The Power of Presence: Lessons from Training with Dick Schwartz

Fall of 2024, I traveled to St. Charles, Illinois, to attend the 2024 IFS Conference, "An IFS Perspective: Examining Trauma Through a Diverse Lens." It was a week of deep learning, reconnection to purpose, and a beautiful reminder that transformation is not only possible—it’s already happening.

And yes… I met Dick Schwartz (!). Getting to train directly with the founder of Internal Family Systems was surreal, and affirming in the most unexpected ways. For example, he had his puppy with him on stage the whole time. That’s the kind of conference leader I want to be one day :)

A Different Kind of Training Ground

Throughout the weekend, I met many seasoned therapists—talented, thoughtful, and deeply devoted to their clients. But over and over, I heard a striking theme emerge: many of them were in the process of unlearning frameworks they’d trained in during traditional psychotherapy schooling. Specifically, they were noticing how hard it was to stay fully in Self with their clients when their own systems were still navigating old scripts about fixing, diagnosing, or analyzing.

This was a lightbulb moment for me. Coming from a corporate career in strategy and relationship management, I’ve spent nearly two decades honing my ability to be fully present, track complex dynamics, and listen deeply. Now, as a spiritual life coach and IFS coach, I realize that not having a background in psychotherapy is part of what makes this work so effective. I get to engage with Internal Family Systems coaching from a place of curiosity and compassion, unencumbered by outdated models.

IFS coaching for emotional healing is about witnessing, not fixing. It’s about presence, not performance. And it starts with Self.

Workshop Highlights + Learnings

Here are a few of the sessions that stood out, and the takeaways I’m bringing into my IFS-informed coaching work:

1. Direct Access: An Essential IFS Skill

Led by Frances Booth, LICSW, Certified IFS Therapist, Trainer and Consultant.

This session deepened my skill in one of IFS’s most powerful techniques: Direct Access. Rather than interpreting or narrating the inner experience, this approach invites us to speak directly to a part with compassion and curiosity. Done well, it cultivates safety and trust in systems that have experienced trauma.

What I’m integrating: The importance of honoring protective parts without pushing past them. Especially with clients preparing for a psychedelic journey, this kind of attuned presence builds the foundation for healing.

2. Disordered Eating as a Response to Trauma

Led by Jeanne Catanzaro, PhD, IFS Approved Clinical Consultant, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Disordered eating is often misunderstood as a behavior problem, but IFS reveals it as a response to emotional pain. Parts that obsess over food or body image are often working hard to keep deeper, more vulnerable parts from feeling overwhelming emotions.

What I’m integrating: A trauma-informed, culturally aware approach to clients navigating food or body challenges. Legacy burdens matter here—and Internal Family Systems coaching offers a path to unburdening with compassion.

3. Being With: Intricacies in Unburdening a Traumatized System

Led by Jory Agate, LMHC, therapist, trainer, and consultant with a private practice in Cambridge, MA.

Unburdening is the essence of IFS healing. This session broke down the seven steps and explored the complexities of exile parts who may resist healing out of loyalty, grief, or fear.

What I’m integrating: In transformational coaching, unburdening might look different than in therapy—but the heart is the same. We meet parts with love, validate their truth, and let healing unfold on their timeline.

Looking Ahead

This IFS conference didn’t just expand my toolkit—it reminded me why I do this work. As a spiritual life coach and IFS-trained guide, I help people reclaim their clarity, confidence, and connection. Whether you’re navigating life transitions, preparing for a psychedelic journey, or seeking IFS coaching for emotional healing, IFS offers a grounded and intuitive path back to your Self.

We are all multiple. That’s not something to fix—it’s something to honor.

Ready to explore the parts of you that need compassion, clarity, and care? Let’s work together.