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  • Our Parts as Mediators: Exploring the Internal Family Systems Model/MWI

Our Parts as Mediators: Exploring the Internal Family Systems Model/MWI

  • 20 Jun 2018
  • 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
  • MWI, 10 Liberty Square - 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02109

IFS (Internal Family Systems) is a model of psychotherapy that has been catching fire in the therapy world, and is beginning to make significant contributions in the mediation world as well. The IFS model teaches us to become aware that we all have different “parts” that play different roles in our own internal system – some of which are very useful, some protective, and some very vulnerable. However, as the model suggests, we are not merely a combination of our various parts. Pivotal to IFS is the presence of a “core self”, which can be understood in many different ways (i.e. “higher self”; “wise self”; “inner mediator”). 


Much like we are trained to listen for interests during basic mediation training, we also listen for “parts” in IFS-informed mediation. We encourage the parties to “speak for” instead of “speak from” these parts, ultimately supporting the expression of a fuller range of emotions within each party, and, thus creating space for compassion and creativity to enter the mediation process. Sally Plone is an MWI mediator and an IFS therapist. She served as program assistant for Dr. Richard Schwartz (IFS Founder) and David Hoffman (Boston Law Collaborative) as part of their Advanced Internal Family Systems Training for Mediators Program. Join Sally for a brief overview of the IFS model and an examination of how it applies to both the mediation process, as well as to our own parts as mediators.


MWI Roundtable events are free for all active MWI mediators. Those who are not actively mediating with the MWI Court Panel are welcome to attend up to two Roundtables per year for free. RSVP is required for all attendees and can be completed by registering online. For more information on this and other upcoming MWI Roundtables, click here.


Questions? Send to MWI mediator and Manager of Commercial & Corporate Programs Marcus Stergio via email at mstergio@mwi.org or call 617-895-4029.

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