Upcoming Events
Free Live Webinar: How to Heal from Trauma Using Internal Family Systems March 18, 2025 1 pm - sponsored by ADDitude Magazine
https://www.additudemag.com/webinar/how-to-heal-from-trauma-internal-family-systems/
Children with ADHD often face more trauma, excessive criticism, and attacks on their self-esteem than their neurotypical peers. These chronic negative experiences profoundly shape their thoughts and how they interact with the world. The reactive thought patterns and behaviors that take shape in childhood can lead to depression, anxiety, and other conditions that often impact functioning and complicate the management of ADHD throughout adulthood.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a type of talk therapy that can help people heal from trauma. It’s based on the idea that people have many different parts inside, some of which hold painful memories and beliefs related to their traumatic experiences. IFS therapy helps people understand, manage, and release the intense feelings and behaviors that such parts take on, improving coping skills and emotional regulation.
In this webinar you will learn:
About the link between ADHD and trauma
About the common forms of trauma that children with ADHD experience
How trauma reactions can explain certain behaviors in children at home and in school
How responses to trauma can impact the management of ADHD
About IFS therapy and why it’s particularly helpful to people who experience trauma
How to use IFS to understand and address the behaviors that often impede ADHD care and treatment
Thursday 3/20/25 6:30-8 pm Wilton Library - The College Process: Supporting Your Teen & Finding the Right Fit
The college process can often feel like a frenzy but there are ways to manage it that foster resilience and relationships rather than discord and despair. Please join Susan Bauerfeld, Ph.D and Deena Maerowitz, JD, MSW to learn tips, strategies and suggestions for reducing stress, staying connected to your child, and managing the process with greater ease and comfort. You will feel better, and your teen will thank you!
For more information and to register visit www.wiltonlibrary.org
Recent Past Events
Thursday, 10/24/24 - 2024 IFS Institute Conference - Virtual Get Your shift Together: Self-led parenting in a culture shaped by worried parts
Susan Bauerfeld & Chris Parrott will co-present at the 2024 IFS Institute Conference.
With compassion and understanding for the concerns of modern parents, this workshop describes the adverse impact that worrying has on the parent-child relationship. The workshop includes examples of how the protective parts of parents are naturally activated by concerns and how beneficial it is to help those parts shift away from worrying. Examples will cover a wide range of parental concerns, including those related to children who are neuro and gender diverse. The goal is for participants to grasp the significant benefits of Getting Your Shift Together— both on child-rearing and on advocating for the systemic changes that will benefit the long-term welfare of all children.
Thursday, 11/7/24 Preconference virtual workshop at the 38th annual CT Psychological Convention Get Your Shift Together: How to help kids more by worrying less
Worrying is the driving force behind many modern parenting trends. But worrying doesn’t help children. This workshop describes the adverse impact that worrying has on the parent-child relationship and on the development of children’s coping skills. Strategies are presented that help parents worry less and help kids more. Presented by, Susan Bauerfeld, Ph.D., Chris Parrott, B.P.S. For more information about the convention visit CPA's 38th Annual Convention: November 7th & 8th 2024 - Connecticut Psychological Association (connpsych.org)
Friday, 11/15/24 - 2024 Annual International Conference on ADHD - Anaheim, CA Internal Family Systems (IFS), Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and ADHD
Susan Bauerfeld, PhD
This workshop offers an overview of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model and how it can help those with ADHD – particularly those who have experienced Adverse Child Experiences (ACEs) – as well as those living with or trying to help them. IFS is a psychotherapy paradigm developed by Richard Schwartz, PhD which posits that our inner systems are comprised of many parts that take on different roles to protect and help us function. According to IFS, when children experience ACEs, their parts react by taking on protective roles and burdens. While these roles and burdens may be effective during and immediately after the ACEs, they can often create roadblocks to later progress. A review of research on ACEs and ADHD and the impact of ACEs on long-term health and well-being is followed by descriptions of common ACEs experienced by those with ADHD. IFS informed theories are offered about how protective mechanisms that arise due to ACES can create roadblocks to later progress. The methods used in IFS to address the impact of ACEs will be explained. Commonly experienced benefits of IFS include: improved emotion regulation, less depressive symptoms, more self-compassion, better self-esteem, and more connectedness to self and others.
For more information about the conference visit 2024 Annual International Conference on ADHD - CHADD