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Internal Family Systems Therapy with Children — New Edition Co-Authored by Dr Claire Stubbs

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I’m back…and thrilled to share some exciting news!

It’s been a little while since I last posted here but I couldn’t imagine a better reason to return than to share something I’m deeply proud and excited about.

Over the past year, I’ve had the absolute joy of working with my wonderful colleague Lisa Spiegel on the second edition of Internal Family Systems Therapy with Children and I’m so delighted to finally share that it’s now available for preorder!

A project close to my heart

This book has been a true labour of love. Lisa and I have spent many months weaving together our shared experiences of working with children and families through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) – a model that continues to transform how we understand and support inner worlds, big and small.

With more than 50 years of combined experience in child psychotherapy between us, our goal was to create a resource that feels both practical and deeply human. We wanted to offer clinicians a clear roadmap for applying IFS with children – one that honours play, imagination and emotional safety, while also acknowledging the complexities that children and families face today.

Book cover of “Internal Family Systems Therapy with Children” by Lisa Spiegel and Dr Claire Stubbs (Routledge). The cover shows a colourful child-shaped drawing with words like “confident,” “proud,” and “funny.”

This new edition includes expanded material on topics such as:

  • Gender identity, gender expression, and sexual identity formation
  • Working with families living with persistent disadvantage
  • Cultural and legacy burdens
  • Neurodivergent “parts” and how IFS can support them

Writing this book has been such a meaningful opportunity to connect across the world and collaborate with some of the biggest names in the IFS community. To be part of a global conversation about how we can help children feel seen, safe, and understood is something that fills me with both gratitude and hope.

Endorsements of the book:

I feel incredibly humbled by the support we’ve received from colleagues and leaders in the field:

An important contribution to the field of child therapy
“It is with great pleasure and excitement that I write these words for the second edition of this wonderful book by Lisa Spiegel and Claire Stubbs. This second edition reflects the changes that have been happening in the world at large and in the domain of IFS therapy. We at The IFS Institute have expanded our reach across the world and now work in schools, with neurodiverse people, continue to work with our racial and class blindspots, and help people who are grappling with their gender identities. This new edition updates and expands the first edition to reflect these changes. This book is an important contribution, not only to the growing literature on IFS, but also to the field of child therapy in general. I’m very grateful.”
Richard C. Schwartz PhDDeveloper of Internal Family Systems Therapy, faculty Harvard Medical School
The definitive text on the subject
“Internal Family Systems and children go together like PB & J. Children naturally take to the imagination, play, honesty and heart of this method. And no voice could be better suited to guide us than that of Lisa Spiegel, a gifted clinician, teacher and storyteller. With warmth, humor and deep compassion, she and Claire Stubbs have written, in this second edition, the definitive text on the subject. A must read for anyone working with either IFS or children and families.”
Terrence RealNew York Times best selling author and Founder: Relational Life Institute
A must-read
“In their readable and relevant 2nd edition of IFS Therapy with Children, Lisa Spiegel and Claire Stubbs masterfully cover all the important bases for reaching children needing extra support. The book refreshes core IFS methods from their first book while adding new chapters addressing the challenges of neurodiversity, gender identity and criminalized children and teens. Each section is filled with relatable case studies, useful explanations, practical interventions and a big dose of clinical compassion.

A must-read for parents, clinicians, educators and anyone interested in sensitive, innovative approaches to the complex issues faced by children, teens and families today.”
Cece Sykes, LCSW, ACSW Senior IFS-Institute Trainer; Author, IFS Therapy for Addictions: Trauma-Informed Compassion-Based Interventions for Substance Use, Food, Gambling and More

Why this book matters

IFS continues to be one of the most powerful, compassionate approaches to therapy I’ve ever encountered. Children take to it so naturally – they intuitively understand the language of “parts,” the playfulness of imagination, and the deep truth that all of us contain many inner voices, all trying to help in their own ways.

My hope is that this book helps therapists, educators and parents feel more confident in meeting children where they are with curiosity and compassion.

To everyone who has encouraged and supported this work – colleagues, clients, mentors and friends – thank you.

It’s been a long time since I last blogged here but being part of this project has reminded me how much I value sharing ideas and connections in this space. I’m really pleased to be back and I’m looking forward to posting more often in the months ahead.

Internal Family Systems Therapy with Children, 2nd Edition will be available to preorder in February.


Join my mailing list to be the first to hear when preorders open — and receive an exclusive 20% subscriber discount as a thank you for your support.

Areas of Interest

With warmth,

Claire x

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