IFS and Spirituality Workshop

IFS and Spirituality Workshop

Working with non-physical/ “spirit” beings:

a spiritual care exploration of Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach

Friday, February 27th 2026, 8am – 3:30pm Pacific Time

**Certificate of Completion Provided (7 hours) by the Internal Family Systems Counselling Association (IFSCA) - Introduction to IFS & Spiritual Concepts

space is limited to 50 participants - register today to secure your spot!

click here to view poster 

Background

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a “non-pathologizing” psychological model founded by Richard Schwartz, PhD, and developed collaboratively over the past 40 years.  Drawing from family systems theory, IFS understands our internal system as made up of a family of “parts”, each with a particular role.  All parts arise from the same Self-source – innately wise and compassionate (likened to “soul” or “true nature”) and capable of leading healing and harmonizing within the system.  IFS has become quite popular as a counselling/psychotherapy and psychedelic-assisted therapy modality, and has a growing research base. 

In recent years Richard Schwartz has been speaking more openly about the “spirituality” of IFS: aspects of the model that have arisen out of clinical observation and experimentation but which go beyond the “evidence-base” of modern Western medical and mental health models.  These aspects include evolving theory and protocols for working with various non-physical or “spirit” beings, named and described in many different ways in different languages (e.g. angels, ghosts, spirits of nature, to name a few in English). According to IFS, non-physical beings can be of conscious or unconscious, helpful or harmful influence, acting from either “outside” or “inside” the human psyche, which is seen as naturally porous.  IFS’s approach to working with non-physical beings has learned and “borrowed” from cultural and religious practices.

Purpose

Encounters and relationships with non-physical/ “spirit” beings can hold deep meaning & significance for many of the people served by CASC/ACSS members - as they may for us as practitioners. In modern Western contexts, such experiences are often viewed or dismissed as purely subjective.  They may be made taboo or be pathologized.

This workshop will explore how the IFS model is bridging clinical and spiritual perspectives - offering language and processes for engaging these experiences with respect, discernment and skillfulness.  We’ll considered the relatedness of this model to spiritual care and psychospiritual therapy with diverse peoples, as well as hold space for participants to share their own knowledge, experiences and questions.

Intentions

Through presentation, stories, large and small group sharing and discussion, this one-day virtual workshop intends to:

1. Introduce the foundations of the IFS model including the concepts of Self, parts and burdens, as well as the therapeutic process.
2. Introduce current IFS theory and protocols for engaging with non-physical beings including the concepts of guides, passengers and unattached burdens; how these relate to Self, parts and the therapeutic process; and protocols for engagement.
3. Explore this theory and protocol in the context of Western modernity and in relation to “shamanic” approaches: how does this model orient to modern Western principles such as individualism, materialism, human-centricity - and to principles identified as common to practices called “shamanic” in the West, such as interdependence, kinship and multidimensionality? 
4. Explore relevance for our own spiritual care or psychospiritual therapy practices: what are places of intersection and of difference between this model, CASC/ACSS’s model and our own, considering scope, ethics, competencies, cultural safety and humility etc.  
5. Co-create a respectful, inclusive space to share our own knowledge, experiences and questions - increasing our awareness and capacity in this area of practice

Registration

Date and time:  February 27th, 2026, 8am – 3:30pm PT (online). Please register by February 15, 2026.

• Pacific Time (PT): 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM 
• Mountain Time (MT): 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM 
• Central Time (CT): 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM 
• Eastern Time (ET): 11:00 AM to 6:30 PM 
• Atlantic Time (AT): 12:00 PM (Noon) to 7:30 PM 
• Newfoundland Time (NT): 12:30 PM to 8:00 PM 

Fees:

• CASC/ACSS Member: $295
• Non-Member: $395
  
  

About the Facilitators Marnie and Robyn

Robyn Dickson, RP, MA

Robyn Dickson comes from Celtic settler-colonial ancestry, currently living on the traditional, unceded territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations (Esquimalt, BC). Robyn is a Registered Psychotherapist and Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner with a Master’s in Spirituality and Counselling. Her work integrates psychological and spiritual approaches to support inner healing and self-leadership. Robyn offers therapy, consultation, and teaching in IFS, with a grounded, compassionate, and community-oriented approach.

Marnie Roper, Spiritual Care Provider

Marnie is a descendent of European settler colonialists of Celtic, Germanic and Nordic ancestral lineages, currently living in traditional, unceded territory of the Quwu’tsun and Málexeł First Nations (Cobble Hill, BC).  A CASC/ACSS member since 2002, Marnie has worked in spiritual care and counselling with healthcare and community-based organizations, and in independent practice where she integrates body work/energy healing modalities. She is also involved with advocacy and research related to sacred/entheogenic and psychedelic-assisted therapies.