Internal Family Systems Coaching

Coaching is an internationally recognized profession certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).  

ICF defines coaching as: partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential, which is particularly important in today’s uncertain and complex environment. Coaches honor the client as the expert in his or her life and work and believe every client is creative, resourceful and whole.

::: Source: https://coachfederation.org/faqs 

I received coach training from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), one of the industry's leading programs.

iPEC describes a a coach as: someone who helps their clients find clarity from within, overcome challenges with their own solutions, and ultimately accomplish their goals on their own terms. Coaching, at its very best, is about helping people make profound and lasting shifts in their lives by pushing them to dig deeper so they can unlock their true potential.

Since receiving training from the IFS Institute, the primary approach I use in coaching sessions is Internal Family Systems.

Using a variety of tools from my experience and education in Internal Family Systems, Compassionate Inquiry, coaching, psychology, leadership development, and meditation, I partner with clients to help them:

• release inner blocks & reduce stress
• prevent or recover from burnout
• increase physical & mental energy 
• process & integrate difficult emotions or traumatic experiences
• navigate conflicts & challenges
• strengthen relationships & communication skills
• align life with personal values
• live with confidence & integrity
• embrace & express authenticity
• expand awareness & access to intuition
• create conditions for potential to emerge

Many of the clients I work with struggle with burnout, depression, anxiety, and the effects of trauma.  

IFS is the primary modality I use in coaching sessions and is described throughout the page above.

The IFS Institute offers the following description:

"IFS is a transformative tool that conceives of every human being as a system of protective and wounded inner parts led by a core Self. We believe the mind is naturally multiple and that is a good thing. Just like members of a family, inner parts are forced from their valuable states into extreme roles within us. Self is in everyone. It can’t be damaged. It knows how to heal. 

IFS is frequently used as an evidence-based psychotherapy, helping people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts. IFS creates inner and outer connectedness by helping people first access their Self and, from that core, come to understand and heal their parts.  

But IFS is much more than a non-pathologizing evidence-based psychotherapy to be used in a clinical setting. It is also a way of understanding personal and intimate relationships and stepping into life with the 8 Cs: confidence, calm, compassion, courage, creativity, clarity, curiosity, and connectedness. Professionals from many different backgrounds such as, but not limited to, body workers, legal mediation, school administration, life coaches, and religious leaders may utilize IFS to inform and guide their work. Our growing list of educational programs aims to serve not only therapists but the wider public and other professions.  

The mission of IFS Institute is to bring more Self leadership to the world." 

If you have more questions, check out the IFS Institute website or feel free to reach out to me.

::: https://ifs-institute.com/

While my coaching sessions are primarily focused on the IFS model, my understanding of trauma and how to work with it is largely informed by my training in Compassionate Inquiry.

Compassionate Inquiry is a psychotherapeutic approach developed by Dr. Gabor Maté, one of the world's leading experts in healing and the connection between mind and body. Through compassionate questioning and somatic awareness, it uncovers the roots of our pain and allows the wisdom of our own body to reveal healing insight.

Through a series of questions, clients identify the body sensations, emotions, and beliefs that influence the way they experience the world. As the client peels back these layers, they inevitably discover valuable insight embedded in their pain. With insight and compassion, clients are able to heal and identify how they want to move forward in life.

If you have more questions, check out the Compassionate Inquiry website or feel free to reach out to me.

::: https://compassionateinquiry.com/

Sessions are 75-90 minutes each, and the number of sessions needed to see results is highly individual. The speed of the process will be influenced by how much familiarity a client has with their own inner world and how intense the experiences are that they choose to work with. Clients will get the most out of sessions by working with their parts regularly on their own time. 

While it is common for people to see results from a single session, I highly recommend trying at least three sessions to assess whether the model is helpful for you. Many clients choose to continue with bi-weekly sessions on an ongoing basis for several months at a time. In other cases, clients may just do a few sessions every few years as a kind of regular tune-up for their system. You decide.

Credit card payment is due at the time of booking. If an appointment is rescheduled due to illness or other conflict, payment will be applied to the rescheduled session. 

My current rates:

IFS for Personal Growth; 75-minute sessions

regular rate: $150/session

financial hardship rate: $100/session

(Any client who is experiencing financial hardship may choose the latter.)

IFS for Professional Leadership; 90-minute sessions

corporate rate: $250/session

IFS coaching sessions are conducted virtually over Zoom, and clients can be located anywhere in the world with internet access. 

I am located in the U.S. and currently offer appointments during the following times:

• Monday, Thursday, Friday: 9am to 2:15pm central time
• Tuesday, Wednesday: 9am to 5:15pm central time

Coaching does not involve the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorders as defined by the American Psychiatric Association, and coaching is not to be used as a substitute for mental health care, substance abuse treatment, or other professional advice by legal, medical or other qualified professionals.

For people with mental health conditions that require medical oversight, coaching can be an excellent addition to the work a client does with their healthcare provider. Based on my educational background and personal experience, I am glad to partner with clients who may be struggling with their mental health, while they receive necessary support from a licensed medical or mental health professional.

Feel free to schedule a call and I'd be happy to discuss openly what I can help with and what it outside of my scope of experience and expertise. 

My education, training, and life experience includes:

• B.A. in Psychology;
• Internal Family Systems Level 1 training with the IFS Institute;
• Compassionate Inquiry professional training, a graduate level program in the somatic, psychotherapeutic approach to trauma developed by Dr. Gabor Mate, with an additional course on suicide attention;
• Professional coach training with the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC);
• Associate Certified Coach credential from the International Coaching Federation;
• More than 10 years of leadership development in a business context, largely focused on cooperative governance, communications, and events;
• More than 15 years of meditation practice and study, including 10 years of living in a meditation retreat center, organizing and attending over a hundred meditation courses around the world, editing and publishing books for an internationally recognized meditation master, and academic studies at a Buddhist institute in India;
• Exploration with plant medicine;
• And the wildest ride of all—being a mom. 

Women who are looking for an intensive deep-dive may choose to do a 3-5 day retreat in Khandro Cabin, a small retreat cabin located on my private property in southwest Wisconsin. In addition to multiple IFS coaching sessions, retreats include local, organic meals and guided nature excursions hiking and/or kayaking. Contact me for more details.

At any time, you can schedule a free 30-minute coaching inquiry to ask questions, share what you're looking for, and find out what I have to offer.  Or, if you'd like to go ahead and try it out, schedule a free 75-minute coaching session and we'll dive in. Either of these options are available at no cost and with no obligation to sign up for more. After this initial session, I'll follow up with you by email to find out if you'd like to work together.

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