Most of us were taught to push away anger, anxiety, perfectionism, or self-doubt. We try to manage them, override them, or power through them.

But what if those parts aren’t problems to eliminate — but protectors trying to help?

In this class, Susan Stiffelman and Lisa Spiegel will introduce you to Internal Family Systems, a powerful approach that helps you build a compassionate relationship with the parts of you that get reactive, critical, anxious, or overwhelmed.

When parts feel heard instead of judged, something softens. And when things soften, relief follows.

This work begins with parents. Children learn parts language most naturally when they see it modeled.

During the class, you’ll be guided through experiential exercises to identify and dialogue with one of your own parts — so you can feel how this process works from the inside out.

From there, you’ll learn how to introduce this language to your child in simple, developmentally appropriate ways — through conversation, creativity, and play.

Internal Family Systems offers a way to understand yourself and your child with greater kindness, clarity, and confidence, so difficult moments become opportunities for connection rather than conflict.