Introduction to Internal Family Systems Two Day Workshop
October 4th and 5th 2025 in Dublin
Olivia Lester, IFS Lead Trainer & Marie Tierney, IFS Assistant Trainer
Internal Family Systems (IFS) has been developed by the American psychologist and family therapist Dr. Richard C. Schwartz over the past 40 years and has grown into a powerfully transformative, evidence-based model of psychotherapy. IFS believes our inner parts contain valuable qualities and our core Self knows how to heal. When our inner parts and Self work together we can better lead our behaviours, relationships and lives, allowing us to become integrated and whole. In IFS all parts are welcome.
Workshop Description
IFS Ireland is pleased to share the good news that the next official Level 1 Training in Dublin will take place in 2026, organised in collaboration with IFS UK and the IFS Institute with the support of a local training coordinator in Ireland.
The workshop can be used as a first step to decide whether the Level 1 IFS training programme is for you.
This two-day workshop is offered by IFS Ireland under license from the IFS Institute. The workshop introduces the principles and techniques of Internal Family Systems (IFS) in an experiential way with teaching, live demos, interactive discussion, internally focused exercises and guided practice. No previous knowledge is assumed.
This workshop is suitable for professionals e.g. counsellors, psychotherapists, psychologists, mental health and wellbeing professionals who are curious about IFS. The workshop may be helpful if you’d like to learn more about the model before taking a Level 1 training or are awaiting the start of a Level 1 and are eager to dive a little deeper into your understanding and experience of the model.
Introductory workshops provide the perfect opportunity to explore IFS for yourself before committing to a full training course. During this workshop, you’ll experience IFS personally and get a clear idea of what a full training course will give you. You’ll have the chance to ask questions about IFS and the training and meet members of the IFS Training Team in Ireland and the UK.
There will be a brief outline of the most important theories informing IFS including systems thinking, multiplicity of mind and Self leadership. The focus will be on experiencing IFS skills and techniques in small and large groups. You will have an opportunity to explore and get an overview of the IFS model, supporting individual and collective healing.
We will elaborate on the following in particular:
- Protective parts: managers and firefighters
- Vulnerable parts: exiles
- Self
- Therapist’s Self and own parts
- The Flow of the Model
- The 6 Fs
Workshop Details
When
October 4th and 5th 2025
Time
9am to 5pm Saturday and 9am to 4pm Sunday
Where
Dominican Retreat Centre, Tallaght, Dublin Google Maps
Facilitators
Olivia Lester, IFS Lead Trainer and Marie Tierney, IFS Assistant Trainer
Fee
€395 payable on booking to confirm your place.
The fee includes the workshop, lunch and refreshments on both days
Booking
To register or for further information or questions please contact Marie Tierney by e-mail marietierney@gmail.com or phone/text/whatsapp 0876171472
Places are limited to 30 and likely to go fast, so don’t delay
Accommodation
Accommodation is available as an optional extra. B&B costs €65 per person per night and can be booked directly with the Dominican Retreat Centre, Tallaght Village, Dublin 24, D24 KA40 Dominican Retreat Centre Contact Anita/Eileen 01-4048123 or 4048189 or dominicanretreats@gmail.com
Cancellation Policy
If you need to withdraw, a refund (less €50 administrative fee) will be given up to September 6th, and a 50% refund (less €50 administrative fee) up to September 20th. No refunds are available after this.
This two day workshop will offer opportunities to:
- Explore and get an overview of the IFS model
- Experience your own protective system
- Bring more compassion to yourself and others
Learning Opportunities
The workshop consists of short teaching presentations, exercises, meditations, live demos, interactive discussions and peer practice. During it, we will show a live demonstration of an IFS session with one of the teachers as an IFS therapist and a volunteer participant from the group as a client.
Workshop Presenters
Olivia Lester is an IFS lead trainer and Marie Tierney is a certified IFS therapist and approved IFS clinical consultant who is on the IFS trainer path. They are passionate about bringing IFS to as many people as possible. Olivia is also a UK International Partner with the IFS Institute.
Internal Family Systems
Internal Family Systems is a unique and powerful way to learn about, to trust, and to love our parts and ourselves, as well as the parts and Self of others. IFS is the world’s fastest growing therapeutic framework because it makes intuitive sense: we all know we have different parts that live inside of us and sometimes they don’t agree with each other. IFS provides a road map to understand how these parts came into being, their function and how to validate and work with them with curiosity and compassion. It offers a model to explore your inner world to create more understanding, connection and hope for yourself and others.
Important
If you are interested in becoming certified as an IFS therapist, you will need to complete an IFS Institute Level 1 training programme and meet other criteria. Information on these in-depth training opportunities can be found at this link
We emphasise that the workshop is an introduction to IFS and not the core IFS training in the model. IFS Ireland is working in collaboration with the IFS Institute in the USA and IFS UK, an international partner of the IFS Institute, to explore running a Level 1 IFS training in Ireland in 2025. The workshop can be used as a first step to decide whether the Level 1 IFS training programme is for you.
Registration
Please send an email to marietierney@gmail.com for further information