The IFS process can be supportive in Healing the Healer as it helps us see, understand, and untangle our reactions to difficult situations that lead to constriction and loss of energy in our lives and in our work. Working with the heart, tuning the heart, and awakening the heart via sound and vibration, meditative movement, singing, art, guided imagery, and small group sharing with InnerActive Cards will support opening to Self space. Through supporting the state of Wise Self, or awakening and “tuning” the heart, therapists are more able to walk with others through those areas of life where there is pain and darkness and at the same time find precious peace and joy in the connection and process.

We will start promptly at 9:30. You are welcomed to join us between 9 to 9:15 so you have plenty of time to settle in and maybe take a walk around the space, inside or out. Our intention is to support deepening into a spacious experience that will support Self energy flowing. Giving yourself plenty of time to arrive and relax will support your own experience and our community experience!

Food and Drink included with registration: lunch, light snacks, tea, coffee, and water.

We ask that you bring your own sealed mug and sealed water bottle so that we protect the meeting space which is also a meditation hall. We hope you'll stay during lunch hour 12:30-1:30 when we will share a vegetarian meal from Jerusalem Garden. (Please indicate any dietary restrictions when prompted when registering.)

We're gathering for a retreat, so no CEU's. While not having "learning objectives" per se as with a workshop, we certainly hold the intention that you will be able to deepen into tuning your heart space and awaken and support what helps you witness you from a curious, compassionate, clarifying Self space - and that that can support you showing up in your life and work.

There are two options for reduced rate and we welcome you using them. If free is your path, please email, text, or call Carrie at chatcherkay@gmail.com or 734-730-3952 and let me know you can help us out with retreat and lunch set-up and clean-up and a couple logistics with selling cards and books, as well as weighted teddy bears up for adoption! If $75 is your plan so you can not stress about taking a day of retreat, please pay $75. We are looking forward to being with you, whatever the contribution.

Our retreat leader: Tom Holmes, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus at Western Michigan University (WMU). In addition to his teaching at the university for decades, and directing WMU’s Holistic Health Program for years, he has offered many seminars in the US, Europe, and the Middle East on the integration of Parts Work and spirituality as a resource for therapist burnout prevention and the development of therapeutic conditions. His book Parts Work: An Illustrated Guide to Your Inner Life (2007), now in its 4th edition, is widely appreciated by clinicians and community members. It has been translated into German, Korean, and Italian and will soon be available in Arabic and Hebrew. Tom’s new book is titled Parts Work: A Path of the Heart: Integrating IFS and Spirituality. Dr. Holmes received training in IFS from Richard Schwartz in the late 1980’s and has been teaching, training and practicing Parts Work ever since. Currently, his workshops focus on the integration of IFS and spirituality and burnout prevention, “Healing the Healer” for a wide range of healthcare professionals.

Richard Schwartz, founder of the Internal Family Systems model, says about Tom: “Since Tom Holmes learned the IFS method from me decades ago, he has been a pioneer. He has added his own creative touches to the model, written a delightful, illustrated book, Parts Work, and has been teaching IFS around the world in places like Korea, Europe, Jordan, and Egypt. In his new book, Tom pioneers once again by exploring the spiritual side of IFS, particularly how to access and use what some might consider spiritual resources. Wisely, Tom stays agnostic about whether the wisdom they bring is from a metaphysical source or is tapping into some higher aspect of human consciousness. The book is well-written and full of clear instructions and examples of how to help clients access this resource.”