Demos details!

In keeping with our focus on doing personal work, every gathering has a twenty-minute IFS demonstration.

Whether it's a technique class, a topic class, or a coaching circle, I am a huge believer in the power of doing the work.

In classes, one person will have the opportunity to do a short piece of IFS work with me, with everyone else witnessing. In coaching circles, each person will have a twenty-minute IFS session in turn.

In classic IFS skills classes we'll use the particular technique (the Conference Table, Parts Mapping, etc.) in the demonstration, but my allegiance is always to the person doing the demo—not to the technique. Therefore, if for some reason we end up veering off of the technique (like we're working with a mind map but suddenly veer "off the map" and end up working with one part), that's completely fine.

The reality is that not all work is going to "fit" into the structure of a technique or the topic of that class. Even in my on-demand IFS videos, you'll see me use the technique at some points, veer away from it at others, and then come back to it.

Every demo video has sections that clearly illustrate how the technique can be used, so they teach the method—but they also show that you don't have to rigidly stay within the frame of the technique for the entire session. You can start with it or finish with it—you don't have to let it control the entire encounter. Some parts may enjoy it, while others may pop up who don't want anything to do with it, and that's okay.

Therefore, I invite you to know that there is truly no right way to do a demo—including demonstrating the "technique" or "topic" of the day!

Sure, we'll start with that structure, but we're not wedded to it. We're using the class topic as a backboard—as something to bounce our parts work off of and a way to get started. Nothing more. My wish is that this takes pressure off the parts who are doing the demo as well.

Going into a class, it's helpful to know that every class has a demo. You do NOT have to volunteer, but it is a low-pressure way to move forward with some of your inner work.

You're not required to somehow illustrate the topic or technique of the day. You simply get to show up authentically, because you and your parts are perfect just as you are.