About this course

Learning Objectives

• Differentiate between internal beliefs that separate us from our therapeutic role.
• Discuss the multi-layered reasons for internal reactivity.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify when internal parts are activated and use at least two specific techniques to shift focus from externalizing blame to an internal focus (You-turn) and return to a Self-led, centered state in response to emotional triggers (Self-led return).

Learning Levels

• Intermediate

Target Audience

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Diana Dugan Richards

  Registered, licensed dietitian

  As a registered, licensed dietitian for over 20 years, and nutrition therapist since 2011, Diana offers a weight neutral, parts centered approach as a foundation of curiosity for clients to discover their own eating philosophy and beliefs. She co-facilitated a 4-month Self-Led Eating learning experience for the IFS Continuity Program and offered several presentations at IFS Conferences. She co-leads on-going workshops to introduce IFS to nutrition professionals and currently is co-creating an IFS training for dietitians. Her IFS experience includes basic and advanced IFIO couples’ trainings, and she regularly staffs Level 1 and 2 trainings and immersive IFS retreats. She consults with dietitians and therapists interested in integrating IFS into their practice.

• 

  Molly Kellogg, RD, LCSW

  Psychotherapist

  Molly Kellogg, RD, LCSW is a Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist and Authorized IFS Clinical Consultant based in Philadelphia. She was a dietitian treating eating disorders for 30 years and trained dietitians in motivational interviewing. She is the author of Counseling Tips for Nutrition Therapists: Practice Workbook series. Partnering with Diana Dugan Richards, RDN, LDN she provides resources and introductory training in IFS for dietitians.

• 

  Katy Cox, MPH RDN LD

  Registered Dietician, Within Health, Founder, Kindness Dietician Private Practice

  Katy is a registered dietitian in Los Angeles, CA who specialized in her career in eating disorders, disordered eating, and dysfunctional movement with adolescents and adults. She provides IFS-informed nutrition therapy, medical nutrition therapy, nutritional and meal coaching, and group education exploring movement, nourishment, and parts work. She focuses on weight inclusive and neurodivergent affirming care with each client, providing the clients with agency in their healing work. She has her Masters in Public Health from University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston, where she was able to focus on health promotion and health education. Katy completed a fellowship in Neonatal Nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine and found her way to eating disorders during the pandemic. Since the start of her work, she has taken a compassion based approach to treatment for eating disorders. She currently sits on the executive committee for Behavioral Health Nutrition, a subgroup of the Academy in Nutrition and Dietetics, as the Eating Disorder Resource Professional providing connections and referrals for dietitians seeking support and is a member of IAEDP Los Angeles. She has been to multiple educational trainings in IFS such as the IFS institute conference in Denver and Molly Kellogg and Diana Dugan Richards workshop in IFS for nutrition professionals while waiting for a Level 1 training in IFS. She currently resides in Los Angeles but practices nationwide, able to serve clients in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont. When she’s offline, Katy is found at her local pilates and yoga studio, connecting with her friends and family, engaging in her community through local events and pop-ups, or naturally, is at the beach.

Disclosure

References

• Schwartz, R. C. (2021). No bad parts: Healing trauma and restoring wholeness with the Internal Family Systems model. Sounds True
• Schwartz, R. C. (2001). Introduction to the Internal Family Systems Model: A concise introduction for professionals and clients. Noonday Press.
• Sykes, C., Sweezy, M., & Schwartz, R. C. (2023). Internal Family Systems Therapy for Addictions: Trauma-Informed, Compassion-Based Interventions for Substance Use, Eating, Gambling, and More. PESI Publishing.
• Catanzaro, J. (2024). Unburdened eating: Healing your relationships with food and your body using an Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach. Bridge City Books.
• Schwartz, R. C., & Sweezy, M. (2019). Internal Family Systems Therapy (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
• Green, E. J. (2008). Individuals in conflict: An internal family systems approach. The family journal, 16(2), 125-131.
• Fitzgerald, M. (2022). Cool, Calm, and collected: The associations between self-leadership and adult mental and relational health outcomes. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 50(1), 57-71.
• Earleywine, M., Oliva, A. B., De Leo, J. A., & Banks, R. (2025). An examination of internal family systems interventions for trauma with implications for ethical psychedelic-assisted treatment. Journal of Psychedelic Studies, 9(1), 51-58.
• Barakat, S., McLean, S. A., Bryant, E., Le, A., Marks, P., Touyz, S., & Maguire, S. (2023). Risk factors for eating disorders: findings from a rapid review. Journal of eating disorders, 11(1), 8.