Step 2
IFS-informed EMDR
Refine your EMDR work with the Syzygy Model of IFS-Informed EMDR.
Join us for two immersive days of live training, experiential learning, and clinical application designed for EMDR therapists who already have a foundation in IFS and are ready to work more skillfully with protector systems and complex trauma.
Step 2 is intended for participants who have completed Syzygy Step 1 or IFS Level 1 training through the IFS Institute, and who want a structured, relational, and neurobiologically coherent approach to integrating IFS and EMDR when standard EMDR stalls, loops, or leads to protector backlash.
Why Take This Course
Move beyond foundational IFS concepts and learn how to apply the Syzygy Model of IFS-Informed EMDR with greater precision, confidence, and clinical flexibility. During this live, 2-day workshop, you will:
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Work Effectively with Protector Systems
Learn how the Syzygy Model differs from other integrations by treating protectors as primary EMDR targets—rather than obstacles—so EMDR can proceed safely and relationally. You’ll deepen your ability to recognize blended protectors, assess their positive intention, and work with them in a way that builds trust and reduces backlash.
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Understand What Actually Moves the Work Forward
Gain clarity on why EMDR stalls with complex trauma and how Self-energy, functional dual attention, and memory reconsolidation principles creates the conditions for lasting change—without abandoning EMDR’s structure or eight phases.
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Apply the Model in Real Time with Clinical Support
Practice Step 2 applications through live demonstrations, guided experiential work, and supported practice with our Program Guides. You’ll experience how Syzygy works from the inside while learning how to apply it with clients who have previously felt “too complex” for standard EMDR approaches.
We offer Step 2: IFS-informed EMDR in two learning formats so you can choose what works best for you!
Live, Virtual Workshops
Participate from anywhere to attend this 2 day experiential workshop via Zoom. Includes lecure, live demonstrations, and small group practice sessions with personalized guidance (3:1 or 4:1 participant-to-Guide ratio). A stable internet connection and quiet, private space is recommended for the virtual workshop.
In-Person Workshops
(Limited Locations)
Prefer to learn face-to-face? Join us for one of our limited selection of on-site workshops for a more intimate learning experience!
Upcoming Virtual Dates
July 20 & 21, 2026 (Mon/Tues)
9:00am-4:30pm EST
with Michelle Richardson and Rebecca O'Callaghan
August 13 & 14, 2026 (Thurs/Fri)
8:30am-4:00pm PST
with Beau Laviolette
September 17 & 18, 2026 (Thurs/Fri)
9:00am-4:30pm EST
with Elizabeth Venart and Nancy Simons
December 10 & 11, 2026 (Thurs/Fri)
9:00am-4:30pm EST
with Crystal Whitlow and Rebecca O'Callaghan
Upcoming In-Person Dates
New Jersey (Philadelphia area)
June 6 & 7, 2026 (Sat/Sun)
9:00am-5pm EST
with Michelle Richardson
*This workshop is capped under 20 participants for a very intimate learning experience!
Location: Mindful Soul Center for Wellbeing
207 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035
*15 minutes outside of Center City, Philadelphia
For Hotel Suggestions, email hello@syzygyinstitute.com
Course Details
Who Should Attend
EMDR therapists who have completed Syzygy Step 1 or IFS Institute Level 1 and are preparing to deepen their integration of IFS and EMDR
Trauma-focused clinicians who regularly encounter protector systems, internal resistance, dissociation, or looping during EMDR
Therapists seeking a structured, relational model for working safely and effectively with complex trauma—without pushing past protective parts or abandoning EMDR protocol
Continuing Education Information
13 Continuing Education Credits approved by EMDRIA, ASWB, NBCC, and APA. For state specific information, please visit the CE Info Page.
- You must attend the entire training live to be eligible for credit. (in-person and virtual)
- No partial credit awarded.
How To Prepare
To get the most from Step 2, we recommend:
Foundational IFS training (Syzygy Step 1 or IFS Institute Level 1), with comfort using basic parts language and the concept of Self
Willingness to engage experientially, including self-reflection, live demonstrations, and guided practice focused on parts dynamics and relational depth
Curiosity, patience, and compassion for your own system and others as we work with real clinical complexity in a supportive learning environment
What You Will Learn
Learning Objectives
1.Identify one advantageous aspect of the IFS concept of Self that is not explicitly included in EMDR’s Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) system.
2. Explain the relationship between Functional Dual Attention and Self-Presence.
3. Describe the concept of energy as it applies to Protective Parts and how this can be measured and processed within EMDR.
4. Describe the concept of energy as it applies to qualities of Self and how these can be measured and installed as a resource within EMDR.
5.Identify at least one way that IFS language can be used in obtaining a NC, PC or VOC.
6.Compile an IFS-Informed Assessment Phase target.
7. Discuss shifting targets from exile to protector, using IFS-informed scales in Desensitization Phase.
8.Recite at least 3 IFS Interweaves in Desensitization Phase.
9.Identify a third type of processing (beside resources and desensitization) with bilateral stimulation named after a stage of Coherence Therapy.
10. Discuss obtaining precise negative cognitions in the Assessment Phase using Coherence Therapy concepts.
11. Describe your relationship with your parts-as-therapist based on the IFS model.
12.Explain what is meant by ‘the biggest part in the room.’
13.Explain the difference between a conventional EMDR Assessment Phase and the modified Assessment Phase used in Discovery.
Course Description
Syzygy Institute’s Step Two: IFS-Informed EMDR 2-day is a two-full-day didactic & experiential workshop offering a specific view of ego-states as parts, in the context of EMDR therapy through an IFS lens, regarding their ubiquitous appearance, defenses, & relational phenomena. A conceptual bridge is formed between the two models, yielding additional language to enrich therapist-client communication about the client’s internal process. In this workshop, psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage & family therapists will learn the integration of IFS within the EMDR Standard Protocol, focusing on EMDR’s critical phases 1 through 4.
Fidelity to both methods is maintained as course material is developed from standard EMDR (Shapiro, 2018) & IFS (Schwartz & Sweezy, 2020; Anderson et al., 2017) background texts, and each workshop is led by an instructor who has completed IFS training by the IFS Institute, and who is also an EMDRIA Approved Consultant. PowerPoint slide lectures, Q & A discussion, case examples, live demonstrations, and numerous guided practice sessions in therapist and client roles offer participants the opportunity to observe numerous examples of the process throughout the workshop.
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) is a powerful and well-established methodology for treating PTSD, but numerous concerns have been raised about its safety and efficacy when used in a context of complexity, such as significant attachment wounds, and multiple or complex trauma. Interweaving various formulations of ego state therapies (EST) has been described and utilized to support and enhance safe utilization of EMDR procedures (Paulsen, 2018; Shapiro, 2018; van der Hart et al.,2014; Forgash & Copeley, 2008).
Internal Family Systems therapy (IFS) is an evidence based (Hodgdon et al., 2022) ego state therapy which offers unique qualities that match key components of the EMDR’s foundational Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model. IFS methods have been utilized in the context of EMDR therapy to enhance therapist-client communication about their internal experience and troubleshoot processing difficulties (O’Shea Brown, 2020; Gomez & Krause, 2013; Twombly & Schwartz, 2008).
Both IFS and EMDR have been described as experiential psychotherapies which can facilitate a form of neuroplasticity called memory reconsolidation, which uniquely unlocks and rewrites implicit memories that underlie many of the symptoms treated with these methodologies (Ecker et al., 2012). Concepts and language from Coherence Therapy support and clarify key IFS concepts around exploring positive (adaptive) intentions behind symptoms with curiosity, compassion & persistence (i.e., Self-presence), and healing sequence (Anderson, 2021) while also mirroring the requisite dual attention condition for EMDR processing. These additional conceptual tools enable the IFS-informed EMDR therapist to more consistently generate juxtapositions (a critical condition required for memory reconsolidation), beginning in the Assessment Phase of EMDR and continuing through the subsequent phases of the EMDR Standard Protocol (Ecker & Bridges, 2020; Ecker et al, 2012).
In conventional EMDR, the SUD scale measures distress, which is usually understood in terms of affect. Affect is one type of energy known to bind states of mind or neural networks in their state-dependent dysfunctional form (Seigel, 2022; Shapiro, 2019). This works well when we are directly processing trauma parts. But measuring urge-energy has been shown to be more relevant and useful when dealing with defenses or protective parts which block the path to processing trauma parts (Knipe, 2019; Popky, 2005). IFS-Informed EMDR introduces a comprehensive scale to assess the activation of these defenses & target protective parts for processing, called the Level of Urge to Protect (LUP) scale, which subsumes the Popky and Knipe scales and is applicable to any possible variety of defensive strategy.
Additional precision in targeting underlying implicit memories, through application of memory reconsolidation research via Coherence Therapy, can increase the accuracy of identifying and elaborating appropriate positive and negative cognitions in the Assessment Phase. A protector’s Negative Cognition can reveal an underlying Protector Positive Intention (PPI) (Ecker, 2012; Schwartz & Sweezy, 2020), which is more useful in targeting these parts for EMDR processing (Knipe, 2019).
IFS-Informed EMDR infuses the Assessment Phase with IFS perspective, starting with the widely understood notion of target networks as conscious relational entities: ego states or parts. IFS-Informed EMDR goes a step further by consolidating the previously separate notions of the adaptive network and adult ego state into a single coherent relational consciousness: the Self (from IFS). The Self relates to the target from its own adaptive, compassionate perspective and embodies the inherent healing capacity of a person known in both EMDR & IFS. Learn to use the Presence of Self (POS) scale, as an additional tool to measure the engagement and integration of the adaptive information network and assure functional dual attention (similar to the VOC scale), beginning in phase two (Kolodny & Mazero, 2023).
Accessing the adaptive network is one of the lesser-known purposes of obtaining a Positive Cognition in the EMDR Assessment Phase (Shapiro, 2018) which in this course is more fully articulated by intentionally soliciting it from the corresponding conscious relational Self. This differentiates possession of such adaptive knowledge (by the Self) from the consciousness (part) burdened with a Negative Cognition and which would conversely be the appropriate source for the VOC. This avoids potential confusion in obtaining these two pieces of information. The rest of the phase three information (image, emotion, body sensation, and SUD) are all best understood as part-specific for clarity and effectiveness in targeting (Kolodny & Mazero, 2023; Gomez & Krause, 2013). Composing such an IFS-informed Assessment Phase creates an initial juxtaposition and brings EMDR into alignment with the memory reconsolidation formula of Coherence Therapy (Ecker & Bridges, 2020; Ecker et al, 2012).
Sample Agenda
IFS-Informed EMDR 2-day
Sample Agenda
Timeline/Schedule
Zoom or In- Person (times are listed in US Eastern, unless otherwise specified in course listing)
DAY 1: STRUCTURE
9:00 – 9:30 AM | Welcome, Introduction
9:30 – 10:30 AM
Orientation to the Syzygy Community
Workshop Learning Objectives
Introduction to the Syzygy Model
Phase 1 & 2
10:30 – 10:45 AM | Break
10:45 – 11:30 AM | Presence of Self Demo
11:30 – 12:30 PM | Presence of Self Practice (Exercise 1)
Practice in triads: Therapist, Client, Observer
Reference: Exercise 1 in the Workshop Manual
12:30 – 1:00 PM | Lunch Break
1:00 – 1:15 PM | Meditation
1:15 – 1:45 PM | Phase 3 and Protector Energy
Reframing Resistance & Stuck Points in EMDR
Parts & Energy
IFS Upgrade: Protector Positive Intention (PPI), Level of Urge to
Protect (LUP)
1:45 – 2:30 PM | Protector Energy Demo - PPI, LUP
2:30 – 2:45 PM | Break
2:45 – 4:15 PM | Protector Energy Practice (Exercise 2)
Practice in triads: Therapist, Client, Observer
Reference: Exercise 2 in the Workshop Manual
4:15 – 4:30 PM | Wrap-Up & Q&A
Reflections and discussion
DAY 2: FLOW
9:00 – 9:15 AM | Meditation
9:15 – 9:45 AM | Open Space - Shares & Questions
9:45 – 10:15 AM
Functional Dual Attention
Phase 3: Positive Cognition (PC)
Phase 3: Validity of Cognition (VOC)
10:15 – 10:30 AM | Break
10:30 – 11:30 AM | IFS-Informed Assessment Demo
11:30 – 12:30 PM | Practice (round 1) Exercise 3
Practice in triads: Therapist, Client, Observer
Reference: Exercise 3 in the Workshop Manual
12:30 – 1:00 PM | Lunch Break
1:00 – 1:30 PM
Shifting to Desensitization
Discovery
EMDR Phases 5-8 & IFS Healing Steps
1:30 – 2:30 PM | IFS-informed EMDR Demo Session
2:30 – 2:45 PM | Break
2:45 – 4:15 PM | Practice (round 2) Exercise 3
Practice in triads: Therapist, Client, Observer
Reference: Exercise 3 in the Workshop Manual
4:15 – 4:30 PM | Wrap-Up & Q&A
Reflections and discussion
Bibliography
Anderson, F. G (2021) Transcending Trauma: Healing Complex PTSD with Internal Family Systems Informed Therapy. Eau Claire, WI: PESI Publishing.(LO2,5,9,10)
Anderson, F.G., Sweezy, M., & Schwartz, R.C. (2017). Internal family systems skills training manual: Trauma-informed treatment for anxiety,
depression, PTSD & substance abuse. Eau Claire, Wisconsin: PESI Publishing. (LO1,2,8,11)
Ecker, B., Ticic, R., & Hulley, L. (2012). Unlocking the Emotional Brain: Eliminating symptoms at their roots using memory reconsolidation. New York: Routledge. (LO7,9,10,13)
Ecker, B., Bridges, S.K. (2020) How the Science of Memory Reconsolidation Advances the Effectiveness and Unification of Psychotherapy. Clin Soc Work J
48, 287–300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-020- 00754-z (LO9,10)
Hodgdon, H. B.; Anderson, F. G.; Southwell, E.; Hrubec, W.; Schwartz, R. C. (2022) Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among Survivors of Multiple Childhood Trauma: A Pilot Effectiveness Study. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma. Jan2022, Vol. 31 Issue 1, p22-43. 22p. 1 Diagram, 1 Chart, 1 Graph. DOI: 10.1080/10926771.2021.2013375. (LO1,2)
Gomez, A. M. & Krause, P. K. (2013). EMDR Therapy and the Use of Internal Family Systems Strategies with Children, In A. M. Gomez, (Ed.),
EMDR Therapy and Adjunct Approaches with Children (pp. 299–345). New York, NY: Springer publishing. (LO1,2,5,6,12)
Knipe, J (2019) EMDR Toolbox: Theory and Treatment Methods for Complex PTSD and Dissociation. (Second Edition). Springer, New York. (LO3,7,9,13)
Knipe, J. (2009). Shame is my safe place: Adaptive information processing methods of resolving chronic shame-based depression. In R. Shapiro (Ed.), EMDR solutions (Vol. II). New York, NY: W. W. Norton.
Paulsen, S., & O'Shea, K. (2017) When There Are No Words: Repairing Early Trauma and Neglect From the Attachment Period With EMDR Therapy. Bainbridge Island WA: Bainbridge Intstitute.
Schwartz, R.C. & Sweezy, M. (2020). Internal Family Systems Therapy (2nd ed.). New York NY: Guilford Press.
Course Pre-Requisites
Step 1: This is an introductory course to IFS Therapy. Suggested preparation includes any form of self-learning in the model such as relevant reading, podcasts, being a client of IFS Therapy, etc.
Non-EMDR therapists are also welcome to take this course.
Step 2: EMDR Basic Training and Syzygy Institute Step 1.
Step 1 is waived if you have taken IFSI Level One.
Step 3: Syzygy Institute Step 2: IFS-Informed EMDR
See more in the FAQ about IFS background and training requirements.
Other Syzygy Courses:
Digital Courses will be most helpful if you are EMDR Basic Trained and have some IFS knowledge.
The Overture of the Syzygy Model course is geared towards EMDR or IFS therapists interested in the integration. No Syzygy training pre-requisite.
This workshop was amazing. I have been using it so much in my practice. I also really, really loved Crystal Whitlow! She was so easy to learn from, was open to questions, had no ego and was a master at her craft. Thank you so much Syzygy! My confidence and excitement as a therapist has really got a new spark.
- Virtual Workshop Participant
See what our participants are saying about this course!
This training was a game changer for me! I took step 1 to complete my CE requirements for my EMDR certification. I fell in love with IFS and have never looked back! IFS is such a powerful model, and IFS-Informed EMDR (steps 2 and 3) are pure magic!
- Virtual Workshop Participant
This is now my second training with the Syzygy institute and they have been my favorite trainings. Michelle did a great job keeping me engaged and explaining concepts thoroughly. The structure of demos and practice sessions were phenomenal as well. The space is warm and inviting and it was so nice that there were snacks and coffee! The thoughtful attention to detail really shows and positively impacted my learning and overall experience. Itching to come back ~in person~ ~with Michelle~ for Step 3!!
- In-Person Workshop Participant,
New Jersey Step 2 Workshop hosted at Mindful Soul Center for Wellbeing
Stay in the loop!
Don’t Miss Out on Future Workshop Dates and Early Registration Opportunities!
Frequently Asked Questions
about our Experiential Workshops
What can I expect at an IFS-Informed EMDR Training Program Workshop?
Our experiential workshops all follow a similar schedule which includes: lecture, live demonstrations with audience volunteers, and experiential practice groups.
Workshops are capped at 30 participants and often have up to 10 program guides in addition to the trainer(s). This allows for a more connected training experience over Zoom.
Some in-person workshops are capped lower depending on available space and staffing.
Practice sessions occur 3-4 times over the course of the workshop. Although usually these are triads or foursomes. Program Guides lead the practice session.
Q&A opportunities happen throughout the workshop.
What is an experiential practice session?
Practice sessions are opportunities to apply what you're learning in professionally guided practice sessions. Each participant rotates through the roles of therapist, client, and observer.
To foster connection and community, groups will rotate throughout the workshop. This allows you to engage with a variety of participants, experience different "clients," and navigate new situations in a supportive environment.
This workshop is a professional development experience, and while personal insight may arise, practice sessions are not intended to be therapy.
The primary focus is on the learning process for the person in the therapist role. If you are in the client role, we encourage patience as your therapist learns, pauses, reflects, resets, or consults with the program guide.
We trust you to take care of yourself during these sessions and our program guides are an additional layer of support due to the vulnerability of experiential learning experiences, regardless of the role you are in.
I am not IFSI Level 1 trained but have taken other IFS trainings before. Do I have to take Step 1?
In order to be waived from Syzygy Institute Step 1, your prior IFS training experience must have included experiential practice sessions. If you have participated in a training of this nature, you can email the training info and request Step 1 to be waived at: CEdirector@syzygyinstitute.com.
We will not waive Step 1 for webinars, digital courses, or live lecture courses such as the IFS Institute Online Circle, PESI, and other such courses.
This requirement is in place so that our participants have both a beneficial and safe learning experience with the IFS-Informed EMDR integration in Step 2 and 3 courses. IFS scaffolding is necessary for integrating these modalities safely and effectively.
Do I need to be an EMDR Therapist to participate in Syzygy Institute workshops?
Non-EMDR therapists are welcome to participate in our Step 1 Intro to IFS for EMDR Therapists and will benefit from this experiential introduction to the basics of IFS therapy!
What is the Cancellation Policy?
IFS-Informed EMDR Training Program Workshops (Step 1, 2, 3)
Cancellations and transfers are allowed up to 30 days before the event start date, subject to a $75 administrative fee.
No refunds will be provided for cancellations made within 30 days of the event.
If you request a transfer within 30 days of the event, it may be possible only if your spot can be filled from a waitlist (if one is available) and there is an open spot in a scheduled workshop for you to transfer into. A $150 administrative fee will apply to this transfer due to the additional time and resources required.
Overture of the Syzygy Model Training
Refunds are permitted until 30 days before the event date. Requests for refunds or transfers within 30 days of the event will not be approved.
Digital Courses
No cancellations or refunds. Access is for 6 months.
Requests meeting the criteria listed above must be submitted to hello@syzygyinstitute.com. Please include your name, contact info, registration information (workshop, date), and the nature of your request (transfer/cancel).
Will I receive Continuing Education credit for this workshop?
YES. Syzygy Institute is an approved provide by several entities including EMDRIA, IFS Institute, NBCC, ASWB, and APA. Please see our continuing education page for course specific approvals. Please note: You must be in attendance for the entire duration of the workshop.
I have to miss part of the workshop. Will I still get continuing education credit?
You must attend live workshops in their entirety in order to receive continuing education credit. No partial credit will be given.
Note: Please review our Cancellation Policy before making changes to your workshop plans.
If I am a therapist that has advanced training, can I skip ahead to Step 3: Discovery & Beyond?
No. Step 3 builds upon the Syzygy Model of IFS-Informed EMDR. Therefore, you must complete Step 2.
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