Cancellation of Group Purchases

  • Cancellations of more than 5 staff members will incur the following additional fees: 

    • More than 30 days in advance will incur an additional 5% fee.

    • Less than 30 days but more than 15 days in advance will incur an additional 10% fee. 

    • Less than 15 days will incur an additional 20% fee. 

Gift Cards

Gift cards can be used as payment toward future trainings. Gift cards never expire.

Loyalty Reward Points

  • Participants who request a refund will forfeit any Loyalty Reward Points they may have received from that purchase.
  • Participants who request a refund on a purchase paid for with Loyalty Reward Points will have those rewards credited back to their account within 5 business days of the refund being processed.

Substitute Attendance

If a registered participant is unable to attend a training and would like another individual to attend in their place the Office of Continuing Education must be called or emailed at least one full business day before the training. Substitution decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Check Refund

Any refund requests for a check payment may take up to 4 weeks to process.

UB Cancelled Trainings

  • If the Office of Continuing Education cancels a training, participants will be notified via email and refunds will be paid in full.
  • Please be aware that if the University at Buffalo is closed trainings and workshops may still be taking place.
  • Please contact the Office of Continuing Education at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or 716-829-5841 if you have any questions or concerns regarding whether or not a training is still being held.

Additional questions and support?

Please email sw-ce@buffalo.edu or call 716-829-5841.