From the Editor

Opportunities to grow and heal through challenges remain a constant throughout our lives. The year 2020 brought with it unexpected radical shifts in all of our lives.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to interface with life in ways many of us could not have imagined. The wearing of masks, physical distancing, and diligent handwashing and sanitizers have, by now, become a way of life. The message: “Go inside.”

Not long thereafter, spotlights on the unjust deaths of our brothers and sisters of color and the consequences of systemic racism illuminated (if one was not already aware) that some of us are safer than others. The necessity of reparations became much more tangible. Until then, one could take the message: “It’s only safe inside.”

Months later, much of the west coast of the United States was ablaze with extreme forest fires which threatened and consumed homes and towns—and while they burned produced extremely hazardous air quality for weeks driving people indoors. The existential threat of climate change presented itself to us once again, much like the fires in Australia in 2019. One could take the message: “Stay inside.”

Those messages, taken literally fall short in what is genuinely being asked of each of us: To sincerely “go inside,” into our own inner landscapes, to be with the various parts of us—to witness both current and past traumas, release burdens, and retrieve them—so that we may step forward each day with more and more Self leadership with ourselves and one another. Rather than being propelled into isolation and apathy, the IFS Model affords us with the ability to make conscious decisions and take meaningful action—generating hope.

Here in these pages of OUTLOOK are examples of how members of our IFS community have utilized the Model personally and brought it themSelves to the world through articles such as Hope in the Time of COVID, about the Foundation’s urging us to go inside through its “innervention” program; Greater Racial Equity and Justice: Toward an Evolved Humanity; Uncovering Legacy Burdens of Racism; and It Takes a Village: Meet Chris Burris, LPC, LMFT. Sprinkled throughout the edition, we highlight the written works of our community in the IFS Gallery 35. We also share important IFS-Institute Updates, a look at Foundation Milestones from 2013 – 2020 and our public statement: We Stand with Equity & Justice for All, and feature another Story of Transformation. It is our aspiration that sharing articles and stories brings you confidence to both “go inside” and return to the world bringing forth your unique gifts in making it a better world for all. __MLG

IFS Gallery 35

OUTLOOK IS PROUD TO PRESENT IFS GALLERY 35

We do so to commemorate 35 years since the IFS Model was first publicly presented, opening a new window into the human mind.

We do so in recognition of the thousands of IFS practitioners and tens of thousands of individuals and couples who have found deeper healing and inner well-being by discovering and harnessing the wisdom and resources of Self.

We do so to honor Richard Schwartz, PhD, who uncovered the Model, a beautiful contribution to human self-understanding and development, and has been promoting inner healing and serenity through IFS as his life’s mission.

We do so in great appreciation for the dozens of authors whose creative and applied IFS-oriented works are spreading notions and constructs of IFS among readers across ages and professions.

This Gallery is an expression of vigorous applause and deep gratitude for these authors’ vision, scholarship, persistence, and determination to make a positive difference in the world. Through these works, they are facilitating for our shared world a state of overall peacefulness, one that must be anchored in a state of inner peace, equanimity, and harmony.

As you wander through the pages of this issue of OUTLOOK, not unlike a deliberate, eye-opening stroll through an art gallery, you will meet a sampling of these works. Beyond the expansive listing below and many published chapters and articles remembered but not listed, we present a few with the delicate touch of precious paintings in dignified frames…

And when you meet each of them, we invite you to spend a moment imagining the journey it took to bring such a creation to fruition and, even more significantly, imagine the journey toward self-discovery and growth experienced by every reader or listener… and how these works collectively contribute to the sort of world and future we all desire.

IFS Gallery 35 was assembled and coordinated by Beau Laviolette, LCSW, LAC; conceived and curated by Toufic Hakim, PhD; and visually produced by Sylvia Miller of Amboss Design, OUTLOOK graphic designer.

OUTLOOK thanks the many donors who have made the production of this gallery possible; we thank them by framing their works spread across the gallery’s various pages…

PS. There may have been other IFS works, in English or in other languages, that we might have missed in the listing. If so, please write us to Outreach@FoundationIFS.org with relevant information and we’ll endeavor to make the correction in the online version of OUTLOOK.

Inward and
Outward

RESEARCH

We are excited to share that the Foundation recently reached its primary goal since inception to approve its largest funded project to date, a two-year, randomized clinical trial with the aim of studying IFS vs. a nature-based reduction program as a treatment for PTSD and opioid use.

The study will be conducted at a Harvard-affiliated Cambridge Health Alliance community mental health center, led by an IFS Level 2-trained addiction psychiatrist, Zev Schuman-Olivier, MD. Dr. Schuman-Olivier, is Director for the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Medical Director for Addictions at Cambridge Health Alliance, faculty member in Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Clinical Core for NCCIH’s only P01 center grant focused on mind-body mechanisms for chronic pain.

Given the scope of the research study and the quality of its design and research team, the study promises to expand empirical evidence significantly, inspire new studies and researchers, and secure federal funding to support future IFS research which will itself have unspoken positive consequences.

The Foundation has already raised funds to cover two-thirds of the total study cost, and needs your support to get the rest of the way there.

Please consider a generous donation to the Foundation.

As always, keep in mind that we are also here to support clinicians who might want to contribute by sharing case studies of interesting concepts or clients. We look forward to hearing from you at research@FoundationIFS.org about your research plans, achievements, volunteer aspirations, and inquiries and we welcome any introductions to researchers or research funders in your personal and professional networks! —IT

BEYOND PSYCHOTHERAPY

HOPE IN THE TIME OF COVID

Members of the Foundation’s staff and board of directors extend their profound gratitude to all caregivers and first-responders as well as to those who helped sustain society’s basic needs all around the world. There is great sadness in the face of the severe loss of lives and deep compassion toward individuals and families affected by loss, loneliness, or the economic downturn. For all those who suffered during these unprecedented times, cared for others, or showed sensitivity to the other during these difficult times: you are heroes in the eyes of this community.

Published in November 2017 | Translated into German, Spanish, Dutch, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Korean

“This manual provides an IFS overview. In it, we illustrated theory and technique with many case examples as well as creating exercises and meditations for therapists to use personally and with clients.

“I’m eternally grateful to Dick Schwartz for his steadfast, unwavering drive to bring IFS, a life-changing therapeutic modality to our community and to the world. I’m honored that our book has been a welcome addition to this community.”

—Frank Anderson, MD; IFS Certified Therapist, IFS Lead Trainer & Program Consultant for IFS Institute

“... we have the capacity to intervene internally to help create a space for inner safety, peace, and harmony… and to emerge resilient and whole on the other side.”

Whether you are serving on the front lines or struggling to breathe, committing special acts of kindness or helping to keep people safe or supported, trying hard to cultivate calm and hope while sheltering at home or without a home, or adjusting to a new reality of schooling and work, the Foundation’s “innervention” program was designed with you in mind.

During May and June 2020, in the early months of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Foundation hosted a series of free workshops for members of the IFS community, their families, and anyone who cared to join. The program was dubbed “innervention” to remind us all that in the midst of crises and external pressure, we have the capacity to intervene internally to help create a space for inner safety, peace, and harmony… and to emerge resilient and whole on the other side.

This program was designed in partnership with IFS practitioners who created the content of the presentations, molded the character of the online experience, and ran the workshops. Over 1,000 individuals participated across the various sessions. The Foundation is indebted to practitioners who took part in this effort, addressing parents, educators, business owners, entrepreneurs, first-responders, and caregivers:

Joanna Curry-Sartori, LMFT; leading the five-session series Connecting to Self While Nurturing Others (with educators in mind)

Brian Jaudon, Master Coach; leading the three-session series Navigating Uncharted Waters (with business owners in mind)

Ray Mount, PhD; producing a series of messages around healing with nature (with first-responders in mind)

Seth Kopald, PhD; leading the three-session series Finding More Ease with Home Learning (with parents in mind)

Anna Tansi, BS Org Psych; Jacqueline Germain, MS, ND; and Theresa Velednzas, MS; leading the two-session series and a large “care package” (with caregivers in mind).

All sessions were video-recorded. Recordings and auxiliary materials are made available through the Foundation’s website and may also be accessed through the Foundation’s YouTube® channel.

In the pages that follow, “innervention” program leaders share in their own words observations from their own experiences navigating this season of COVID, along with a few tips that could be of value to OUTLOOK readers…

1. Teaching by Being in Self

In challenging times, a common question often is, “What can I do? How can I help?” There is a beautiful rising up of the human spirit, a longing to fulfill our unique role, seek solutions, and be of service. I certainly have felt this longing during the pandemic, as have many of my clients. With the knowledge and tools of IFS as a resource, we are equipped to tap into our inner resource (our core Self), perceive the needs and opportunities of any given moment, and show up in our full capacity to advance the well-being of others and the world.

As a therapist and consultant to school districts, each day I encounter the very real and hard challenges our children, families, and educators have faced and are facing, before and during this pandemic. When I pause to connect to Self-leadership, I am able to recognize my role and my gifts to give.

As I then work with my clients, I’ve witnessed them shift into more Self-leadership and identify what they want to do and how they can be of service. So, you can imagine that when I was approached by the Foundation for Self Leadership and invited to partner as a part of “innervention,” I was honored and grateful. During my partnership with schools throughout the months of the global pandemic, we endeavored to navigate whole-school social and emotional wellness. Each Sunday in May, I hosted an online webinar for educators and was joined by many amazing IFS colleagues from around the world. We delved into the simple and specific ways we can bring the gift of Self-leadership into our school communities. What I observed is that a few fundamental keys from IFS appear to resonate deeply and have the power to transform our experience as educators interacting with our students. Here are a few key takeaways discussed in this series that are inspired by IFS and have the power to transform our experience as educators and with our students:

REMEMBER YOUR ESSENTIAL SELF: In the intensity and constancy of our experience, we may forget that in addition to the physiology of “fight, flight, or freeze,” we have the innate capacity to operate from our whole brain. We can be calm, regulated, and wise. As we lead from Self, we easily discover extraordinary ways to care, connect, and collaborate to bring forth the best in each other.

STEP BACK AND ACKNOWLEDGE: It is powerful to pause, to step back, and to name and appreciate our own experience. In this, we can recognize the myriad parts of us rising up. Just this witnessing and unblending from the complexity of our reality can profoundly shift our experience from overwhelm and frustration to one of confidence and compassion. Even in brief moments, we can befriend ourselves on the inside, be kind to ourselves on the inside, and value our innate, inner self-worth.

LISTEN DEEPLY: From this space of Self, we can be with each other. Where there is much that appears out of our control, unexpected, and un-fixable, we do have the power to listen, witness, acknowledge, and understand each other’s experience. In this Self-led listening, there is acceptance, integration, and peace; we make meaning of this time and know that we are okay and not alone. From this springs the possibility for resilience, hope, and the power to envision and move forward. Moment by moment, one interaction at a time, if we offer deep listening, we heal, we grow... and then we are ready to learn anew!

Through my experience this spring offering the “innervention” webinars, I have witnessed that when we practice connecting to and acting from Self together, greater shifts, healing, discoveries, and unimagined possibilities emerge. As we make it a daily practice to live from Self together, we can not only survive this pandemic, but emerge more compassionate, connected, wise, and resilient, prepared to care for humanity and our world.

Joanna Curry-Sartori, LMFT, is the founding executive director of the Self-Leadership Collaborative, an organization championing the development and integration of a new social and emotional learning model for schools inspired by Internal Family Systems. Joanna has been a leader, teacher, and program director in the field of wellness, mindfulness, and yoga for over 20 years and since 2013 has implemented her training as a Marriage and Family Therapist to support well-being at all levels in school systems.

2. Small Businesses Showing Adaptability & Resilience

Early on, I began calling the COVID pandemic “The Great Disruption.” Everything was disrupted—our ways of doing business, our daily routines, how we relate to each other and much, much more.

The impact on those of us who own our own businesses has been profound. Many of us wondered early on whether we’d even have a business on the other side of the pandemic.

For some, especially those with core services that depended on in-person contact such as the restaurant industry, they had to completely shutter their businesses—at least for a time. Others have had to completely reinvent themselves and develop offerings to meet the moment and the shifting needs of their clients and customers.

With this as context, the Foundation for Self Leadership offered a series of three webinars for small business owners and entrepreneurs to share their stories and ways they have navigated the challenges presented by the pandemic. Featured were businesses in a number of different industries around the United States, including a restaurant owner in Michigan, a hair-salon owner in North Carolina, and a small healthcare organization in California.

What we found in listening to these entrepreneurs was that the disruption of the pandemic has been an opportunity for many to rethink not only what products and services they offered but their mission and vision in the world as well. In essence, these business owners were asking anew—how can I be of most service in the world?

Tommy York, owner of York Ann Arbor—a wine, bar, and specialty food shop in Michigan—had long been a fixture in the region’s food and beverage industry. What Tommy was reminded of during shuttered days of the pandemic was that his customers were also his community. He gave out his cell phone number and had customers calling him for instructions on how to cook items they purchased in take-out fashion from his store. Connection, one of the eight Cs of Self leadership, became a staple of his business.

Audra Lowray-Upchurch, owner of Meaningful Manuscripts in Virginia, decided to contact her clients directly and ask them what they needed regarding their writing and getting their books published. What she learned led her to adapt her business model including taking online a long-planned, in-person summit for writers which proved to be hugely successful.

Hearing about the resilience and courage of these business owners to adapt their offerings was very inspirational. While I’m sure they, and all of us, have had parts that have worried about our livelihoods and the sustainability of our businesses, many have demonstrated the ability to pause and discern how they and their services needed to evolve. For some, this has allowed them not just to survive in the pandemic but to thrive.

Based on the wisdom shared in the webinar series, I have the following recommendations for business owners:

• Do an inventory of all the things you assumed to be true about your business (your services, your customers, the market, etc.) before the pandemic and clarify what’s true now.

• Conduct a survey (online and/or interviews) with a healthy sampling of your clients/ customers and ask them what they are needing now.

• Revisit your business vision, mission, and high-level strategy (with a business coach if needed) and evaluate to see what course corrections may be needed.

• Talk to other business owners in your industry to see what they have learned and how they have adapted to survive and even thrive during the pandemic.

• Pay attention to your own self-care and development—discover what burdens you may be carrying that may be hindering your business success and what is surfacing to be healed or renegotiated.

• Reflect on what gifts the pandemic has brought to you personally and professionally—perhaps in the form of learning new ways of being, relating, and doing business.

Brian Jaudon is an organizational coach based in Greenville, South Carolina. A business coach and alchemist specializing in team development and creating values-driven organizations, he guides teams and companies in creating true alignment between their vision, strategy and values. Brian’s clients range from small family-owned businesses to large corporations in multiple industries throughout North America. He draws on his extensive training in the Internal Family Systems (IFS) Model and is the co-author of the IFS-Inspired Coaching course delivered in partnership with IFS Institute.

3. Home Learning — Lessons Learned

The last five months have slowed some things down and revved other things up. As some of the machinery of society slowed to a halt, it seems we all experienced a bit of a break. Yet, we have no time for anything beyond surviving. Parents are home, some working—others tragically not—helping children with home learning. Holding it all together is a challenge. My school-aged child is now sixteen, and he pretty much was able to manage himself and engage in the minimal amount of schoolwork requested to end the school year. But here we go again, fall is afoot and now living with the pandemic is the new (hopefully temporary) normal.

The Foundation’s website provides videos to watch about home learning, as well as many other topics to support people during this challenging time, see the “innervention” Tools page. Whether your school is starting in-person, online, or in a hybrid model, my hunch is that home learning will continue. I call what we do now home learning, because we are not home schooling and students are not only doing homework. Here are some tips that may help home learning go more smoothly.

Tips for Home Learning

Create an environment that supports curiosity and dialogue. When you find a moment, you may pose open-ended questions to your children, or share your thoughts on various topics. When children are used to engaging in dialogue at home, or discussing current events with parents, they can write their arguments or dive into topics in class with more skill.

Remember that stress makes learning more challenging for students. Notice when you feel urgency, pressure, or annoyance, and check which parts of you are activated. Find enough space to breathe and then talk to your child from that more grounded place—your Self.

Allow children to help set up their schedules and drive their own learning as much as possible. Autonomy is shown to increase engagement in learning. When you choose what you want to do, you tend to get more involved.

Let teachers guide the learning while you play a supportive role. If your child is stuck or confused about the work, you may ask, “What did your teacher say about this?” or “Can you ask your teacher, or another student?” You may also offer ideas for how to find answers through books or online research.

Don’t correct your children’s work, otherwise teachers cannot assess what children are and are not learning.

Protect your children’s concentration. When they are engaged, do not interrupt or help. When students are engaged, learning is happening. You can check in when they stop or take a break.

Seth Kopald, PhD, is an Insight Coach who leads individual sessions, couple communication sessions, and groups, creating a safe space and guiding people to care for themselves in a loving and insightful way. Seth became an IFS practitioner in 2012 and has contributed to the IFS community by initiating the IFS Self-led Parenting and the Parts Art Facebook pages. He has developed IFS-related parenting videos and podcasts, and written articles on parenting and couples’ communication. He is also a staff member for IFS trainings. Most recently, he coaches principals participating in bringing IFS to their schools. Seth holds a PhD in Organizational Management with a Specialization in Leadership, and holds a Master’s in Education.

4. Self-Care for the Caregiver

How to Continue Building Resilience

Much of what keeps us healthy and content may seem like common sense—though it doesn’t necessarily make it easy to do. We reflected on that common sense during these uncommon times. Here is what we identified that helps us maintain and restore resilience.

Keeping up with routines. The ones that are truly calming to us. Eating well. Getting outside to exercise daily, and adhering to a normal sleep schedule. Simple, but not easy, yet all help to normalize this time.

Managing the media diet. Checking in online with a few trusted sources for information, while keeping the television off, except for enriching programs. Avoidance does not make fear go away, so choose news carefully and in small doses.

Talking about other things. Whether with family, clients, friends, or co-workers, inject a heartfelt story, a recipe, or a book recommendation to lift the mood.

Creating quiet time during the day. Allowing these “be here now” moments to interrupt the stress can provide the calming awareness to just “be.” Getting lost in something that captivates you, like gardening or doing a puzzle or a simple craft. Several gifts of mindfulness throughout the day contribute to a sense of safety and peace.

Expressing gratitude. Engaging in activities which connect you to your body and inspire your heart. Smiles and appreciation are contagious and de-stressing. All of these habits and practices can help create contentment and “enoughness” amidst this new era.

Anna Tansi, MS Org Psych, began her career as a registered dietitian, focused on the whole health of human beings. After she got her MS in Org Psychology, she re-tooled her focus to supporting the health of human systems as people collaborate to get work done. She provides facilitation, coaching, and consulting expertise to organizations of all kinds, as they explore how to care for and optimize the work environment while also attending to/caring for their own inner systems.

Jaqueline Germain, MS, ND, is a co-founder of The Connecticut Center for Health and has practiced natural family medicine since 1983. Prior to medical school, she studied botany, religious studies, and environmental science. She recently completed Internal Family Systems levels 1 and 2 at Central Connecticut State University and completed a certificate program in narrative medicine at Columbia University. She is passionate about overall well-being integrating these modalities with individuals and groups as well as organizations.

Theresa Velendzas, MS, is the founder of Altraform where she helps clients with wellness self-advocacy, a core life principle that she learned from the beloved elderly she worked with in various long-term care settings. In addition to her studies in psychology and health care management, Theresa holds certifications in fitness and Internal Family Systems (IFS). A mom and spouse to an ER physician on the frontlines of COVID-19, she offers tools for grounding ourselves so that we can help others.

5. Befriending our Fear in a Time of Pandemic

I have been using the IFS Model on my daily hikes during this horrific pandemic. It has kept me sane. In April, my liver shut down from a hepatitis infection, so I landed in the hospital for a week, fearful that I was dying. Of course, no visitors were allowed, though friends and family frequently called.

What got me through were hours of meditation in a hospital bed, and then being back in the woods when I was finally discharged. The meditations were about holding and loving the “panicked” and “grieving” parts that believed life was over. We were actually able to find peace with that belief. Now that I am back to 100% health, I experience so much gratitude just to be able to hike in nature—no matter the weather or what might be weighing on my mind.

Like the virus itself, I believe we can be infected by strong feelings, like fear of being deathly sick. IFS calls this “blending,” where the feeling and thoughts supporting it consume our conscious awareness. The first step in resolving our situation is to retrieve enough of our Self energy so its qualities can again be available to us (the 8Cs that most have come to recognize: calm, curiosity, confidence, courage, creativity, compassion, clarity, and connectedness).

As I think back, here is what helped me navigate the Coronavirus panic. I hope these steps—that you may want to consider—can help you, too:

• Allow the feeling to be recognized as fear and worry rather than as an annoyance to be pushed aside.

• Focus on the disturbance (feelings and thoughts around it) as an entity separate from yourself. This is the critical first step in our IFS Model called unblending.

• Check that other parts which may be trying to help you are relaxed and trusting you to focus on “the disturbance.”

• Get to know this part of yourself. For me, I often spend days getting to know this part by taking hikes together or during meditation sessions.

• Befriending this part helps us begin our journey of healing together by ending the confusion, fear, and denial that was overtaking us whenever this part was activated.

Greater Racial Equity and Justice: Toward an Evolved Humanity

Consistent with the attributes of Self leadership—which the Foundation pledges to exemplify through its organizational values, character, and actions—the Foundation joined thousands of individuals and organizations taking a stand for justice and equity for all in the United States and elsewhere.

The recent tragic events that renewed and energized the movement toward greater racial justice were a stark affirming reminder that Black lives do matter and that any human life is sacred and must be treated with dignity and fairness.

Beyond establishing adequate laws to ensure justice, we need love to emerge; it is through love and by seeing the other as equal in all human aspects that we can establish social equity and harmony.

Our societies hold unresolved individual and collective trauma, which gets deepened with new, exacerbating injuries. Fear and anger weaken our ability to dialogue and work together. By facing them and following their tracks, we may be able to transcend and possibly address past wrongs, which need to be examined head-on. We need to muster the courage to treat and heal each other’s resulting injuries, whether moral, emotional, cultural, or economic. And we must hold onto hope, tightly, and engage in whatever action is possible—no action is too small—to bring about desired change.

In view of this social reawakening, the Foundation engaged in the following activities as signs of unwavering support to its brothers and sisters in the Black community:

• Produced and posted a public statement on racial equity and justice (reproduced below).

• Hosted the first of what is hoped to be a series of panel discussions on “Uncovering Legacy Burdens of Racism,” as a Phase II effort in its “innervention” program.

• Organized the launch of an IFS Leadership Fellows Program to recruit ten promising leaders from marginalized communities in which IFS has been commonly inaccessible, provided them with IFS trainings, mentored them, and involved them in formal leadership development experiences (more on this in as a Phase II effort in its “innervention” program. as a Phase II effort in its “innervention” program. future communiqués). —THM

“The arc of the moral
universe is long, but it
bends toward justice.”
__Martin Luther King

We Stand with Equity & Justice for All

At the Foundation for Self Leadership, we stand in solidarity with all those across the United States and the world who are seeking equity and justice for all.

The events of this past week* underscore the reality that our Black sisters and brothers continue to experience the effects of inequality and acts of injustice at the hands of individuals, institutions, and governments.

We stand in solidarity with you, fully aware that we can no longer look the other way. We recognize that the pain of generations has spilled over. We hold you in our hearts, empathize with your struggles, and mourn the many senseless deaths and the suffering that ensues and lingers. We respect and defend your rights to stand tall, march with purpose, express your concerns with audacity and nonviolence, and speak truth to power. In so doing, you give voice not only to Black people everywhere but also to every member of a minority community who lives in fear for being who they are.

We stand ever hopeful that you will be fully visible and fully heard, and that we, as a society, will find the Self-led courage to face our individual and institutional racism and our conscious and unconscious biases with humility, honesty, and a commitment to change. We acknowledge that such change means, in the words of social scientist Dolly Chugh, moving from being believers in a just, fair, and welcoming society into being builders of that new world.

We stand recommitted as an organization to our mission of promoting inner harmony to help create a more peaceful, inclusive world in which differences in gender, ethnicity, culture, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, or any other differentiating characteristic are welcomed and affirmed. Our board members and associates are committed to identifying and addressing our own unconscious biases as we seek to serve our community, and to expanding our board membership to ensure a wide diversity of representation, thought, perspectives, and sensibilities.

We stand with those who understand that it is often through suffering that wholeness and self-actualization may be achieved. We recognize that we can tap into our deep inner wisdom and harness its qualities of courage and compassion for self and others that will lead us through our suffering into a space of inner harmony. We know that this inner harmony can then source our contribution to a more just and peaceful world. We acknowledge that anger, fear, insecurity, and outrage are also companions on our human journey. We notice them, we engage with them, and we allow our inner wisdom to lead them and to place their experiences in perspective lest they rob us and the world of the peace, harmony, and connection we so deeply desire.

We stand with our community and with all people everywhere who believe that each of us holds the right, as a breathing human, to think independently, speak freely, and be treated with dignity.

We stand with all those who proactively strive for equity, justice, and peace and who desire to bring hope and be a light in the world that reaches every corner of darkness.

We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of every color and creed; every background, identity, and experience; who place love above hate and a strong desire to learn and understand before judgment and condemnation. Foundation for Self Leadership | June 6, 2020*

Uncovering Legacy Burdens of Racism | Panel Discussion

The Foundation organized and presented an online 90-minute panel discussion on July 19, 2020 titled Uncovering Legacy Burdens of Racism. This interactive event, which was very well attended, sought to meet the following objectives:

Uncovering Legacy Burdens of Racism | What Panelists Shared by Desmond Butler, MA

The Internal Family Systems Model can be used as a way of understanding societal racism and the underlying causes of the behaviors that propagate it. Whereas many discussions of racism are focused on economics or education or culture, this panel sought to identify: (1) what parts of ourselves can contribute to thoughts or actions that can affect how we perceive other people around us; (2) the role of cultural and family legacy in deriving these thoughts and actions; and (3) how we can tap into our inner wisdom and goodness to reframe them. If we can identify the obstacles to racial equality and understanding that exist within all of us, we can better understand those around us and contribute to the struggle for equality.

The moderator posed the question, “What parts have been most activated in your system today, given the current events in the societal calls for greater racial equity and justice?”

One of the panelists brought up that the current fight for civil rights activated her “self-righteous” part, before explaining how her kneejerk reaction is to be annoyed with those who aren’t concerned for, or fighting for, civil rights the way she and others are. She explained, “I wanna force people to see things my way, I want them to disregard all their parts and just jump into the wagon that I’m in. Just believe as I believe, see things as I see them, and the world will be right.” If we identify this part of ourselves that gets annoyed with those who don’t think or see as we think or see, it’s similar to white supremacy culture in the sense that we perceive our own value to be greater than that of those around us while seeking to dictate their beliefs. It is incumbent on us all to honor everyone’s own individual journey and experiences.

Another panelist referred to a part of herself that is afraid of the conversation. This part is fearful of joining the conversation and making a mistake or offending others. It is important for all of us to “show up” and have the conversation, keep an open mind, and not be afraid of being wrong or learning something new. Racism and inequality cannot be addressed if people are sitting out conversations due to fear of their own ignorance or imperfections. In order to be allies to those fighting for civil rights and equality, we must be able to learn from others, hear painful truths, and broaden our own understanding of how inequality touches all our lives. This fearful part can also manifest as numbness; out of fear or feeling sadness or pain or fear, we turn away from it. We must seek to understand it—otherwise, it cannot be engaged with or remedied and can act as an obstacle to growth and understanding.

Knowing the parts of ourselves who can undermine the pursuit of equality allows us to engage with them creatively and allows us to sustain our engagement with the fight for equality and the dismantling of systemic racism. It is important to know the difference between working on our own personal racism (the individual manifestations and influence of broader systemic discrimination) and the fight against systemic racism. One panelist expressed concern that confronting our own personal racism could also bog down the fight to reform our societal systems. We must be able to do both without letting our own insecurities prevent us from confronting these conditions, as it’s important to not let fear prevent us from doing our best to grow, evolve, and contribute in a productive and understanding fashion.

Racism and inequality cannot be addressed if people are sitting out conversations due to fear of their own ignorance or imperfections.

An important point is that guilt and shame are not useful tools for change; instead, they help us get defensive. If we’re feeling guilty about our own parts or past actions, we need to be able to look at those parts and understand why we acted or thought the way we did. Self-compassion is essential in order to have the broader compassion and empathy that one can extend to others. The IFS Model encourages us to understand our own parts and seek to understand the parts in others, since without that understanding, it’s too easy for us to get defensive or indifferent and close ourselves off to our own potential evolution and growth. Once we gain awareness and endeavor to overcome the trap of guilt and shame, we become more curious… which allows for a more fluid conversation.

Ultimately racism and inequality, while systemic in nature, are fundamentally rooted in all of us. Our own biases, fears, insecurities, guilt, and desires can all be fuel to this inequality and racism. IFS provides a useful framework tool to look inward and address these feelings in a way that allows us to be more receptive to those around us and better equipped to join the march of progress that society as a whole seems to be on. If we turn away from these painful truths and uncomfortable conversations, we prevent ourselves from learning or understanding others, and only by being able to better understand those around us can we address the parts of us that hold keys to healing.

Panelists collectively urged everyone to reach out and get involved, whether through internal or external work. And they suggested a series of calls to action for us to consider.

• Listen carefully to what is coming up inside each of us. Why are we activated? What is causing our discomfort or pain?

• Find and connect with people who can help us and in turn whom we can help so we do not get isolated and overwhelmed by the task at hand.

• Stay “courageously engaged” to the extent we can in the social movements of our time and not let our own fear or uncertainty prevent us from taking steps to action.

• Make sure to practice our own self-awareness about our parts and potential invisible spots, be compassionate with ourselves and others, and reach out when there is something we do not understand or something that may be impeding our growth.

• Wake up to our own identities and explore how these identifies show up in our system—how each shapes the way we view others and how others view us. There are plenty of resources on the Internet, in books, and within the IFS community that can help with this.

There is tangible value in learning through IFS about our parts and racism, and then actually going and doing the work. It is easy to get caught up in the “how” and “why,” which can lead to inaction, instead of trusting our own abilities and moving forward. While inquiry is an essential first step, at some point all of us must do our part and act, whether through self-improvement, contributing to the larger conversation, or any other type of positive contribution to the IFS community and the larger struggle for racial equality.

IMAGINE with Us…

A day in the not-so-distant future…

Community Connections

An IFS Institute Update

Editors’ Note: The Foundation, through OUTLOOK, seeks to keep the IFS community aware of recent IFS Institute (IFSI) developments. As separate, yet related organizations, it’s important to highlight and applaud the Institute’s progress. See what’s new at the Institute. __MLG

Editor’s Note: In the Rain is a song about Self meeting a young lost and burdened part and being able to help her. In it, there is a sense of connection to nature, hope of connection to other people and to something greater. “It gave me hope that there could be something good in me, and a sense of timeless existence in the Universe,” shares author Kari Viken, MD, a recent Level 1 graduate. —MLG

Poetry

In the Rain

Out in the heavy rain
I’m watching you girl
watching you
the world is dripping wet
all the way through
so are you

don’t seem to mind
the rain on you is kind

like blessings from above
fall on your face
leaving a trace of hope

like tears that rinse the soul
wash out the sand
leaving the gold

you think there is something basically wrong
a darkness inside of you all along

you need a caring hand
crossing the street
I rush to meet you
and take you to the park
swing on the swings
push you so high, so high

a crack in the sky
a sunbeam escape through layers of grey
join in the laugh
join in the play
in the rain
in the rain
oh, girl

there’s light in this world
for you
there are people too
and there’s you
there’s light
in you

Kari Viken

SEPARATE & TOGETHER

What is the difference between the Foundation and IFS Institute?

The Foundation for Self Leadership and IFS Institute are engaged in significant efforts, with great common determination and towards a shared vision: to facilitate Self-discovery and promote Self leadership across the world. Yet, they have separate and independent legal, fiscal, and governance systems.

“We get together on the basis of our similarities; we grow on the basis of our differences.”

-Virginia Satir

The Foundation for Self Leadership, creator of OUTLOOK, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting robust research to establish IFS as evidence-based, broadening access to IFS in communities otherwise underserved by IFS, such as schools and veteran groups, and expanding the outreach and advocacy of IFS across the globe. The Foundation was established in 2013.

The IFS Institute is dedicated to ensuring consistency in the education of IFS Model. The Institute, while originally called The Center for Self Leadership (CSL), was established in 2000 and is home to all formal IFS in-person trainings and online programs, hosts the annual conference, and manages a growing store of IFS books and resources.

Trainers’ Corner

Editor’s Note: For a man with big ideas, Chris Burris LPC, LMFT, eschews the notion of being idealistic and instead oozes a calm pragmatism and no-nonsense approach which is nicely in rhythm with the counseling service he provides in the heart of North Carolina. With a family legacy steeped in the farming, building, and bricklaying work of his forebears, Chris is also known for his work with men’s groups and conscious eldering. He has been a Lead Trainer with IFSI since 2008. Chris has a keen interest in racial equity and has been active with Black Therapists Rock™. In June this year, he participated in Uncovering Legacy Burdens of Racism (see pg 32). In this conversation, Chris shares with us his story of being introduced to IFS and his thoughts about its direction in the future.

Chris first met Dick Schwartz at a family therapy networker conference in 1999 where Dick was conducting a book signing. He had only a working understanding of Internal Family Systems theory but was experiencing the feeling of being ‘therapeutically stuck’ with a complex client and so consulted Dick about the case. This was a turning point for Chris, who noted that, “Dick was so generous and helpful.” Soon after, Chris commenced IFS training and became aware that when observing Dick do his demonstrations, “the client’s authentic Self just seemed to emerge like magic and they were able to come into their fullness.” For Chris, who had previously observed psychotherapy’s tendency to focus on neurosis and dysfunction, the approach of IFS with its emphasis on Self energy and honoring the whole and complete individual was a breath of fresh air. “From that moment, I was hooked,” he said.

“I found that the precise language and concepts of IFS made it easier for folks to negotiate their inner landscape—the language is so much more adaptable and user-friendly,”

Chris has a background as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and has more recently obtained the status of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor. Feeling that he works best with clients where the process is collaborative, he allows for exploration of the presenting issues from a non-pathological perspective while taking into consideration a multidimensional approach. Before being formally introduced to IFS, some of his influences were Salvador Minuchin, Jay Haley, Milton Erickson, and Marianne Walters—all significant contributors to the development of family therapy in its formative years. “I found that the precise language and concepts of IFS made it easier for folks to negotiate their inner landscape—the language is so much more adaptable and user-friendly,” he comments, observing that psychotherapeutic theory relating to the inner psyche is mysterious and complicated.

Having completed Level 1 in 1999, Chris was then a Program Assistant (PA) for Dick Schwartz, PhD, and Susan McConnell, MA, CHT, for a Level 1 training, working his way through the various levels of training as a PA before becoming an Assistant Trainer and then a Lead Trainer in 2008. He notes with some wryness that he is currently the youngest Senior Lead Trainer in the team; a point which contains some inherent irony considering his interest in conscious eldering specifically, and his interest in men’s groups, rites of passage, and psycho-spiritual transitions in general.

In terms of the links between men’s groups, rites of passage work, and IFS, Chris notes that even though we might go through a transition process using intention and ritual in the outer world, some of our internal parts don’t get the message and therefore stay stuck in that earlier developmental stage. So, Chris uses IFS to build the bridge between our parts’ former state of egocentrism and helps them move toward what he calls a state of ‘ecocentrism.’ In that process, younger parts who have been left out of the loop are acknowledged and assisted to transition into the state of elderhood, too. Chris observes that, “parts get trapped or locked in time through trauma and so they remain in the past. While ceremony is largely about creating intention, all parts need to be updated into the present moment and that’s where IFS comes in.”

Having fun is one of the things Chris enjoys most about being a lead trainer. “If I’m having fun, then I know it’s a good training,” he reflects. Chris also notes that for those therapists who have been working for a long time, providing training allows them the opportunity to know themselves in a new and better way, which of course impacts positively on their clients. Being a lead trainer provides Chris with the opportunity to reach a wider group of people and he gains a great deal of enjoyment from mentoring other trainers and being part of the staff team responsible for the provision of IFS training around the globe.

When asked about where he sees IFS heading in 10 to 20 years’ time, Chris observes that IFS is likely to be ‘infused everywhere,’ noting its potential for creating collaborative conversations—a dynamic he says is much needed in the polarized state of the United States these days. He gives the example of meeting a group of trial lawyers involved in activism to help them better access Self energy and be more authentic in their relationships. “Using IFS in this way can help influence human society and change the world,” he says. It doesn’t get more pragmatic or no-nonsense than that! Chris can be contacted on mountainself@gmail.com. __SD

Editor’s Note: Each one of us contains many stories of our lives. Sometimes they record the mundane, and sometimes they represent the raw experiences we’ve been through. For those who have experienced the incredible healing potential of IFS, these stories illustrate this transformative process. To transcend trauma and difficult circumstances, and through that come closer to our essential nature, is one of the greatest gifts of life.

OUTLOOK has featured Stories of Transformation in several editions. We do so with the knowledge that by sharing our experiences, we touch the lives of others, and in turn encourage them to embark upon their own inner work. We also believe such stories, much like the concrete research which is currently being conducted, lend confidence in the Model and provide an example of how circumstances can change dramatically. We hope that Dan’s story, below, inspires you. __MLG

Stories of Transformation

When the Psychotherapist Gets Cancer: Managing Life and Practice

Operational Update

FOUNDATION’S MILESTONES (2013–2020)

Since the Foundation was activated seven years ago, quite a bit has been accomplished to advance IFS research, development, and advocacy toward promoting emotional healing and well-being. None of it would have been possible without the community’s generous support, the hard work of few staff associates engaged in a labor of love of sorts, a large number of volunteers, and the high creativity of IFS practitioners and researchers who are dedicated to advancing a better world for all. Here is a sample list of what has been achieved to date [and funded amount]...

Formal acknowledgment of IFS as an evidence-based psychotherapy secured The application that led, through an independent and rigorous review, to the recognition of IFS therapy as an evidence-based practice was developed and submitted by the Foundation to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. As a result, IFS is considered effective for (1) improving general function and well-being. It is also deemed promising for enhancing (2) physical conditions and symptoms and (3) personal resilience and self-concept; and for reducing (4) phobia, panic, and generalized anxiety disorders and symptoms and (5) depression and depressive symptoms. (Please click here for more information.) [$5,500 USD]

Development and validation of an IFS adherence/fidelity scale completed With the help of volunteer coordinators and raters, the Foundation facilitated the crafting of IFS psychotherapy protocol and constructs as well as the development and initial statistical validation of an IFS adherence scale. The fidelity scale is an essential tool for researchers. The Foundation is now committed to ensuring that the scale is used and gets validated with every new research project. (Please click here for more information.) [$5,500 USD]

Transparent review process for IFS research grant proposals established In order to maintain research integrity and independence of its funded studies, the Foundation has set in place a review process with clearly articulated merit criteria. An independent review council of researchers has been identified for the purpose of conducting anonymous and objective assessment of the quality and likelihood of carrying out proposed research studies. The council reviews all grant applications submitted to the Foundation requesting IFS-focused research funding. (Please click here for more information.) [$3,500 USD]

Pilot study funded on the effects of IFS treatment on PTSD and complex trauma symptoms This study, led by the Trauma Center at the Justice Resource Institute in Boston and supported by a group of IFS-certified therapists who are conducting the clinical work, has been completed and submitted for review to the peer-reviewed Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. It has shown highly positive results. [$45,000 USD]

Study funded on the physiological effects of IFS on client and therapist in a clinical session This pioneering study, co-led by the Trauma Center and the Computational Behavioral Science Lab at Northeastern University, observed the client-therapist process during IFS sessions, measuring through high-tech sensors parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous signals as well as cardiovascular, respiratory, and electrodermal responses. Data collection is complete; the study is in the final stages of analysis. [$75,000 USD]

First phase of an IFS annotation project completed This project involved the review and crafting of editorial commentary on some 70+ publications (journal papers, manuscripts, doctoral theses) that focused on or alluded to IFS. The work was commissioned to a team of academic researchers, among them graduate students, and is now accessible online (see next item). [$7,500 USD] Online searchable database of IFS-related papers and books to support researchers built In an attempt to support researchers, the Foundation published on its website a new Resources page that includes a searchable list of IFS-related publications (books, articles, theses), designed with researchers in mind, to showcase the depth and breadth of IFS development. [$12,500 USD]

Media campaign on self-awareness and emotional connections explored In partnership with Education 4 Peace, a Swiss nonprofit, the Foundation engaged in the planning and design of a global animated video campaign. Its key message, to be conveyed primarily to youth by celebrity athletes, is to inspire positive behavior among sports players through self-awareness and emotional fitness. The partnership signed a licensing agreement with Disney/Pixar in Summer 2018 to use the Inside Out characters as a part of this campaign. The project has been recently tabled due to challenges in securing celebrities and funding as well as changes at Pixar. [$10,000 USD for initial design phase]

First IFS-in-Schools pilot program launched Extending access to notions of Self and parts among school students, a new pilot program was funded and launched at two middle schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, serving at-risk student populations. Designed by IFS practitioners with deep connections with the schools, the program engaged 16 teachers in a 10-month intensive IFS-based experience and developed agendas for transferring what they discovered and learned to the classroom. The project, which was completed in September 2018, was independently evaluated; findings were summarized in OUTLOOK’s April 2019 edition and are being prepared for publication. [$45,000 USD]

Second and expansive three-school IFS program funded Building on the success of the Minnesota project (previous item), the Foundation sponsored, in Summer 2019, a two-year Self leadership development program for teachers, staff, and administrators at three schools (a high school, a middle school, and an elementary school) in the Hartford, Connecticut area, USA. The program, currently in its second year, is designed by a IFS marriage and family therapist with experience managing a mindfulness center. It is conducted in partnership with these schools and involves workshops and coaching as well as the exploration of educational resources and ways to bring emotional learning into both the classroom and student-facing policy decisions. An independent outcomes evaluation is also being conducted. (Please click here for more information.) [$80,000 USD]

Large RCT study funded on IFS as a treatment for PTSD and opioid use An extensive research study was launched in Summer 2020 at the Harvard-affiliated Cambridge Health Alliance community mental health center, Massachusetts, USA. This rigorous, randomized clinical trial will examine IFS vs. a nature-based stress reduction program as a treatment for PTSD and opioid use. Building on a previous pilot study of IFS for PTSD treatment (see above), this two-year study will assess the effects of a 16-week IFS protocol on a randomized group from among 60 participants and will also include a feasibility and acceptability single-arm study of an IFS treatment for 12 individuals with PTSD and comorbid substance abuse disorder. [$325,000 USD, 2/3 of the study funded to-date]

Community-facing online program organized during the summer COVID-19 months With the leadership of seven IFS practitioners, a series of free workshops and resources were designed and offered to the IFS community and anyone looking for inner strength, calm, and hope during a time of unprecedented crisis. The online program, dubbed “innervention,” was designed for various groups: school educators, small business owners and executives, parents, and first responders and caregivers. The program’s 40-some videos and tools were produced and posted on the Foundation’s YouTube® channel. (Please click here for more information.) [$6,000 USD]

Comprehensive communication & outreach strategy implemented The Foundation has developed an expansive website and launched a series of social media platforms. In addition, it has created OUTLOOK (now in its 12th issue), OUTLOOK Shorts, and a series of collateral pieces, including two case statements for funding, to share news, showcase IFS-related stories and people, and deepen connections within the IFS community. An online database of friends and constituents has been set up and a digital communication platform established to manage this effort. [$127,500 USD]

Elements of a lean operational infrastructure set up to support organizational development The Foundation continues to implement its programs through a small team of staff associates, who receive relatively modest honoraria, and the dedication of many volunteers. Among them: an executive director and associates focused on research, development, and communications, finance, and web programming. All are engaged in a time-limited capacity and draw their livelihood from other professional involvements. [$134,640 USD or 18% of total expenses]

(Dollar amounts are 2013–2020 cumulative.)

Provides a predictable source of revenue so the Foundation can continue to advance notions of IFS.We have been sufficiently fortunate at the Foundation to be continually supported by committed and creative people. We have a richness of ideas and ambitious plans. We have the know-how and passion to contribute significantly toward helping our world heal. What we need is funding.

We need funding to help achieve our priorities through 2023:

1. fully funding the current RCT study and sponsoring more rigorous IFS studies for deeper empirical evidence on the treatment of PTSD, depression, and addiction;

2. supporting IFS programs for agencies that serve military veterans;

3. bringing IFS to teachers (and students) at more schools (both 2 & 3 combined with evaluation and research);

4. launching an IFS Leadership Fellows Program to bring the IFS Model to marginalized communities; and

5. engaging in public advocacy for healing and well-being through IFS.

Help launch us into the next phase of development.