Internal Family Systems Therapy with Children

Lisa Spiegel, MA, LMHC, is the founder of Soho Parenting in New York City. Lisa is an author and certified IFS therapist and consultant. She teaches therapists around the world. She has worked with children and families for over 40 years.Dr. Claire Stubbs, DProf, CPsychol, is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist, author, and IFS therapist specializing in neurodiversity, trauma, and emotionally based school avoidance in the UK.

• 1. The Authors’ Journey and the Magic of IFS 2. Key Concepts in IFS 3. The IFS Protocol 4. Finding and Befriending Parts 5. Externalizing Parts 6. Negotiating with Protectors in Safety 7.Polarizations 8. Unburdening Parts 9. Bart’s IFS Therapy 10. Using IFS in Parent Guidance 11. IFS and Neurodiversity 12. IFS and School 13. Updates: Checking in Ten Years On

“It is with great pleasure and excitement that I write these words for the second edition of this wonderful book by Lisa Spiegel and Claire Stubbs. This second edition reflects the changes that have been happening in the world at large and in the domain of IFS therapy. We at The IFS Institute have expanded our reach across the world and now work in schools, with neurodiverse people, continue to work with our racial and class blindspots, and help people who are grappling with their gender identities. This new edition updates and expands the first edition to reflect these changes. This book is an important contribution, not only to the growing literature on IFS, but also to the field of child therapy in general. I’m very grateful.”Richard C. Schwartz, PhD, developer of Internal Family Systems Therapy, faculty at Harvard Medical School“Internal Family Systems and children go together like PB &J. Children naturally take to the imagination, play, honesty and heart of this method. And no voice could be better suited to guide us than that of Lisa Spiegel, a gifted clinician, teacher and storyteller. With warmth, humor and deep compassion, she and Claire Stubbs have written, in this second edition, the definitive text on the subject. A must read for anyone working with either IFS or children and families.”Terrence Real, New York Times best-selling author and Founder, Relational Life Institute“In their readable and relevant 2nd edition of IFS Therapy with Children, Lisa Spiegel and Claire Stubbs masterfully cover all the important bases for reaching children needing extra support. The book refreshes core IFS methods from their first book while adding new chapters addressing the challenges of neurodiversity, gender identity and criminalized children and teens. Each section is filled with relatable case studies, useful explanations, practical interventions and a big dose of clinical compassion. A must-read for parents, clinicians, educators and anyone interested in sensitive, innovative approaches to the complex issues faced by children, teens and families today.” Cece Sykes, LCSW, ACSW, Senior IFS-Institute Trainer; author, IFS Therapy for Addictions: Trauma-Informed Compassion-Based Interventions for Substance Use, Food, Gambling and More