Description:
We are all familiar with saying, “A part of me wants to….” Using creative techniques, this workshop will introduce Internal Family Systems theory, a type of parts therapy developed by Richard Schwartz (Schwartz, 1995; 2020), and its application to play therapy (Siegel, 2017). All emotions, or parts, play an important protecting our core Self - like Riley, the main character, in "Inside Out". (Fisher, 2017). IFS uses a person’s internal resources to heal by teaching clients to relate to parts – even negative ones like Sadness, Anger & Disgust – with empathy and self-compassion. Bridging parts therapy with play therapy and neuropsychology, we will discuss how to teach IFS to play therapy clients. 

Learning Objectives:

1) Participants will be introduced to the history of parts therapy approaches and Internal Family Systems theory, developed by Richard Schwartz, and how this can be applied in play therapy.

2) Participants will identify the relationship of parts therapy to neuropsychology and self-compassion.

3) Participants will articulate how creative techniques can be paired with IFS to help children heal in play therapy.