Hoping to become an IFS practitioner by following in my footsteps? A Warning!
This experiment has an n=1. I’ve researched best practices around “how to learn/practice”, and consistently apply them, but others using the same protocol might progress at 10x or 10% of my pace.
Hoping to heal/grow through IFS? This is not the quickest route!
I’m learning to guide others, and although some mutual growth occurs, it’s not the most efficient way to heal thyself. If I could go back a couple years, I’d focus more on the inner work. Insights there are always applicable to guiding others; the reverse is only occasionally true.
2021
Q1 Goal: Unrelated to IFS (Create student-led documentary module for microschools)
- Jan – Tim Ferris interviews Dick Schwartz. I learn that IFS is not pseudoscience.
- Feb – Quit former passion project (podcast about alternative education)
Q2 Goal: Unrelated to IFS (Plan visit microschools)
- May – IFS zoom calls with IFS Guide (Facebook)
- Start using Discord, join IFS servers.
- June – Begin recurring peer work
- Experience first of my own exile unburdenings
- June – Record my first demo to share publicly
- June – Start daily practice: reviewing expert sessions first thing – still at it, Dec ’22
Q3 Goal: Unrelated to IFS (Help microschools w tech, start blog re: Accountability)
- Join IFS-Institute’s circle program. Good, but equivalent resources are freely available
- July 31 – purchase LiveIFS.com
- Aug – Start booking callers daily
- Aug – Test ~20 audio engineers. Hire Zikri
- Sept – Quit accountability blog project
- Sept-Jan – Daily blogging re: my parts work. Not published as of Dec ’22
- Sept – Contact ~73 IFS pros in search of supervisor. Hire one
- Sept 10 – create Intro / Outtro for podcast
- Sept 27 – Decide to stop seeking highlights of calls, instead focus on the challenging spots
Q4 Goal: Get Good At IFS
- Oct 14 – Publish LiveIFS podcast first calls
- Oct 29 – First recorded triad with supervisor – not published
- Nov – Start building public knowledgebase
- Nov 30 – Quit work with supervisor
- Nov – Begin contacting pros to showcase, Lucas Forstmeyer says no
2022
Q1 Goal: Establish IFS Dojo
- Transcribe, diagram pro sessions
- Start attending Bill Tierney’s group, abandon Q goal
- Become moderator reddit.com/r/internalfamilysystems
- Feb – Begin publishing every other day
- March – Research “Free and open‐source therapy”, meet w Gita Kiper
- March – Quit public knowledgebase project, publish “Free Resources” on Notion
- March 18 – First Pro showcase call recorded (Bill Tierney)
Q2 Goal: Showcase pros & quit anything that isn’t IFS (or supporting it)
- Create reddit.com/r/IFS_sessions
- April – Publish non-LiveIFS sessions database
- April – Lucas Forstmeyer says yes
- May – Test ~12 audio engineers, Hire Ivan
- June – Hire ICF-style coach for accountability re: IFS projects
- Through next quarter – Contact ~168 Pros to showcase
Q3 Goal: “Retire” from biz, Get good at IFS
- Aug – Publish 100th LiveIFS episode
- Aug 30 – Start seeking mentor, Percy Ballard appears on calendar
- Sept – Add “Anonymous feedback” form to episode description
- Sept – Poll Discord audience for direction, agree with top result (the one most focused on improving my practice)
- Sept – Publish “Discover IFS” podcast
Q4 Goal: Get great at IFS, create “Master’s Program”
- Pause “Showcase pros” project
- Interview teachers and doctors of clinical psychology, start designing course
- Design “IFS competencies” feedback form to solicit pro feedback
- Integrate Tony Rousmaniere’s “Deliberate Practice for Psychologists”, get his approval of course design
- Finish designing private knowledgebase & flashcards
- Diagnose chronic physical ailment interfering with Self-presence in calls
- Begin formal (solo) deliberate practice sessions, share scoreboard with coach
- Receive session review from Percy Ballard
- Hire Bill Tierney as coach/mentor