A retreat, a festival, a burn, a relationship, a loss, a breakthrough, a realization, a new direction in life. We come back feeling different, seeing things differently, wanting to live differently.
And then something interesting happens.
Part of us wants to move forward and build a new way of living.
Another part of us wants things to stay the same, stay safe, stay familiar.
We can feel excited and resistant at the same time. Clear and confused at the same time. Ready and afraid at the same time.
A part of us wants to hold on to a new revelation or insight, and then the reality of the life we have created, with all its demands and pressures, hits us like a cold slap. Another part fears everything will just stay the same as it always was, and we can slip into powerlessness.
This is not a personal failure. This is how the mind works.
Internal Family Systems is a model that helps us understand that we are not a single voice inside. We are a system of different parts, each with its own concerns, fears, and goals. When we understand these parts and learn how to relate to them with curiosity and compassion, change and growth become something we can integrate instead of something we fight ourselves over.
The focus of this workshop will be on understanding how different parts of us respond to new experiences, growth, and change, and how we can work with those parts instead of against them.
This workshop is appropriate for both people who are new to this work and those who have attended previous circles.
Healing and alignment occur when we embrace with curiosity and compassion that which we push away.
• Guided meditation
• Gentle reflection exercises
• An introduction to the IFS model
• Optional partner sharing
• A simple closing ritual to anchor insight
This is not therapy, but it can be deeply healing.
No experience is necessary. Just bring an open mind and a willingness to explore your inner world at your own pace.
This workshop stands fully on its own and may also serve as an entry point into deeper small group work for those who feel called to continue.
Facilitator bio:
Michael Lewis is a transformational coach, group facilitator, and spiritual guide with a background in psychology, behavior change, and contemplative practice. He holds a master’s degree in psychology, is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and integrates teachings from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Buddhist heart practices into his work.
Michael creates spaces where people feel safe to explore the truth of their inner world. With a warm and grounded presence, he helps others meet the parts of themselves that have long gone unseen or unheard. His work is rooted in the belief that healing happens when we bring love and awareness to the places we’ve been taught to fear.
He has supported people through personal transformation, psychedelic integration, grief, spiritual awakening, and the slow, steady return to Self. Whether in one-on-one coaching, group work, or ceremonial spaces, Michael offers an invitation to come home to what is real.