Michael Fitzgerald, Marriage and Family Therapist

Marriage and Family Therapist

Certified IFS Therapist

IFS-I Approved Consultant

IFS-I Assistant Trainer Mentee

Michael Fitzgerald, Marriage and Family Therapist

Marriage and Family Therapist

Certified IFS Therapist

IFS-I Approved Consultant

IFS-I Assistant Trainer Mentee

Who I Am

Marriage and Family Therapy

I am a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT). I attended Oklahoma State University for my bachelors and majored in psychology, graduating in 2013. I moved to upstate New York and attended Syracuse University, graduating in 2015. Following graduation, I attended Florida State University for my PhD. I spent three years 2019-2022 as an assistant professor at Southern Mississippi. Since 2022, I have been an Assistant Professor at Oklahoma State University in Human Development and Family Science

Internal Family Systems

My theoretical orientation is centered around Internal Family Systems (IFS). IFS is an evidenced based model of psychotherapy developed by Dr Richard Schwartz over the past 30 years. IFS suggests that we have an internal system of "parts" each with their own personality, beliefs, emotions, and sensations. Accompanying the parts of us, we also believes that we have a Self. Our Self is compassionate, curious, and calm and carries patience, persistence, and perspective. Often times parts can be in control of our lives with little access to our Self and the goal of IFS is to restore the Self as the internal leader while releasing and unburdening our pain

Clinical Training and Experience

Education

B.S. Psychology, Oklahoma State University , 2013

M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University, 2015

PhD, Marriage and Family Therapy, Florida State University, 2020

Internal Family Systems Training

Internal Family Systems Institute Sponsored:

Internal Family Systems Level 1: 2016-2017

Internal Family Systems Level 2: Trauma IFS and Neuroscience, 2017

Internal Family Systems Level 2: IFS, Additions and Eating Disorders, 2018

Internal Family Systems Level 3: 5 Day Retreat with Dick Schwartz, 2018

Other Training:

Internal Family Systems: Healing Trauma Workshop with Richard Schwartz (2014)

Internal Family Systems: Working with Guides with Richard Schwartz (2020)

Internal Family Systems: Working with Unattached Burdens with Robert Falconer (2020)

Internal Family Systems: Working with Grief with Derek Scott (2020)

Internal Family Systems Working with Couples with Richard Schwartz (2020)

Internal Family Systems Working with Chronic Pain with Richard Schwartz (2021)

Internal Family Systems Experience as a Staff Member (Program Assistant)

2018 Internal Family Systems Level 1 Training Basic Skills (465), Retreat Style: 2, five day training sessions in Brooklyn, NY.

Lead Trainer(s): Mary Kruger, LMFT; Paul Neustadt LICSW

Assistant Trainer, Marushka Glissen, LISCW (2018). 84 Training Hours

2018 Internal Family Systems Level 1 Training Basic Skills (480), Retreat Style: 1, six-day training session in Sydney, Australia,

Lead Trainer: Mary Kruger, LMFT; 40 Training Hours

2019 Internal Family Systems Level 1 Training Basic Skills (484), Retreat Style: 2 five day training sessions in Austin, TX and Danville, CA.

Lead Trainer(s): Kay Gardner, LCSW

Assistant Trainer: Mona Barbera, PhD. 84 Training Hours

2019 Internal Family Systems Level 2: IFS Trauma, and Neuroscience (512). 32 Training Hours. San Francisco, CA. 32 Training Hours

Lead Trainer(s): Frank Anderson, MD

Assistant Trainer: Fran Booth, LICSW.

2019 Internal Family Systems Level 2; Deepening and Expanding (503), New York, New York. 32 Training Hours

Lead Trainer(s): Pam Krause, LCSW

Assistant Trainer: Jim Andralis, LCAT.

2020 Internal Family Systems Level 2 Training (534): IFS, with Addictions and Eating Disorders, Nashville, Tennessee. 32 Training Hours.