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

Upcoming Trainings and Workshop

Free Introduction to Internal Family Systems Therapy: A Full Day Workshop

Registration Link: https://okstateches.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d4ihc3FDvY0x0s6

Details Date: Monday July 28th Time: 8:30am-5:30pm Central Time

Location: Zoom (link will be set separately)

Summary: Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a paradigm shifting and empirically supported therapeutic modality rooted in family systems theory. Developed over the past forty years by Dick Schwartz, IFS proposes that our psyche is naturally subdivided and we have an internal system of subpersonalities or parts that operate in an analogous ways to families. Psychological, relational, and even some physical health problems are a product of a problematic internal organization and IFS offers a way to restructure our internal organization to promote internal and external healing. In this training, we will cover the theoretical propositions of IFS (e.g., assumptions, types of parts, Self), describe the therapeutic techniques and how to apply them, walk participants through how to reprocess and heal trauma, and discuss IFS research. If the opportunity presents itself then one of the presenters will work with someone and demonstrate how the model is applied in practice. At the end of the workshop, resources will be provided to participants who would like to learn more about IFS. Unfortunately, no CEUs will be provided.

CEUs: Continuing education credits will NOT be available for this workshop.

Tentative Schedule:
8:30am - 9:30am – Opening Meditation, General Overview of the Model, and Experiential Exercises
9:30am -9:45am – Break 1
9:45am - 10:45pm – Navigating the Internal Family and Experiential Exercises
10:45pm - 11:00am – Break 2
11:00am - 12:00pm – Polarizations and Internal Sequences
12:00pm - 1:00pm – Lunch on your own
1:00pm - 1:30pm – Addressing Protector Fears
1:30pm - 2:00pm – Trauma Reprocessing and Healing Steps with experiential exercises
2:00pm - 2:15pm – Break 3
2:15pm - 3:30pm – Therapeutic Techniques in IFS
3:30pm - 3:45pm – Break 4
3:45pm - 5:15pm – Demo and processing of demo (or lecture on working with children, couples, or families)
5:15pm - 5:30pm – Final Q&A and Closing

Presenters Michael Fitzgerald is an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University, a licensed marriage and family therapist, AAMFT approved supervisor, certified IFS therapist, IFS consultant, and assistant trainer at the IFS Institute. Michael has completed his Level 1 in 2016 and since completed level 2 trainings in trauma and neuroscience as well as addictions, and level 3 retreat with Dick Schwartz. Additionally, Michael has served as a staff member at 25 national and internal Level 1 and 2 IFS trainings and published several empirical and peer review articles on IFS.

June 19 and 20th: "Working with Extreme Firefighters"

More details to come in April 2025

Whether it involves substance use, process addictions, dissociation, anger and rage, or self-harm, therapists frequently encounter parts in extreme roles. Extreme firefighters can be challenging for therapists to work with, as these parts are often intimidating, mistrustful, resistant to change, and unpopular both internally and externally. Facilitating the healing process of parts in extreme roles, reducing internal conflict, and getting ‘unstuck’ requires therapists to befriend the extreme part while considering internal and external constraints.

This workshop will explore internal dynamics (e.g., polarizations) and patterns (e.g., the shame cycle) and discuss how external systems influence and maintain internal polarization and the shame cycle.

Following the workshop, participants will be able to describe the interaction between extreme parts and both internal contexts (e.g., polarizations) and external contexts (e.g., family dynamics). Participants will also learn techniques for working with extreme firefighters and identify therapist parts that react to clients with extreme firefighters. The workshop will include didactic lecture, meditations, parts mapping, case examples, and large and small group discussions.

Registration Link: https://multiplicityofthemind.com/extreme-firefighter-parts-june/

July 9th: "Basic and Advanced Skills as an IFS Program Assistant"

I will be offering a workshop a workshop on Wednesday July 9th from 10am-5pm (CST). This workshop is for IFS-I level 1 graduates (and above) only. The workshop is geared towards those who had not yet PA-ed but are interested, those who have PA-ed or are currently serving as a PA, and even those who are PA veterans. In the workshop we will have lecture/didactic, engage in large and small group discussion, experiential exercises, meditations, and working with your own parts.

There is no charge for registration because 1) I want to share my PA experiences with those who are interested and 2) I'm invested in high quality IFS trainings, and 3) training the next generation of PAs! You are under no obligation, but if you would care to compensate me then that is always appreciated: https://square.link/u/nJ4DboTI

Registration Link: https://okstateches.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3jEwAI6g7RfiATk

July 24th and 25th: "Integrating Internal Family Systems with External Systems: Enhancing Collaboration and Addressing Constraints"

More details to come in June 2025

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.