IFS Informed Supervision Groups that are creative and embodied to understand nervous systems (polyvagal theory), parts and to increase access to authentic Self (IFS).
This page is under development 2026
For more information on my style of supervision please see here.
Understanding Parts Self and our Nervous System
If you would like to watch the recording of the PACFA Webinar I presented on the 4th March: Understanding our parts, Self and nervous system through an IFS and Polyvagal lens, it is available here until March 2027.
These creative embodied supervision groups are a safe place where we can:
- honour each of our unique nervous systems,
- welcome our collective therapist wisdom and life experience,
- share reflections on our own parts / therapists parts / Self / nervous system and
- share how we are relating to different clients’ parts / Self and nervous system.
All Parts are Welcome, All parts Belong
One of the threads in my therapy and supervision is how do we honour all the unique ways of knowing within all of our nervous systems and parts:
- See
- Hear
- Feel
- Sense
- Do
- Imagine
- Visualise
- Intuitively know in mind, heart and body
I am curious and like a bower bird collecting new ways to understand parts, nervous systems and Self in creative embodied experiential practices.
Each supervision group session will have a different focus each month.
The format for each group will be a mindful check in, short visualisation, mindful movement and creative expression of parts / nervous system and Self each session. Then plenty of time for reflection and sharing on:
- how you can listen deeply to your intuitive knowing
- bring more Self-Energy into your therapy sessions (and personal life) to reduce burn-out and
- how you can relate to your own parts and the parts a client brings into your therapy room.
Each series of supervision groups will focus on externalising parts, nervous system and qualities of Self through:
- experiential exercises
- embodied movement
- creative expression whether that is through intuitive drawing (Ruth Culver’s technique) or collage or nature-based art therapy, or other art journalling techniques or creative writing activities.
- visualisation using active imagination
- poetry and/or music
- earth honouring practices
- incorporating a clients spiritual beliefs
The aim with these small, intimate, IFS-Informed supervision groups (120 minutes online held once a month over 3 months) is for you to experience a range of creative embodied experiential ways to identify, map and relate to your own parts and nervous system, including your therapists parts.
We will also explore how you can use these creative embodied ways to support clients to identify, map and relate to their parts / nervous system.
One of the powerful aspects of group supervision is reflecting and sharing with other therapists to access the collective wisdom and find new ways of relating to clients.
These supervision groups aim to be:
- Experiential
- Accessible
- Externalise parts and nervous system
- Embodied
- Invitational
- Intuitive
- Interactive
- Intimate
Some of the qualities of Self that we will aim to bring into each supervision session are: connection, calm, clarity, compassion, courage, creative, confident, curious, playful, presence, perspective, persistence & patience.
One thing I have observed is how much we learn from other therapists’ parts when reflection happens in a group setting. And something a bit magical happens when we can access more Self-Energy in a group.
Winter Dates/Times:
- 3rd Monday of the Month, 6-8 pm starting 15th June, then 20th July, then 10th August
- 3rd Tuesday of the Month 3-5pm starting 16th June, 21st July and 18th August
Cost:
$80 per 2 hour session, total $240 for 3 months. Fees payable on day of each group.
When committing to a group there is an expectation that you will attend all 3 sessions. If you can’t attend for some reason payment is required and Sara will provide you with the resources and summary of discussion.
Spring and Summer dates: TBA
If these days / times don’t suit you please email saraphillipstas@gmail.com and share your preferred days / times, as I may be able to run another group at a different time / day.
No Formal Training in Internal Family Systems is required but it is recommended that you access some of the IFS Resources and training here to be familiar with IFS Therapy.
Recommended Resources
- Secondary Traumatic Stress and Staff Well-being: Understanding compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma and burnout in therapeutic care by Australian Childhood Foundation
- Ruth Culver Survive-Thrive Spiral:Download here: https://calmheart.co.uk/resources/ and video here: https://calmheart.co.uk/spiralvideo/
- PACFA Webinar on Understanding our parts, Self and nervous system through an IFS and Polyvagal lens
- The Safety To Come Alive: IFS and the Nervous System with Steve Chee on The One Inside: https://open.spotify.com/episode/40GutLvgCxqSj5ynVCtCGR?si=b2f0cdcbd5544f64
- Reshaping the Nervous System and Integration with IFS Deb Dana on IFS Talk: https://open.spotify.com/episode/36N6oEGs0t05LlSwUUrWHp?si=abf4f2b490b94c81
- Polyvagal Card Deck and Polyvagal Exercises Book by Deb Dana
- Alexia Rothman Integrating IFS and Polyvagal Theory: Healing Through Compassionate Connection PESI Course
- The One Inside & IFS Talks Podcasts on IFS & Nervous Systems especially Neurodivergent nervous systems Iirina Diyankova or Sarah Bergenfield
- IFS Downunder Podcast
- Ruth Culver’s Intuitive Drawing Workshops
Sara is a Clinical Counsellor with PACFA, Level 4 Counsellor with ACA and an ACA Accredited Clinical Supervisor. PACFA have confirmed that Sara is eligible to supervise PACFA members from 1st June 2026. Sara’s experience at headspace and working with a range of cultures meant that she has sought many ways and strategies of conveying psyched via visual, kinaesthetic and auditory ways to clients. Sara works with her own and clients parts using as many modes of creative and embodied externalising as she can find ( and is still learning). Read more here.