IFS INSTITUTE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Site Sourcing and Management Specialist
Alexandra became part of the IFS institute team in January of 2019. Alexandra has a background within the hospitality industry handling housing and site selections. As the Training Site Sourcing Coordinator, she now handles the site searches for the IFS Level 1, 2 and 3 trainings.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to Dr. Richard Schwartz
Amanda joined IFSI in 2021. They are passionate about systems-change, anti-racist and decolonizing frameworks and mutual aid. She provides full time executive support for Dr. Richard Schwartz and the IFSI team. In their spare time they enjoy riding motorcycles and spending time with their rescue dog, Lady.
is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has been a psychotherapist for over twenty years. Amy Specializes in severe, chronic trauma and back in the day to help her perfectionistic parts feel equipped to work with her complicated clients, she became well trained and certified in many models. Then, that all shifted in 2010 when she fell in love with IFS and has never looked back with any other modality. Not only is IFS what Amy utilizes professionally, it is also the roadmap that she lives her life by and as a result is passionate about bringing it to the world at large to assist in systemic change, internally and externally. Amy has a private practice, is the Executive Clinical Director of an IFS informed trauma residential program and the host of the Turning In podcast. Amy loves to teach, cook, play and laugh.
Amy is a graduate of Saint Joseph's college in Maine and the Columbia University School of Social Work. She was commissioned in the US Army as a social worker and deployed to Somalia and Haiti with the 10th Mountain Infantry Division. She has served combat Veterans and survivors of military sexual trauma as a therapist and director of the Sanford Vet Center (part of the VA) from 1996 until retiring in 2022. Her IFS journey began in 2013 and has led her on a path to PAing several trainings, becoming a certified therapist and clinical consultant and now serving as an Assistant Trainer. She is excited to be part of the mission to bring IFS to many different communities.
, is a bilingual, bicultural Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified IFS and EMDR therapist, and Certified Family Life Educator. Ana was born and raised in Lima, Perú, where she completed her bachelor's degree in clinical psychology. She earned a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from San Jose State University after immigrating to the US. She has been in private practice since 1995 and has worked in numerous mental health and community organization settings. Most of her professional work has been dedicated to low income, Latino, immigrant populations. For the past 25+ years, Ana has been a Family Wellness Partner and Trainer, and has trained numerous instructors in this program throughout the United States and the world.
Given her passion for "Intentional Motherhood", Ana founded "Resilient Families Gilroy" in 2017, which is a mindfulness-based, trauma-informed, community led program geared to facilitate intergenerational healing in low-income immigrant communities. In addition to running this program, Ana has a private practice and provides lectures and trainings on mental health and family wellbeing to different organizations and communities globally on an on-going basis.
Ann L. Sinko, LMFT has over 30 years of clinical experience and is licensed marriage and family therapist in Connecticut. She is in private practice and has been teaching as a adjunct Professor in the Marriage and family therapy program at Central CT State University for 26 years. She has integrated IFS theory and technique in all facets of her creative work with families, couples, individuals and groups. She establishes a safe environment in which clients experience unconditional acceptance. She has a background in gestalt therapy and uses sandtray therapy and in her work. Ann is passionate about teaching and believes that theory is best integrated though experiential learning. She brings has a down to earth, concrete style along with a sense of humor to her teaching. Ann is a seasoned world traveler, loves the outdoors and is a avid gardener
Anna Gartshore, MSW, RSW, runs a thriving private practice on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek in Northern Ontario, Canada. She provides IFS therapy, workshops and consultation with a special focus on issues stemming from complex, developmental trauma, eating disorders and colonial trauma. She is recognised as a champion of non-pathologizing, holistic models of care that recognise the strengths in every survival story and has a passion for all action that moves towards truth, reconciliation and healing from the impact of pervasive, colonial trauma. Her engaging approach is complemented by her professional work in the theatre, as well as her training in contemplative practices such as Buddhist meditation.
Ashley brings over a decade of experience to our team, having joined us in 2011 with a background in hospitality and event management, as well as marketing expertise. Throughout her 12-year tenure as Learning Events Manager, Ashley played a pivotal role in overseeing the management and execution of the IFS Annual Conference, fostering community growth, and delivering exceptional experiences. She is IFS Level 1 Trained and served as a founding member of IFSI's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee from 2016 to 2023.
Recently Ashley transitioned into a new part-time role, demonstrating a commitment to supporting the growth and development of IFSI's Learning Programs, a decision driven by her commitment to balance work with quality time spent with her four young children.
Rosa Maria Bramble Caballero, LCSW-R, is a Certified IFS Therapist. She's the President of Caballero Counseling & Consulting Services where she is specializing in the treatment of trauma survivors. In addition to IFS, she is trained in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, EMDR and Coherent Breathing. Sh facilitates supervision, trauma-informed workshops and retreats to community-based organizations and capacity building in the areas of migration trauma, diversity and inclusion, maternal infant health, community violence intervention and vicarious traumatization. Her IFS journey has been transformative and healing and she's excited to integrate the model to her work with refugees, asylum seekers and immigrant communities. Rosa believes in the healing power of music and movement. She loves dancing salsa, drumming, traveling, art, cooking, sharing time with friends and family. Rosa was born in Caracas, Venezuela and is bilingual Spanish- English.
Brenda Aufderhar, RN, LICSW, IFS Certified, is in private practice in Spokane, Washington, USA. She has used IFS since 2000 with individuals, couples, therapy groups, and integrated IFS into play therapy with traumatized children in a community health center. Her passion for including the body in IFS therapy is informed by her training as a nurse, along with her Hakomi and Craniosacral Therapy certifications. Being raised in South America for 10 years, Brenda marinated in other cultures that permanently broadened her sense of others and added depth and flavor to her inner landscape of parts.
Job Titles:
- Founder, and Executive Director of Outspoken Counseling
Carmen Jimenez-Pride is the founder, and Executive Director of Outspoken Counseling and Consulting. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, Certified EMDR Therapist, Internal Family Systems Therapist, Registered Yoga Teacher, Registered Children Yoga Teacher and a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator. Carmen is also a LEGO® Serious Play® Facilitator.
Job Titles:
- Learning Technology Specialist
Be patient towards all that is unsolved in our heart and try to love the questions themselves by Rainer Maria Rilke, says what IFS means to me and how I work with clients. Our parts have wisdom for our healing, whether they come as questions, experiences that leave us wondering what that was about, or experiences that leave us feeling more aware of who we are, what we are about and what we want. My background in private practice over the last 18 years is a combination of exercise psychology and psychotherapy with humor and fun added to the mix. Currently, as an Assistant Trainer with IFS, my work has deepened as my depth of understanding about IFS as evolved. Please see my website: www.lewisburgcounseling.com
Caroline joined the IFSI team in July 2023. She is an instructional designer and technologist with experience creating online learning programs for therapists in health care and school settings. As Learning Technology Specialist, she will use her technical expertise and multimedia development skills to craft engaging, seamless learning experiences for the learners served by IFSI.
Cathy Curtis, LCSW is an IFS Lead trainer and has been a psychotherapist for over 25 years. She has been trained in many different body-centered modalities. For the past 10 years, she has primarily used IFS in her work with individuals and couples. She is also a lead trainer for the Intimacy From The Inside Out basic and advanced trainings. Cathy lives and works in Santa Cruz, CA
, ACSW; IFS Senior Trainer, US and international. Contributed to IFS training manuals and teaches L1, L2 Compassion for Addictive Processes and Level 3. Cece has over thirty-five years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples and families, specializing in work with the effects of trauma and addiction. Her chapter on working with addictive processes appears in IFS Innovations and Elaborations (2016). She co-authored IFS Treatment for Addictions: Trauma-Informed Compassion-Based Interventions fo r Substance Use, Eating, Gambling and More (2023) with Martha Sweezy and Dick Schwartz. Cece also has special interests in spiritual practices intersecting with therapy and in the impact of psychotherapy upon the life of the therapist and she lectures, consults and and leads workshops on these and related topics. Cece lives and works in Oak Park/Chicago.
has a deep love for sharing, teaching and living the IFS model with others. Chris has been working in the fields of mental health and addictions for over 30 years. Over these years, he has had the experience of working in numerous treatment settings. Presently, Chris is in private practice, working with individuals and couples as well as providing both individual and group supervision.
Chris has found a home with IFS; in working with others, as a personal process, and as a member of the larger IFS community. Chris is truly appreciative of the opportunity to have his healing journey occurring alongside many beloved friends, mentors, and fellow IFS'ers.
Crystal Jones, LCSW, is a Certified IFS Therapist and Lead IFS Trainer. She feels extremely grateful to have experienced and witnessed the healing benefits of the IFS model in her own life and in the lives of her clients. She has 20 years of clinical experience and owns a private group practice, Life Source Counseling Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Crystal is known for her compassion and heart-led approach to her work. She is passionate about creating safe spaces for BIPOC women to feel connected, seen, heard, and valued as they do their healing work individually and collectively. She also enjoys providing IFS clinical consultation to therapists and practitioners learning the model and pursuing certification. She truly looks forward to sharing in the healing journeys of all inspired by this model.
, LPC, is a body-centered psychotherapist and counselor educator. He runs a private practice in Texas, offering support for leaders & entrepreneurs, consultation for IFS consultants and therapists, and psychotherapy. Dan's particularly excited about supporting leaders and therapists in deepening their own capacity to be available to themselves and their experience. As leaders and therapists become more clear and confident, they can be more available to the people they serve with less effort. He has found IFS to be a wonderful framework to simplify the support/therapy process and offer language to effectively invite folks into their present moment experience to facilitate change. With a lifetime exploring the body and a background in science, Dan brings a pragmatic, grounded view to the IFS process.
David Kitchings, LPC, is an Assistant Trainer, certified IFS therapist and approved IFS clinical consultant with a private practice online practice. He is also an IFIO (Intimacy from the Inside Out) couples therapist and is on staff for IFIO trainings. David teaches introductory IFS workshops and leads IFS and IFIO consultation groups. He provides IFS-inspired executive coaching and is continuously training in IFS and psychedelics. David returned to the field of psychotherapy after a long period of time working as an attorney, business owner, and stay-at-home dad to three children. He has also lived in Singapore and Switzerland, working with expatriates and the international IFS community. David has a deep interest in spirituality, and is an artist and musician.
Dawn Balcazar, Ph.D. is a doctoral level clinical psychologist, certified IFS therapist, and IFS approved consultant in private practice remotely and in person in Massachusetts. She received her BA from Wellesley College and her Ph.D. from University of MA/Amherst and has been a clinical supervisor at The Trauma Center and Wellesley College. Alongside working within the IFS model, Dawn specializes in psychological trauma, bereavement and enjoys working with the diverse local college student population, particularly first-generation students. Dawn is a nature lover, hiker, sailor, and a dedicated animal rescuer who runs a Caribbean based non-profit cat shelter and rescue.
Denise Caldwell, LCSW, is a certified IFS therapist in private practice in Catawissa, Pennsylvania, USA. She is also trained in the IFIO model and works with individuals and couples in her private practice. She is certified as a Structural and Contextual family therapist and has used play and sand therapies in the past with children, teens, and families in her 40 years of social work experience. She is a consultant and supervisor for individuals for IFS and IFIO clinicians. Her goal is to make changes for equality and opportunity for as many individuals in her own community as well as on a larger scale through teaching and involvement with groups devoted to change. She lives with her wife and dogs and loves to kayak, bike, swim and take relaxing walks in nature. She loves all types of music and singing at her local church.
Job Titles:
- Director, Professional & Community Development
Donna joined the IFS team in April 2022 and has over 18 years of experience in human resources, which includes global leadership, developing organizational strategy and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Donna will play an integral role in designing, evolving, and leading our strategic efforts to recruit, develop and retain trainers and program staff. She is passionate about IFS and the hope that this work will lead to greater Self leadership. Donna enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and scrapbooking
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Clinical Psychologist
- Trainer
Dr. Alexia Rothman is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Atlanta, GA, since 2004. She is a Certified Internal Family Systems therapist, an international speaker and educator on the IFS model, and an IFSI-approved professional consultant. She offers workshops and retreats on the IFS model throughout the U.S. and internationally. She co-hosts the IFS-informed podcast miniseries, Explorations in Psychotherapy, and the IFS podcast, IFS Masters, and has published a book chapter on the integration of IFS and Polyvagal Theory.
Dr. Steven Krantz has been an IFS Trainer for many years and is currently a Solo Lead Trainer. He is also a full-time Associate Clinical Professor at Touro University Graduate School of Social Work. He has an online private psychotherapy practice from Long Island, NY and leads numerous online IFS consultation/supervision groups. Alongside his generic IFS practice, he has a specialty in working with addictions and adolescents. Steve is passionate about the model and it's ability to access healing.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder and Co - Director of the Israeli Institute
, graduated from Law school in Tel Aviv University, Israel, and earned her Master's degree in Clinical Social Work at Washington University, USA. Einat is an experienced psychotherapist with over 30 years of clinical experience with individuals, couples, families, and groups. She has lived and worked with IFS since the early days of the model, and learned closely and directly from the IFS founder Dr. Richard Schwartz. Einat is a certified IFS therapist, a certified supervisor and a Senior International Lead Trainer for IFSI, leading Level 1,2 and 3 trainings.
Einat is also the co-founder and co-director of The Israeli Institute for IFS who brought IFS to Israel and trained hundreds of Israeli therapists in the model since 2008. She taught family and couples therapy in Tel Aviv University, presented multiple times at the IFS Annual Conference and led IFS trainings, seminars and workshops all over the world. Einat is married, has 4 children, one grandchild and lives in Israel.
Elina Falck is a certified IFS therapist, and an approved IFS consultant. She is in private practice, specializing in trauma recovery and clinical consultation. Because she lives on a small island off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, her entire practice is online. She is an immigrant to Canada, from Sweden. She is passionate about helping IFS therapists becoming even better at their craft. As a trauma therapist, she has a particular interest in helping her clients recover from shame, and heal from their harsh experiences. She delights in helping her clients reconnect to their Self-energy, especially when they have learned to perceive Self-access as dangerous and untrustworthy.
Job Titles:
- North American Talent Specialist
Eliza joined the IFS staff team in June of 2022. She has a background in operations and asset management and brings considerable experience in stakeholder communications. She is responsible for new trainer onboarding, trainer scheduling, supporting performance management, engaging with trainers to help with their development goals, and generally supporting the trainer community. Eliza enjoys gardening, birdwatching, traveling, and spending time with her two Jack Russell Terriers.
, is a Certified IFS Therapist with nineteen years of clinical experience. She is licensed in Virginia, Washington DC and New Jersey and has a private practice in Falls Church, Virginia, where she works with adults and couples. She also provides supervision to therapists working toward licensure in Virginia, as well as clinical consultation to therapists learning IFS. Ellie has an interest in working with people in improving their relationships, both within themselves and with others.
is a Certified Internal Family Systems therapist, case consultant and trainer with a Masters in Family Therapy from Newcastle University, Australia. Emma has 18 years of clinical practice working with complex and relational trauma. She has worked with IFS in the context of individual and family therapy including with children and young people across culture, complexity and identity. She currently works in private practice as a psychotherapist and supervisor specialising in CPTSD in NSW Australia. Emma is known for her warmth, openness and inclusivity. In her down time she enjoys forest bathing, beach walks with her dog and all adventures in the natural world.
Job Titles:
- Central Operations Coordinator
Eryca joined the IFS team in October of 2022. Experience in operations management in the healthcare and nonprofit space. In her free time she likes to play volleyball, play board games and travel.
Fatimah Finney, LMHC is a serial goal-setter, lover of new ideas, and imaginative thinker. She is a certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist and maintains a private practice serving BIPOC and young adults. As an administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory, Fatimah is a consultant to individuals and organizations looking to build their capacity and skills in centering diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. Fatimah facilitates workshops on intercultural competence, microaggressions and mental health awareness with an aim to make workplaces more inclusive and equitable. Prior to her counseling and consulting practice, Fatimah spent the majority of her career providing in-home therapy to children, adolescents and adults and serving in clinical leadership roles. Through her work in community mental health settings, she cultivated a strong commitment to helping therapists increase their cultural competence and clinical fluency with diverse populations.
Frances D. Booth, LICSW is a Certified IFS Therapist, Consultant, Trainer. Her practice specialties are trauma, anxiety, depression, cancer, medical dis-ease and attachment disorders. She graduated from Cornell University (with honors) and Simmons School for Social Work and has held adjunct faculty positions at Smith College School for Social Work, Tufts Medical School, and The William James College. She loves to sing, dance, bike, run, sail, read, laugh, dine, enjoy the arts and spend time with grandchildren.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor
Gaby Satarino is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and Certified IFS Therapist. She has over 20 years of clinical experience working in community mental health and primary care settings providing trauma-informed psychotherapy for at-risk youth, refugees, the homeless, and incarcerated populations, as well as survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and torture.
, LCPC, LPC, is a proud Black, gay, first-gen college graduate (and HBCU alum) with roots in the world of recovery. He earned his M.Ed in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, as well as his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, from Ohio University. Gerard has over 10 years of clinical counseling experience - he has worked in college counseling and community mental health settings, and he currently manages a private practice in his home state of Maryland. Gerard's practice is open to all, but he is most energized in his work with Black queer and same-gender-loving men. Gerard officially began his IFS journey as a member of the second BTR-IFS Level 1 cohort. Since then, he has served as a PA for several trainings and discovered a passion for teaching and supporting the learning of others, especially healers of color. Gerard is so grateful for the opportunity to develop his gifts and continue his personal growth within the IFS community. When he takes his therapist hat off, Gerard enjoys spending time with loved ones and making people laugh. He also enjoys dancing, boxing, singing, hiking, listening to audiobooks, and journaling.
Gretchen King is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. She sees clients and offers consultation in her private practice in downtown Chicago. Her specializations are relationships - with Self and others - and spirituality and she works with adult individuals and couples. Gretchen has been involved with IFS trainings since 2000 in a variety of capacities. Currently, a Co-Lead Trainer, Gretchen is known for her clarity and gently challenging teaching style.
Gwen Hurd, LCSW, NCCE, NCPC, is a Certified IFS Therapist and Clinical Consultant. She graduated from the University of Chicago with her MSW in 1994. She was introduced to IFS during her graduate program and began her level one in 1998. She finished her level three training in 2014 and began Program Assisting in 2015. She has used IFS in her work as a Child Protection Investigator in the Chicago area and with at-risk youth and families both as a therapist and program director, in northwest Indiana. She moved to St George, Utah in 2008. She has taught at both the bachelor's and master's degree levels. She is currently the Clinical Director and Therapist/Custody Evaluator at Sage Circle Counseling Center in St George. She is currently licensed in Utah, Nevada, Texas, and Nebraska.
Job Titles:
- Customer Success Coordinator
Haley joined the IFS team in August 2023. With a background in customer service, administration, and creative writing, she aims to merge this experience with her embodiment of the IFS model through Self-leadership and a commitment to social equity and justice. Haley is passionate about learning and exploration; when she's not at her desk, you'll often find her reading, riding her bicycle, or spending quality time with her cats, Charlie and Mango.
is a psychologist and has been a psychotherapist for over 30 years in Barcelona, Spain. As the co-founder of the Spanish IFS Institute, she organizes IFS trainings, supervises, and facilitates groups along with her private practice where she provides IFS-based therapy for individuals and couples. Imma also worked as an Associate Professor in the degree of Psychology at UOC (Open University of Catalonia). She is also certified in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and Somatic Experiencing, and has advanced training in AEDP. IFS has transformed her life and her view of the world and she is honored to be able to contribute to its spread.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance, Operations
Jeffrey joins IFSI as the Director of Finance, a professional with a history of successfully leading high-performing teams in delivering and managing budgets, developing financial models, and providing insightful analysis within the consumer goods, service, manufacturing, and non-profit sectors. Jeffrey's career has centered on building teams where members are encouraged to use their unique skills to contribute and grow. He believes a company's financial information is a tool to drive decision making as well as a way to measure the effectiveness of those decisions.
Job Titles:
- Lead Central Operations Specialist
Jen started with the team in 2013 with a background in arts management and technical theatre. She handles most questions related to Trainings and general information for IFS Institute. She's happy to email or chat about trainings when she isn't traveling with her family or walking her giant dog.
Job Titles:
- Digital Community Manager
Jen joined the IFS Institute team in April 2022. She is a licensed social worker with a significant background in working with marginalized individuals and families. Before her role as a trauma therapist, Jen owned and operated her consulting firm for 15 years. During this time, she provided valuable services to the nonprofit and small business sectors, specializing in grassroots advocacy, community-building, communications, policy/legislation campaigns, marketing, and technology.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Trainer
- Professional Counselor
Jenny Fiebig is a professional counselor licensed in both Montana and Colorado. Her private practice focuses on helping individuals and couples heal from trauma, and most specifically trauma related to outdoor accidents. Her first career was in outdoor education and guiding. While working with people for long periods of time in a wilderness setting, she found the profound connection people shared to self, to others and to the landscape they were traveling within. In 2010 she went back to school to pursue a graduate degree in Mental Heath Counseling at Montana State University. She was exposed to IFS while working for a group practice in Bozeman, MT and has deepened her knowledge in IFS ever since. Jenny has been through multiple Levels 1, 2 and 3 with IFS-Institute and IFIO, is a Certified IFS Therapist, and an Approved IFS Clinical Consultant for Certification. IFS has taken her all over the US, Australia and Portugal. She completed the ATP program with IFS Institute. Now she works as an Assistant Trainer for IFS-I and has experience working with a number of lead trainers. Jenny has a deep passion for IFS and is excited to be in a teaching role with IFS Institute to bring this model to more healers around the world.
Jessy joined the IFS Institute in December of 2020. She has over ten years of experience in elementary education administration and was trained in restorative justice practices. In her free time, she enjoys DIY projects for her home and garden.
Jody joined the IFSI team in July 2023 with almost a decade of clinical practice and over 25 years of experience in strategic planning, learning design, and program development. As the Learning Program Manager, Jody will focus on creating impactful learning experiences for our non-clinical learners. As an artist and board certified art therapist, Jody hopes to bring her creativity and strong visual design skills to every project.
, LMHC, MDiv., MA, IFS Certified, is an Internal Family Systems therapist, trainer, and consultant with a private practice in Cambridge, MA. Jory is committed to creating a collaborative clinical space that honors the cultural uniqueness of her clients. She specializes in treating trauma without pathologizing individuals for the creative ways they may have learned to cope. Jory had previous careers as a Unitarian Universalist minister and Sign Language interpreter/Deaf educator in the US and abroad. She works in English and ASL with hearing and Deaf individuals, families, couples, clergy, staff teams, and parents of individuals with major mental illness. Jory is a trainer/presenter for the IFS Institute, PESI, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). In addition to her private practice, she provides training and consultation in IFS therapy, cultural agility, sexuality education, leadership development, and group dynamics. The mother of two young adults, one hearing and one Deaf, she lives with her wife and their pandemic puppy in Cambridge, MA.
Job Titles:
- International Talent Specialist
Julio joined the IFS team in 2022. Julio has a Bachelor of Law. I have worked in Spain at the Institute of Nonviolent Communication and at the IFS Madrid Institute for almost a decade. I have completed Level 1, 2 and 3 in IFS. I graduated from the Drama school for actors in Spain. I have been organizing trainings for actors in Spain for the development of new techniques from other parts of the world that are little known in Spain. Languages: Spanish, English and Portuguese
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Trainer
- Registered Social Worker With the Ontario College of Social Workers
Kasi Shanmukanathan (MSW) is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. She has a private practice in Kitchener, Ontario on the traditional lands of the Neutral, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee people. She is a Certified IFS Therapist and uses both IFS and EMDR in her clinical work. Prior to starting private practice, Kasi worked in a Postpartum Mood Disorder Programs and with family health teams. Kasi was born in Sri Lanka, and she immigrated to Canada at a young age. She loves supporting BIPOC clients in exploring the nuances of belonging to two distinct cultures.
is a licensed social worker, a Certified IFS Therapist and IFS Trainer. She has been a psychotherapist for more than 25 years and has been learning, using and teaching the Internal Family Systems model since 2003. She lives in Olympia, Washington where she offers IFS therapy, training and consultation to therapists and practitioners learning IFS. Kathy feels called to support folks to work with and heal the emotional, cognitive and spiritual barriers that limit their full participation in life. This includes addressing and working with the impact of systemic racism and other societal forces on one's life. Kathy has a special interest in trauma, grief and loss, and spirituality, and is known for her humor and warmth.
INTERVIEW Kay Gardner, MS, LCPC, is a certified Hakomi therapist who incorporates body work into her therapy practice. She is the creator of several workshops, including "Men and Their Mothers" and "Women, Sexuality, and Power."
Katelyn Staecker, LCSW, is a Certified Practioner of Psychodrama, Sociometry and Group Psychotherapy, and a psychotherapist, teacher, workshop leader and IFS assistant trainer. She has been in private practice on the North Oregon Coast for over 30 years. Katelyn facilitates workshops and retreats on Spirituality, Conscious Eating, Personal Growth and Relationship Skills. She has a special interest in developing communities of all types and teaching the interpersonal skills necessary for sustaining them. She works with a gifted co-therapist, Sophie, who is a Labradoodle and oh so cute.
Kimberly joined the IFS Institute in June 2020 as the Training Program Admissions and Records Administrator. She has a background in language translation, editing, and writing for international organizations.
, LPC, LMFT, is a Northern-Virginia-based psychotherapist in private practice. Kirsten works with individuals and couples, and is deeply committed to supporting therapists and practitioners who are interested in learning the IFS model through offering individual consultation and group consultation. She enjoys being a part of IFS trainings, and brings playfulness and creativity (music and poetry are passions of hers) to her teaching and to her work. She is grateful for the model both personally and professionally, and is especially grateful to be connected to the expanding and increasingly diverse community of IFS therapists and practitioners. For more information: www.kirstenlundeberg.com
is a psychotherapist, trainer, consultant, and social justice advocate. In her private practice LaTonya is passionate about offering an affirming, collective healing community for individuals and couples. She specializes in complex trauma, perfectionism, anxiety, relational concerns, and caretaker burnout. LaTonya utilizes IFS, self-compassion, EMDR, and mind-body approaches in her work- with a focus on the impact of systemic racism and oppression. She facilitates mental health workshops, and feels honored to support practitioners and clinicians as they learn IFS. LaTonya is a Certified IFS therapist, consultant and trainer with the IFS Institute. LaTonya is also a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory © where she focuses on supporting organizations to build supportive, culturally affirming environments for their teams.
Job Titles:
- Director, Strategic Curriculum
Laura joined the IFSI team in April 2023. She is a skilled learning designer and team leader with experience designing online, classroom, and blended learning solutions for organizations including PBS, TED, and Habitat for Humanity. She is excited to be part of IFSI's growth as we work to expand our training and learning events to a wider audience.
Laura became part of the IFSI team in January 2023 and has dedicated her professional career in serving others as a Leader, Mentor, and Clinician. With a background in counseling and nearly 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Laura has worked diligently in building successful teams and maintaining collaborative partnerships with multidisciplinary and diverse entities. As the Community Access Manager, Laura will continue to compassionately serve various community partners to ensure that IFSI programming is accessible to all.
Lauren Spaulding, LMFT-S, LPC is a Certified IFS Therapist licensed in Texas. She has a virtual private practice, where she works with adults and couples, specializing in working with therapists. She also provides supervision to counseling students and MFT Associates, as well as clinical consultation to therapists learning IFS. Lauren enjoys supporting therapists as we navigate our own parts that come up in our work with our clients.
is a certified IFS therapist and IFS approved consultant who runs a large private practice in Utica, Michigan. He is also licensed in Michigan, Ohio and Florida. Lawrence runs a weekly online IFS consultation group and enjoys mentoring graduate students and introducing them to the IFS model. He specializes in treating people experiencing chronic and complex PTSD and integrates IFS and EMDR. Lawrence Wentworth, PhD, LP, LMSW is a certified IFS therapist and IFS approved consultant who runs a large private practice in Utica, Michigan.
Lawrence is thrilled to be a part of the training team for the IFS Institute.
, LCMHC-S, NCC, BCC is an IFS-Level-3 and IFS Certified therapist, a Board Certified Coach and the Director of The Stone Center For Counseling and Leadership (www.thestonecenternc.com) in Charlotte, NC. Her group private practice serves children, individuals, couples and families. One of her specialty areas is working with parents utilizing the IFS model. In addition, Leslie provides consultation and supervision to individuals and groups seeking licensure or IFS Certification. She has taught introductory IFS workshops as well as the application of IFS for clinicians working with children and parents. Leslie has presented at the IFS National Conference on Parenting, The Application of Sandtray to IFS, IFS and Play Therapy, and applying IFS to Work with Children and Parents. She has also developed a parenting program that applies IFS principals for all parents which she offers in a workshop format.
is a Certified IFS Therapist, supervisor and trainer based in the UK and working in private practice. Liz has worked to support healing, growth and development for over 30 years, including as a social worker, therapist, supervisor, organisational and group facilitator, mentor and trainer. She has a particular interest in integrating IFS in supervision/consultation and in supporting the practice of newly trained IFS therapists.
Job Titles:
- Lead Trainer and Consultant
- Lead Trainer in Israel
- Professor Emeritus
- Senior Lead Trainer for the Center for Self Leadership
is a Lead Trainer in Israel. As the Co-founder of the Israeli Institute for IFS she is training, supervising, and facilitating groups while living the IFS model both personally and professionally. In her private practice she provides IFS-based therapy for individuals, couples, and families. Dr. Arbel is an AAMFT Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor currently dividing her time between Israel, and Colorado. In Israel she is teaching MFT courses at Tel-Aviv University and Tel-Hai Academic College and supervising MFT practicum courses. In Colorado she holds an Assistant Professor appointment at Argosy University/Denver campus, teaching at the Counseling and MFT programs. Visit her on the web: www.ifs-israel.org ; On facebook: facebook.com/DrOsnatArbel ; Join her on LinkedIn: il.linkedin.com/in/oarbel
Chris Burris, LPC, LMFT Is a Senior Lead Trainer for the Center for Self Leadership. He has been an IFS Therapist for since 1999 and is trained as a Marriage and Family Therapist. He utilizes mind/body approaches of therapy in alleviating traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety disorders. He has worked extensively with couples, families, teenagers, and children and is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Since, 1990, he has been very active with men groups and rites of passage programs. As the former Director of Counseling at The North Carolina School of the Arts, Chris has considerable experience with performance enhancement for Artists, Actors, Filmmakers, Musicians, Writers, and Dancers. A current passion is to help individuals explore The Second Half of Life opportunities, defining purpose and making sacred choices for improving the world. He is currently in Private Practice in Asheville North Carolina.
is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Counseling and Family Therapy at Central Connecticut State University where he was the director of the Master's program in Marriage and Family Therapy and currently coordinates the Internal Family Systems Continuing Education Program. He is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Dr. Cohen was a founding co-editor of the Journal of Self Leadership, and IFS-oriented professional publication. As a licensed psychologist and Marriage and Family therapist, Dr. Cohen has a private practice in West Hartford, Connecticut, providing IFS-based therapy for individuals, couples, and families.
, is an IFS Lead Trainer and consultant based in Portland, Oregon. Trained in IFS since 1998, she leads workshops and retreats on the Unburdened System mandala internationally and online. She is the principal author of the IFS Institute Level 1 Participant Training Manual and is Co-founder and Clinical Director of the IFS Telehealth Collective, a multi-state group practice with IFS-trained and licensed clinicians. Mariel is a compelling teacher widely known for her clarity, warmth, and humor. She has a special interest in Integral Psychology and incorporates somatic psychotherapies and spirituality within the framework of IFS. Her previous work in the entertainment industry and love of working with artists inspired her to create Character Mapping - an experiential psychological toolbox for actors, writers, and directors to create authentic characters and use the craft to find their Selves. Information about all of these offerings can be found at www.marielpastor.com www.Character-Mapping.com, www.ifstherapyonline.com
Job Titles:
- International Program Director
Luis joined the team in 2022 and oversees all aspects of the international activity of the IFS Institute. He has a background as international lawyer and manager in various multinational companies and plays a key role in the Institute's international expansion. Trained in IFS levels 1&2, he is passionately convinced of the enormous contribution that the IFS model represents for mankind nowadays.
, LCPC is an IFS-Level-3 and an advanced-IFIO-trained clinician and consultant specializing in the treatment of complex trauma. She is a certified IFS therapist in private practice (madeleinewarrentherapy.com) in Evanston, Illinois, where she sees individuals and couples. In addition to her clinical work, Madeleine provides supervision and consultation to individuals and groups. She has taught introductory IFS workshops to therapists and students, and is excited to be involved with IFS trainings as she has a great passion for teaching and inspiring others.
Marcia joined the IFSI team in July 2023. She is a Certified IFS Practitioner with a passion for destigmatizing mental health in marginalized communities. She is a mouthpiece for inspiring others to safeguard their mental health and practice self-care daily. Marcia has over 20 years in training, teaching, curriculum design and mentoring. As the Curriculum Manager, she will standardize IFSI's training materials and enhance the design and functionality of the Online Circle and Continuity Program. In her spare time, she writes inspirational poetry, practices yoga and meditation and enjoys traveling the world. She has two amazing pillars (her sons), Myles & Adin, that are a source of inspiration and have taught her the true meaning of unconditional love.
Margaret L. Conley is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in the Atlanta, Georgia area and happens to be licensed in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Massachusetts, and Missouri. Margaret primarily uses the Internal Family Systems Model in her work with individuals, couples and families. She is particularly focused on working within the Black Faith Community integrating IFS and other relational methods of healing from an Afrocentric perspective.
Marissa joined the IFS team in February of 2024. She has a background within healthcare, event coordination and hospitality. As the Site Event Coordinator, she now handles site sourcing for the IFS Level 1, 2 and 3 trainings alongside the Site Sourcing and Management Specialist. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to new locations, cooking and exercising.
Mary Anne has been a member of IFS Institute's administrative team for more than 10 years and is responsible for overseeing the increasing number of North American Level 1, 2, and 3 Training Programs. Her background in educational and arts administration and teaching continues to inform her work.
, founded Rimmon Pond Counseling, an IFS-based private practice in Connecticut, and has specialized in addictions, eating disorders, trauma, and relationships for over 20 years. Mary incorporates IFS with her own penchant for the experience, and has developed a variety of creative ways to work with parts and access Self-energy in individual, relational, and group contexts. She enjoys sharing her experience in her teaching and consulting on a national level. Mary is noted for her humor, creativity, passion, and love of dancing and people.
Mary joined the team in 2005, with a background in business administration and mathematics. She handles all things financial for the IFS Institute.
Maria joined the IFS team in 2022 as the Talent Management Coordinator. She has a bachelor's degree in Speech and Language Therapy and resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Maria brings years of experience in human resources, talent management and full cycle recruiting. Maria enjoys journal scrapbooking, and planning events such as baby showers, small weddings and birthdays for friends and family. Maria is fully bilingual in Spanish and English.
Job Titles:
- IT and Operations Director
Matt joined IFS Institute in January of 2023 and has over 25 years of IT Leadership experience. His experience includes working with start-ups, dot-coms, and rapid-growth organizations, mostly in the technology and software sector. In addition to keeping up with technology, he enjoys traveling with his wife and two children whenever the opportunity is given.
Michael Elkin is an IFS Senior Lead Trainer who has been teaching the model throughout the US and Europe since 1999. He brings a background of hypnotic and strategic technology to his practice of IFS,
Mona Barbera, PhD, CC, is a psychologist in private practice in Rhode Island. She offers IFS couples therapy, IFS couples workshops and is the author of the award-winning IFS relationship book, Bring Yourself to Love: How Couples Can Turn Disconnection into Intimacy. She is a former board member of the New Society for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, and is trained in EMDR and Imago Relationship Therapy. She is an Assistant Director and Shambhala Assistant Director for Shambhala Buddhist meditation.
, is a licensed clinical psychologist in California and a licensed professional counselor in Oregon and Colorado. Nancy is a Level III trained, Certified IFS Therapist and IFS Approved Consultant, and an Assistant Trainer through the IFS Institute. She provides Introduction to Psychedelics training and consultation for IFS-trained therapists, practitioners and coaches interested in learning about psychedelic-assisted therapies and research. Nancy received her Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research from the California Institute of Integral Studies, her Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy certification through the Ketamine Training Center, and her Psychedelic-Assisted Facilitation license from the State of Oregon. She authored the IFS and Psychedelics chapter in Altogether Us: Integrating the IFS Model with Key Modalities, Communities, and Trends. Nancy has a limited private practice in Ashland, Oregon where she also provides Psilocybin-Assisted Facilitation through Omnia Group Ashland https://www.omniagroupashland.com. www.theguideinside.com.
Job Titles:
- Internal Family Systems Lead Trainer and Consultant
Nancy Sowell is an Internal Family Systems lead trainer and consultant in private practice on Cape Cod and in Newton, Massachusetts. She is a teaching associate at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Psychiatry at the Cambridge Health Alliance, where she has been a clinical supervisor for many years. Nancy has been a psychotherapist since 1992, working with individuals, couples, and groups. She has pursued training from many therapeutic schools of thought and in various therapeutic techniques, such as hypnosis, biofeedback, EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and meditation. She integrates mindful awareness of the body, emotions, thoughts, and deeply held beliefs, as they influence our mood, behavior, health, and relationships. Specializing in behavioral medicine and IFS-based treatment for pain and illness, Nancy co-created an IFS treatment program for rheumatoid arthritis patients in a pioneering research study at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston. She knows both personally and professionally the power of Self compassion in healing and restoring health.
Natalie Yvette Gutiérrez, LMFT, is a certified IFS therapist in New York. She identifies as Latine, of Puerto Rican diaspora. Much of her work is dedicated to providing psychotherapy to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color healing from CPTSD, working with ancestral trauma and the impact of systemic racism and oppression on parts. Natalie is the author of The Pain We Carry. She is a proud mother of two and a budding equestrian.
INTERVIEW Pamela Krause, MSW, LCSW is an IFS Senior Lead Trainer and is also trained in Hakomi therapy. She teaches Level 1, 2, and 3 IFS trainings as well as leadership develop programs for IFS-I.
Job Titles:
- Private Practice Psychologist in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Paul Ginter, EdD is a private practice psychologist in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Paul primarily uses the Internal Family Systems Model in his work with individuals, couples and families. He is particularly interested in incorporating spiritual practices such as meditation into his work with clients.
PILAR DE LA TORRE has been a psychologist and gestalt psychotherapist for more than twenty-five years. Certified trainer in the IFS model and co-founder of the IFS Institute. She organizes the official IFS training in Spain. She has supervision groups and for fifteen years she has been accompanying individuals, families and couples in psychotherapy based on IFS. She is founder and director of the Institute of Nonviolent Communication. She is trained in gestalt body therapy. IFS has transformed her life and the lives of many people she accompanies. She has a strong commitment to spread this vision of the human being in the world.
Requina Barnes, LICSW, has been in the field of social work for over 16 years. She has a private practice and works with adults and couples focusing on attachment, codependency, relationship challenges and trauma. She practices from an IFS lens with her clients. She is an adjunct professor and teaches social work classes at Boston University and Curry College.
Job Titles:
- President
- Founder of Internal Family Systems
Richard Schwartz began his career as a systemic family therapist and an academic. Grounded in systems thinking, Dr. Schwartz developed Internal Family Systems (IFS) in response to clients' descriptions of various parts within themselves. He focused on the relationships among these parts and noticed that there were systemic patterns to the way they were organized across clients. He also found that when the clients' parts felt safe and were allowed to relax, the clients would experience spontaneously the qualities of confidence, openness, and compassion that Dr. Schwartz came to call the Self. He found that when in that state of Self, clients would know how to heal their parts.
A featured speaker for national professional organizations, Dr. Schwartz has published many books and over fifty articles about IFS.
Rina Dubin, Ed.D, LPC, is a solo lead trainer and a licensed psychologist practicing in Newton, MA. She provides psychotherapy to individuals and couples and offers consultation for individual, dyad and small groups. She also offers workshops to larger groups on various topics which always include an experiential focus. IFS has been foundational for Rina since her first immersion in 2004. She has found IFS to be the deepest and most profound approach for healing and expansion and highly values how this work is an approach to living and not a "model." More recently, a focus of Rina's work has been to expand not only how up-close systems (family, school) impact our parts but how the larger systems through which we all navigate impact our parts and our different identities. This feels much more complete and ties to her legacy heirloom of "make the world better."
Ryan joined the IFSI team in May 2023. With over a decade of experience in operations management across diverse industries, he has solidified his passion for helping broaden access to mental wellness services for people in need. During his free time, he enjoys hiking and spending time in nature as he believes it plays an important role in maintaining a healthy mindset.
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing and Communications
Sara joined the team in September 2018 with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of marketing and operations for online businesses adjacent to the behavioral health fields. She believes in the power of community connection, and holds the value that great customer experience will make or break any organization. She enjoys living an outdoor lifestyle in Colorado with her husband and three kids.
Shahina joined IFS Institute as a Staff Accountant in February 2024. She has over 7 years' experience in accounting. She has a master's degree in accounting from DeVry University. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and she also enjoys traveling with her husband whenever they both get an opportunity.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Talent Management
Shawn joined the IFS staff team in July 2020 with over 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, community development, and racial justice advocacy. He is passionate about the mission of IFS and is especially interested in the intersections between personal healing and community transformation. In his spare time, he enjoys writing, mentoring young adults, traveling, and walking his dog.
Shelia joined the IFS team in November of 2022 with a background in operations, education, and customer service. She oversees the customer support representatives and assists with needs across departments. In her down time, Shelia enjoys crafting, reading, and home DIY projects.
Job Titles:
- Professional Development Manager
Shuka joined the team in June 2021 with a Masters in Counseling working towards LPC licensure in the state of Texas. After helping to implement the groundwork for our inbound communication process, she moved into the role of Certification Specialist where she provides guidance and support for both IFS Certified folks and our IFS-I approved Clinical Consultants. She's currently assisting in the development of an updated and digitized Certification process.
Sue Richmond has a private psychotherapy practice, as well as an IFS consultation practice. She uses a compassionate, heart-centered approach in applying the IFS model with individuals, couples and groups. She has presented at the IFS Annual Conference on how to bring IFS-informed practice to groups. Sue has taught as Adjunct Faculty to social work students at the University of Saint Joseph in CT, and has extensive experience in bringing IFS to hospital-based behavioral health programs and outpatient agency settings. She served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and has experience using the IFS model with veterans and their families as well. Sue brings to her practice a wealth of life experience, and a deep desire to help others feel more empowered and experience more joy in their lives.
has taught IFS throughout the US and in Europe since 1997. Her involvement as Senior Trainer with the Center includes developing training curricula, training IFS training staff, and designing and leading somatic psychotherapy retreats and seminars. In her private practice in Chicago, Susan specializes in recovering the wholeness of body, mind and spirit, drawing from her bodywork and movement experience and her Buddhist practice. She brings commitment and passion to her work and her play with her partner and her dogs along Lake Michigan's shores.
Tamala Floyd, LCSW-BACS has over 25 years of experience as a psychotherapist working with children, families, and women with trauma histories. She has expertise in childhood sexual abuse, women's sexual trauma and domestic violence.Tamala has worked in various settings including schools, criminal justice, hospitals, community mental health and private practice. She is an IFS consultant providing BIPOC therapists and practitioners with supervision towards IFS certification. Tamala provides business coaching to women entrepreneurs and therapist to assist in building their businesses and practices by overcoming mindset blocks that impede their success. She has authored a chapter in "Fiercely Speaking," entitled, Healing the Wounded Mother and a chapter in an upcoming the book, "Internal Family Systems Therapy: Supervision and Consultation." The chapter focuses on IFS consultation with BIPOC therapists.
, certified IFS therapist, and IFS approved consultant. She is the Director of Field Education at the State University of New York, Brockport. Vanessa is also trained in the IFIO model and works with individuals and couples in her private practice. Training and organizational leadership are my professional passions. I utalize the IFS model across professional settings because I am driven to promote internal wellness within oneself and within organizations that render services, support its staff, and educate students.