Creating Healing Circles: Using the Internal Family Systems Model in Facilitating Groups

"My hope is that whether you are in private practice or a mental health center setting, this book will inspire you to run IFS groups...I can't thank Chris enough for bringing this timely contribution to the IFS movement that is important at so many levels." —Richard Scwartz, Ph.D, Founder of the Internal Family Systems Model

People are meant to discover, heal, and grow in community, yet the mental health field has moved increasingly toward an individual psychotherapy model. For many helping professionals, the art of running support and therapeutic groups has been underdeveloped and remains a daunting and often overwhelming prospect. This book is designed for helping professionals officially trained in the Internal Family Systems model as a resource in utilizing the concepts, ideas, and protocols from the IFS model in group experiences. Using his own life experiences and vast expertise in facilitating group process, Chris Burris, Senior Lead Trainer with the IFS Institute, explains the power of group work by offering detailed explanations, exercises, and illustrations of his methodology. This book is designed as a resource to enhance practitioner skills in facilitating groups with the hope that through increased connectivity to each other and ourselves, we can discover the power within. Chris's hope is that through this deeper internal connection and intentional community, one can find the necessary creativity, imagination, and courage to lead and envision solutions for the future. Given the immense challenges humans currently face such as global warming, political turmoil, oppression, inequality, and societal strife, a greater connection to a conscious community and one's larger Self is more necessary than ever.

About the Author

Chris Burris, M.Ed, LCMHCS, LMFT, is a Senior Lead Trainer for the Internal Family Systems Institute where he provides Level I, II, and III trainings in the IFS model. He has been an IFS Therapist since 1999 and a practicing psychotherapist since 1987. Chris is trained as a Marriage and Family Therapist and uses a mind-body approach to psychotherapy. He has worked extensively with children, adolescents, couples, individuals, and organizations. In addition, he has facilitated groups on topics such as men's issues, sacred activism, rite of passage, couples, healthy relationships, performance enhancement for artists, and bullying. Since 1990, he has been an active participant with men's groups and rites of passage programs. He also facilitates consultation and supervision groups for trained therapists. In addition to being a psychotherapist, Chris has trained in many nature bases models with Animus Valley institute, School of Lost Borders, The Foundation for Shamanic Studies, and The Center for Conscious Eldering. Chris has been featured on multiple podcasts such as "IFS Talks", "The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems Podcast", "Truth, Love, and Beauty", and "Bossy, Brilliant, and Badass". He currently lives in Asheville, NC with his wife, Deena, and their daughters where they enjoy being active in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. You can follow Chris @burriscounseling.com.