About this course

Learning Objectives

• Describe two basic assumptions of the IFS model and its non-pathological approach
• Identify 3 types of parts in the IFS model.
• Describe how burdens from culture, families and personal experiences disrupt embodiment.
• Identify 1 way each of the 5 practices of Somatic IFS (somatic awareness, conscious breathing, radical resonance, mindful movement and attuned touch) can be used to work with Manager protective parts.
• Identify 1 way each of the 5 practices of Somatic IFS (somatic awareness, conscious breathing, radical resonance, mindful movement, and attuned touch) can be used to work with Firefighter protective parts.
• Identify 1 way each of the 5 practices of Somatic IFS (somatic awareness, conscious breathing, radical resonance, mindful movement, and attuned touch) can be used to work with Exile vulnerable parts.
• Identify at least 2 ways embodied Self energy can support the Somatic IFS approach to healing trauma.
• Identify 3 qualities of an embodied Self-led therapist.
• Explain how Somatic IFS principles can be used to address the impact of collective trauma and societal burdens on individuals.

Learning Levels

• All Levels

Target Audience

Course Instructor(s)

• 

  Marcella Cox, LMFT, CEDS-C

  Founder, Kindful Body

  Marcella Cox, LMFT, Certified IFS Therapist and Approved IFS Clinical Consultant & CEDS-C (she/her) Founder, Kindful Body

  Marcella Cox, LMFT, is a therapist, author and speaker who has dedicated her career to treating eating disorders, disordered eating, body shame, and trauma. She is a Level 3 Certified IFS Therapist and Approved IFS Clinical Consultant and on the teaching staff of Susan McConnell, developer of Somatic IFS, an approach that blends the IFS model of therapy with somatic therapy. Marcella trains and supports clinicians in utilizing IFS and Somatic IFS in their work through workshops, trainings, professional consultation, and retreats. She is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and empowering learning environment where participants can explore the transformative potential of somatic parts work. She recently contributed the chapter on IFS and Disordered Eating in Altogether Us: Integrating the IFS Model with Key Modalities, Communities, and Trends (Pivotal Press, 2023). Marcella is also founder of Kindful Body, providing online therapy and nutrition counseling for eating and body issues in California. To learn more, visit www.kindfulbody.com.

Disclosure

References

• Brown, G. O. S. (2020). Internal Family Systems Informed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: An Integrative Technique for Treatment of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. International Body Psychotherapy Journal, 19(2).
• Hodgdon, H.B., Anderson, F.G., Southwell, E., Hrubec, W., & Schwartz, R.C. (2022). Internal family systems (IFS) therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors of multiple childhood trauma: A pilot effectiveness study. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 31(1), 22-43.
• Kuhfuß, M., Maldei, T., Hetmanek, A., & Baumann, N. (2021). Somatic experiencing - effectiveness and key factors of a body-oriented trauma therapy: a scoping literature review. European journal of psychotraumatology, 12(1), 1929023. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1929023
• Mojta, C., Falconier, M.K., & Huebner, A.J. (2014). Fostering Self-awareness in novice therapists using internal family systems therapy. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 42(1), 67-78
• Catanzaro, J. (2024). Unburdened eating: Healing your relationships with food and your body using an Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach. Bridge City Books, an imprint of PESI Publishing, Inc.
• Cox, M. (2023). IFS and Disordered Eating: Self-led Healing for a More Harmonious Relationship with Food and Body. In Riemersma, J., and Schwartz R. (2023). Altogether Us: Integrating the IFS Model with Key Modalities, Communities, and Trends. Pivotal Press. (Reviewed by Catanzaro, J., McConnell, S., and Pastor, M.)
• Grabowski, A.Y. (2018). An internal family systems guide to recovery from eating disorders: Healing part by part. New York, NY: Routledge.
• McConnell, S. (2025). The Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy Workbook: Embodied Healing Practices to Transform Trauma--For therapists, students, clients, and groups. North Atlantic Books.
• McConnell, S. (2023). IFS and Somatic Practices: Reclaiming Our Birthright of Embodiment: Five Somatic Practices That Bring The Body Fully to the Healing Journey. In Riemersma, J., and Schwartz R. (2023). Altogether Us: Integrating the IFS Model with Key Modalities, Communities, and Trends. Pivotal Press.
• McConnell, S. (2020). Somatic internal family systems therapy: Awareness, breath, resonance, movement and touch in practice. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
• Piran, N., (2017). Journeys of Embodiment at the Intersection of Body and Culture: The Developmental Theory of Embodiment. Academic Press; 1st edition
• Schwartz, R.C. (2020) No bad parts. Louisville, CO: Sounds True.