Taking the leap with direct access

Purely IFS with Emma and Gayle

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TRIGGER WARNING: We discuss how to talk to suicidal parts from around the 24-minute mark, but we don't go into any detail about a particular experience of suicide.
On today's show, we discuss the vital skill of direct access, and in particular, what we call broadcast direct access. It's an aspect of direct access that doesn't get much talked about but is so valuable to learn.
Essentially it's when a therapist speaks directly to the client's system as a whole or to a group of protectors, as opposed to talking to one protector at a time. Gayle shares two client cases to give some of the language around using broadcast direct access; and Emma then offers valuable examples of how to negotiate with a protector urging suicide using explicit direct access.
* Client permission has been obtained for the case material shared.

Emma E Redfern MBACP (Snr Accred) initially trained in humanistic integrative psychotherapy. Emma is a certified IFS psychotherapist as well as approved IFS clinical consultant. She edited Internal Family Systems Therapy: supervision and consultation (2022, Routledge) and authored Transitioning to Internal Family Systems Therapy: A companion for therapists and practitioners (2023, Routledge). Her most recent publication, co-edited with Helen Foot, is Freeing Self: IFS Beyond the Therapy Room (2023) .
See www.emmaredfern.co.uk for details of workshops and articles as well as books. You can also follow Emma on Linked In.
Gayle Williamson (MIACP) initially trained in humanistic integrative psychotherapy. She took one of the alternative routes to IFS training now available, through IFSCA and the Adler College, Canada.
She works fulltime as a pure-IFS psychotherapist and also writes widely on mental health. Her most recent article 'The Myth of Mental Illness' is published in the latest IAHIP professional journal. Gayle runs small-group, online trainings and skills workshops for IFS beginners as well as group supervision. She also edited Emma's book, Transitioning to Internal Family Systems Therapy: A companion for therapists and practitioners.
See www.ferneytherapy.ie for further info, resources and Gayle's articles.