Friends of the Collective Spotlight: Dorie Cameron, IFS Therapist and Author
We're thrilled to announce our featured IFS Friend of the Month, author and IFS Therapist Dorie Cameron! With over 30 years of professional experience with extensive training in psychology, education, creativity, and yoga, Dorie has shared her two books with us as resources for our community.
Why Did I Do That? How You Make Sense and Why There is Hope was inspired by her experience as a therapist and her desire to help clients understand the IFS model. Why Did You Do That? How Others Make Sense and I Can Be Present is a sequel and companion to Dorie's first book. It was written to offer an IFS lens with which to consider interactions with others.
Tell us briefly about yourself and how you discovered the IFS model.
In the early 2000’s I was fortunate enough to see Dick Schwartz at a ½ day seminar introducing IFS. That was it. It just made so much sense to me. I jumped in taking every training I could, Levels, 1, 2 and 3 as well as trainings working with specific populations and topics. I felt very fortunate that I had opportunities to learn from lead trainers, often in smaller groups. I also knew I learn best through experience, and, early on, got into IFS therapy. Also, I won’t ask my clients to do something I would not do, so I figured, I better understand this paradigm deeply inside my own system. My IFS therapist was exquisite and taught me so much about the model as she compassionately facilitated relationships between me and my parts. I am forever grateful for all learnings in trainings, in my own therapy and with clients.
Please describe your work as an IFS therapist/practitioner and how long you have been working in the Model.
Prior to becoming a clinical social worker, I had been an elementary school teacher, a wellness educator/counselor, a massage therapist and then while working as a social worker I also took up some yoga teacher training. I have always loved the intersection of the body, mind, emotions, and spirituality. When I found IFS, I had 10 years of experience as a social worker working with teens and adults recovering from trauma, anxiety, depression, loss, grief, stress and more.
I have come a long way since I first began, (initially unskillfully…thank goodness for supervision) bringing my clients who were open, to this new IFS paradigm. I have and continue to use IFS with my clients who are interested in it and if they are not, I bring many other orientations and ways to meet them. And when working with clients, if we are not doing explicit, specific “parts work” I still stand with my central orientation being that they are Self, living in a body and that they have parts. Some of their parts contribute much wonder to their lives and some are burdened and benefit from connecting with Self so they can get freed up. I appreciate that from inside the IFS model I can include the integration of all aspects of one person emotions, mind, body and spirit. This orientation helps me support people in having a much more comfortable, connected, creative experiences in their lives.
Is there something in particular about working with the IFS Model that excited you?
This is a difficult question because I appreciate multiple things about IFS. One thing, is that IFS is expansive enough to “work” for people of a wide variety of different ages, genders, socioeconomic circumstances, races, religions, cultures, ethnicities, emotional and physical challenges, and histories. This is unique for one approach and I have experienced the IFS paradigm’s capacity do this. I am aware that though it is not for everyone, it does cast a wide net and includes anyone who is interested.
For me, IFS is an effective, compassionate, respectful, empowering therapeutic approach. My experiences have allowed me to be with people as they, in their way and process create deep and lasting healing. I feel deeply honored to be with my clients while they meet, befriend and assist tender parts who have been alone in such pain for so long in ways they can be relieved and become free. What excites me? That IFS offers one potent option for increasing numbers of Self-led people to be here on the planet feeling connected, calm, creative, compassionate, courageous, playful and more. I believe IFS helps allow more good and supports individuals to become more authentic and that this is actually very natural. Oh, and another thing I really appreciate, is that IFS is kind.
Tell us about the IFS-inspired resource you've created.
Why Did I Do That? How You Make Sense and Why There is Hope is a simple, visual introduction to IFS. The purpose of the book is to orient the reader to the basic tenets of the model. Through simple pictures and few words, most can understand the concepts of IFS and that was my intent. I also wanted anyone who read the book to feel its warmth, inclusivity as well as a gentle invitation to explore the model.
Why Did You Do That? How Others Make Sense and I Can Be Present is a sequel and a companion to Why Did I Do That? The intent of this book is to offer an IFS lens with which to consider interactions with others. The pictures and words tell the story of one person’s experience with someone else. The book is not meant to encompass all relational dynamics. It simply, visually points at how the IFS orientation can assist in considering understanding interactions with others-which, many people can find confusing.
What inspired you to create your products/services?
I care a lot about helping to make IFS understandable and accessible to as many people as possible. In addition, I am aware of the variety of learning styles humans have and as the saying goes…”a picture is worth 1000 words”.
My clients inspired me to create Why Did I Do That? As I got centered and confident in the IFS paradigm, I found that new clients would come to me and I wanted them to understand IFS -at least conceptually so they could let me know if they felt it might work for them. Most clients walking through my door were already somewhat overwhelmed-that is why they came to therapy! This in and of itself was not a problem. It is just that the thought of telling them to go read a book to understand IFS, didn’t set well in me. I longed to be able to share the hope that this paradigm offers in a simple, gentle way. So I began playing and creating and one delightful thing lead to another and Why Did I Do That? came to be.
This book is not a “how-to” book. I made it because I wanted to offer a simple invitation, a quick and gentle way to taste the model- a way to get some relief (“Maybe I am not all bad”), offer new ideas in a way that a reader might be able to consider the possibility of reorienting to a new way of being. And, truth is, I had great fun making it!
Why Did You Do That? emerged 13 years after my first book. This one was inspired in a long slow way. It developed and sprouted in the soil of conversations with many people- clients, therapists, friends, and trainings over years. I grew to realize that it is a primary and wonderful thing to understand one’s own system and another to consider what an IFS lens might reveal when interacting with others.
What might it feel like when someone else’s parts hijack them? What happens in me? What might that look and sound like? What might it look and sound like to “Do a U-turn”? Then what might one option be…after a U-turn? Many questions called for an answer.
So I set about tending to the green shoot-I played and tended and watered and shared until it was ready. I had lots of fun with this book too. I hope it brings some relief and insight to assist people in being able to be more present.
Who would benefit most from your IFS resources and how can people access your product/service?
The people I hear who most benefit from my first book (WDIDT) are people who are new to or curious about IFS. Though, I have had people share with me that even having known about IFS for years upon reading this book, they come to understand things at a deeper level than previously. IFS can appear simple and yet when time is spent exploring the model, its depth and complexity emerge.
WDYDT is a sequel to the first book. And it is definitely more easily understood as a sequel. This book will be most beneficial for those who have a sense of the basics of IFS. It will also be most applicable to those who have spent some time getting to know their parts, and allowing their parts to get to know them (as Self, of course).
Please describe any future plans or next steps for your service/product that you would like to share.
I do have a few things in the works but I would prefer not to share at this time…I do best with my own creative process when I allow it to gestate privately…internally.
We'd love to hear a success story or positive feedback you've received from someone who has experienced your IFS resource.
I know everyone has their own experiences and my heart is so warmed anytime I hear that my books have helped in some way. There are two seemingly small moments that people share with me every now and then that particularly touch me.
One is when I hear that someone read my book and as a result, s/he/they “made sense to themselves”. That is something I wish for everyone-to make sense to themselves-to open to know they are not wrong or bad or inherently broken or lacking…they have burdened parts (that will benefit from some help) .
A second feedback that touches me deeply is when someone expresses -even with a skeptic part hovering close in,- that they are willing to consider the possibility that maybe they could grok that their essence-Self energy is natural so that they begin to consider that they actually ARE naturally, in their own way, all the qualities of Self. So they catch a whiff of their own organic wholeness. So they are willing to ponder that being curious, connected, calm, creative, compassionate, clear, courageous, confident, present, persistent, patient, having perspective, and , yes…being playful are all qualities they might be able to access and allow more.
What is your favorite IFS aligned quote, poem, song, book, TV show or movie? Why?
I love Disney’s movie The Kid with Bruce Willis. It is a wonderful movie that from my perspective offers multiple, layered example of parts -protectors and exiles and what a Self to part healing can both look like and the benefits it can bring to one man’s life. It is witty, tender, poignant and real.
Anything else you want readers to know?
If you can’t tell from what I have shared so far, I feel IFS is a wonderful model and I welcome all parts in anyone interested, to find their way home.
How can people learn more about your offerings and stay in touch?
See new information and links at Doriecameron.com
Email: dorie@metrowesttherapy.com
We’re so pleased to be able to offer this resource and see our IFS community connected in a new way. Visit the Friends of the Collective page to browse the current profiles or submit your own! For the full step-by-step guide to creating your entry & advertising on our site, start by downloading this PDF.
