Suicide Prevention Using Internal Family Systems (IFS): Love on those Suicidal Parts - June 8, 2026

A 6-Hour Training with Heidi Lindeman M.Div., M.A., LPC, IFS Certified Therapist

Virtual via Zoom | 10:30am-5:30pm

Presentation: This six-hour clinical training introduces an Internal Family Systems (IFS) informed framework for understanding and responding to suicidal ideation in psychotherapy. Participants will learn how to conceptualize suicidal ideation through an IFS lens, engage suicidal parts with curiosity and respect, and collaborate with protective parts to support safety. The training is designed to support clinicians in increasing clarity, confidence, and ethical presence when working with clients who experience suicidal ideation. The training will address suicide assessment and safety plans from an IFS perspective. In addition to clinical concepts and skills, the training invites participants to attend to their own internal responses to suicide-related material. Through experiential reflection and guided exercises, clinicians will have the opportunity to notice and work with their own protective parts, fears, and beliefs related to suicide, supporting greater Self-led presence in high-risk clinical situations. This training is intended for mental health professionals who have at least an introductory familiarity with Internal Family Systems. An official IFSI training is not required to attend this training. This training will provide a brief overview of the IFS framework and will focus primarily working with suicidal parts/ideation. 

As a result of this training, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the three primary categories of parts in the Internal Family Systems model (Managers, Firefighters, and Exiles), with specific attention to how suicidal ideation functions as a protective firefighter strategy;
2. Identify suicidal parts with clients to learn how to explain the rationale for engaging these parts with curiosity, respect, and non-pathologizing language;
3. Practice introductory IFS-informed interventions for working with suicidal parts, including noticing parts, supporting unblending, and fostering internal dialogue;
4. Recognize indicators of Self energy and parts in both the client and the therapist and identify strategies for supporting Self-led presence when addressing suicidal ideation; and
5. Explain how standard suicide prevention practices, including safety planning, can be integrated within an IFS framework by collaborating with protective parts to support internal and external safety.

6 Contact Hours Available

CRSW Performance Domains: 2 & 4
LADC/MLADC Categories of Competence: 4-7, 10-12 & 18
Certified Prevention Specialist Domains: 6
NBCC: LICSW/L-MFT/LCMHC (Category A) & Psychologist (Category A) 

NH Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors Association has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider. ACEP No 6754. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. NHADACA is solely responsible for all aspects of the program.

This course has been approved by New Hampshire Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselors Association (NHADACA), as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #23792, NHADACA is responsible for all aspects of the programming

This training is financed under a contract with the State of NH, Department of Health and Human Services, with funds provided in part by the State of NH and/or such funding sources as were available or required, e.g., the United States Department of Health and Human Services.