Internal Family Systems Therapy with Children: Second Edition
Book Details
- Publisher : Routledge
- Published : 2026
- Pages : 202
- Category :
Child and Adolescent Studies - Category 2 :
Family, Couple and Systemic Therapy - Catalogue No : 98476
- ISBN 13 : 9781032915227
- ISBN 10 : 1032915226
Reviews and Endorsements
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, PhD, developer of Internal Family Systems Therapy, faculty at Harvard Medical School
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 Real, New York Times best-selling author and Founder, Relational Life Institute
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

