Become IFS Informed

IFS Online Circle

Join Dr. Richard Schwartz and IFS senior trainers to learn the fundamentals of the IFS model.

Enroll Now for $497

Course overview

Enrollment Now Open for the Online Circle!
 
We’re thrilled to announce that enrollment is now open for the Online Circle—the only foundational online course offered by the IFS Institute, now featuring ALL NEW recorded content taught by Pam Krause and Crystal Jones!
 
With over 25 years of combined experience using IFS with clients, Pam and Crystal have supported, led, or participated in more than 80 IFS Trainings worldwide. They bring their deep insights, expertise, and personal journeys with the model to this impactful and profoundly moving program.
 
Since its launch in 2016, thousands of providers have taken the Online Circle as their first step—or next step—on their IFS journey. Now, we invite you to join this growing community and deepen your understanding of IFS.
 
What You’ll Gain from This 6-Month Program
Designed for those new to IFS or looking to integrate it into their professional practice, this unparalleled program offers:
 
✅ 1–2 hours of on-demand video content each month—move through it at your own pace in IFS’s easy-to-navigate Learning Hub. Each module includes a dynamic mix of information, experiential exercises, and powerful demonstrations.
 
✅ Live 75-minute monthly Q&A sessions—engage in interactive discussions to deepen your understanding. Each month, you’ll meet with Pam Krause, Crystal Jones, or Richard Schwartz, the founder of IFS. (Sessions are recorded for those who can’t attend live.)
 
✅ Downloadable resources—keep PDF handouts, slides, transcripts, and exercises for quick reference during and after the course.
 
✅ 8 real-life IFS demonstrations—including two exclusive full-length sessions with Richard Schwartz, available only in this program.
 
IFS is one of the fastest-growing therapy approaches in the world—because it works! This updated and enhanced program offers fresh insights, expanded demonstrations, and deeper experiential exercises, all led by two of IFSI’s top trainers.
 
Start Your IFS Journey Today!
 
IFS is a non-pathologizing, evidence-based approach that empowers clients to work with their inner parts, leading to transformative outcomes for PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, eating disorders, and more.
 
If you’ve been waiting to begin your IFS journey, now is the time! 
 
Registration is only open for a limited time—secure your spot today and be part of the exciting evolution of the Online Circle!
image featuring headshots of Pam Krause, Crystal Jones and Dick Schwartz

Let’s get started. Enroll Today!

Enroll Now

See what others have said about the Online Circle Program:

I don't know where to start, it has been fabulous. I have recommended it to many many colleagues even those already trained in IFS..
J.B.
J.B.Charlotte, NC
Thank you for making this possible. Everything was positive about it for me. The highlights were getting more intensive training than is possible in regular IFS trainings. It is so helpful to have the phone calls and sessions available on PDF. I loved being able to study at my pace….Also the opportunity to see how Dick works was such a privilege and learning experience. It made me feel more connected and inspired by the model.
J.C
J.CBoise, ID
The Online Circle program allowed me an affordable way to dip my toe in the water and check things out before committing to another training....You all have impressed me as a wise, compassionate and talented group and I feel all the richer for having participated in the Circle
T.A
T.AMadison, NJ
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Get the Details: What You'll Receive in This Outstanding Program

April 2025

Building Blocks of the IFS Model

History of the model and it’s basic assumptions from IFS Founder Dick Schwartz

Overview of parts and how they manifest themselves in our systems

Exploration of the nature, traits and roles of specific types of parts – Managers, Firefighters and Exiles

Review of the nature of Self and it’s role as healer in the system

Learn the concepts of blending and unblending

 

Experience: Parts Mapping Exercise

Experience: Self Energy Meditation

Experience: Getting to Know a Part Meditation

 

Live 75-minute Q & A Event With Dick Schwartz
Wednesday, April 23 at 3 ET

May 2025

The Flow of the Model

Flow of the IFS model with a focus on creating Self-to-part relationships through “in-sight”

Assess the client’s situation, including identities, relationships and current goals for therapy

Identify and work with a “pod” of protectors and the exiles they guard

Review how to invite and support unblending in clients’ systems

Observe the full flow of the model from selecting a target part to unburdening and exile and integration

Demonstration: Assessing the Situation

Demonstration: Selecting a Target Part and Establishing a Relationship

Demonstration: Learning about a Protector

Demonstration: Connecting with and Witnessing an Exile

Demonstration: Unburdening an Exile

Live 75-minute Q&A Event
with Crystal Jones
Wednesday, May 14 at 12 pm ET

June 2025

The Protective System

Role and nature of managers and firefighters

Typical concerns of protectors, including typical protector fears, and guidance on addressing these concerns

Explore how the six F’s are used to find and develop a relationship with a part

Demonstration: Using the 6 F’s

Demonstration: Hope Merchant

Demonstration: Reassuring Protector Fears

Exercise: Discovering your Manager Fears

Exercise: Reflecting on your Firefighters

Live 75-minute Q&A Event
with Pam Krause
Tuesday, June 24 at 12 PM ET

July 2025

Exiles and Their Burdens

Live 75-minute Q & A Event
with Crystal Jones
Tuesday, July 15 at 12 pm ET

Understand the nature of exiles and the types of burdens they carry

Explore important elements of working with exiles including building trust

Observe the critical steps of the unburdening process for personal as well as legacy burdens

Experience: Identifying a Cultural Legacy Burden

Demonstration: Unburdening a Personal Burden

Demonstration: Releasing Cultural/Legacy Burdens

Experience: Cabin with Ancestor Meditation

August 2025

Integration and Polarizations

Learn the importance of and process for integration following an unburdening

Experience your own system and parts during meditations and exercises

Observe specific techniques for working with highly polarized parts

Understand the role of Direct Access in highly polarized systems

Experience: Room Meditation

Experience: Two Handed Exercise

Experience: From Activation to Awareness Meditation

Demonstration: Unblending Two Parts

Live 75-minute Q&A Event
with Pam Krause
Tuesday, August 19 at 12 pm ET

September 2025

Direct Access and
What Does it Mean to be Self led?

Live 75-minute Q&A Event
with Dick Schwartz
Wednesday, September 10 at 3 pm ET

Introduction to concept of Direct Access

Comparison between and explanation of when to use In-Sight and Direct Access

Tips for how to develop Direct Access skills

Understand what it means to be Self-led and how it shifts how you engage internally and externally

Demonstration: Implicit Direct Access

Exercise: Unblending

Exercise: A Daily Practice Meditation

Let’s get started. Enroll Today!

Enroll Now for $497

Here’s a Summary of Everything You’ll Get in this Program…

Over two hours of on-demand teaching instruction per month

Monthly live Q&A events with your instructors–events are recorded for those unable to attend live.

EXCLUSIVE Full length demonstrations with Dick Schwartz

Connect with a global learning community within our IFS Learning Hub

Certificate of Completion

Transcripts of all learning sessions

DICK SCHWARTZ, IFS FOUNDER

Parts are little inner beings who are trying their best to keep you safe. Self exists in everyone, it can’t be damaged, and it knows how to heal. 

About Your Instructors

Headshot of Dick Schwartz a man with brown hair a mustache and beard wearing a blue sweater with a background of trees

Dick Schwartz, Ph.D., IFS Founder began his career as a systemic family therapist and an academic and he is now on the Faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Meadows, a treatment center in Arizona. Grounded in systems thinking, Dr. Schwartz developed the IFS model in response to clients’ descriptions of various parts within themselves. In 2000, he founded what is now the IFS Institute, which offers three levels of IFS trainings and workshops in IFS for professionals and the general public, both in this country and abroad. A featured speaker for national professional organizations, Dr. Schwartz has published many books and over fifty articles about IFS.

Pam rounded Headshot

Pamela Krause, MSW, LCSW, is an IFS Senior Lead Trainer also trained in Hakomi therapy and has led Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 trainings since 2005. Pam adapted the IFS model for use with children and adolescents and has created both onsite and online trainings on the topic. Pam authored a chapter on IFS with Children & Adolescents in Internal Family Systems Therapy: New Dimensions, and also co-authored a chapter called Getting Unstuck  in the 2017 book “innovations and elaborations in IFS” – addressing occasional ruptures and impasses in our work in IFS. Pam has played a key role at the Institute in mentoring and teaching new trainers globally, helping to shape the next generation of IFS trainers.She also has a private practice in Mechanicsburg, PA.

Crystal_Headshot

Crystal Jones, LCSW,is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Lead IFS-I Trainer who passionately spreads the healing essence of the IFS model worldwide. Known for her embodied compassion, relatability, and heart-led approach to her work, Crystal has personally experienced the transformative power of the IFS model in her own healing journey. This profound experience fuels Crystal’s dedication to creating safe spaces for marginalized communities, particularly Black women and women of color, to feel connected, seen, heard, and valued as they embark on their healing journeys individually and collectively. Crystal is fervently committed to teaching the model in a way that illuminates and speaks to the global majority, ensuring its adaptability, accessibility, and relevance to diverse populations.

FAQ

What is the difference between the Online Circle and an IFS Level 1 Training?

Online Circle offers a foundational overview of the IFS model with over 20 hours of recorded teaching videos and live Q&A monthly calls with the presenters. It is a great way to dip your toe into the model to determine if you want to invest in future IFS trainings. The IFS Level 1 Training is a comprehensive training program of roughly 100 training hours, staffed with an intimate student to staff ratio of 3:1 to ensure adequate close hands-on supervision of the participants for experiential exercises. You can learn more about these trainings here.

What if I can’t make it to the live events?

We’d love for you to join live and connect with our global community of learners, and we understand that isn’t always possible. We record all live events and add them to the IFS Learning Hub within 2 days, so you can watch them at your leisure.
Here the full live event schedule at a glance:

  • Wednesday, April 23, 2025 3 p.m.-4:15 p.m. ET with Dick Schwartz
  • Wednesday, May 14, 2025, 12 p.m.-1:15 p.m. ET with Crystal Jones
  • Tuesday, June 24, 2025, 12 p.m.-1:15 p.m. ET with Pam Krause
  • Tuesday, July 15, 2025, 12 p.m.-1:15 p.m. ET with Crystal Jones
  • Tuesday, August 19, 2025, 12 p.m.-1:15 p.m. ET with Pam Krause
  • Wednesday, September 10, 2025 3 p.m.-4:15 p.m. ET with Dick Schwartz
Are professional Continuing Education Credits (CEs) available?

This program is approved for up to 19 Professional Continuing Education (CE) credits. These will be available to purchase for $69 at the completion of the program and a post-test will be available through our partner AMEDCO.

Are there discounts available for this course?

IFS Institute commits to learning and growing to become an organization that does its part to reduce harm and redistribute resources. As we actively work to expand the communities we reach, we are offering an invitational discount rate to people of the Global Majority, LGBTQ+, and those who are under more limited economic resources.
If a reduced registration rate encourages your participation or supports your overall financial well-being please complete this form.

What is the refund policy for this course?

Register for this course and if you’re not completely satisfied within 30-days, email us at info@ifs-institute.com for a full refund

We’re that confident you’ll find this learning experience to be all that’s promised and more than you expected

Let’s get started. Enroll Today!

Enroll Now

Satisfaction Guarantee

Register for this course and if you’re not completely satisfied within 30-days, email us at info@ifs-institute.com for a full refund

We’re that confident you’ll find this learning experience to be all that’s promised and more than you expected