
“Fostering spaces where genuine curiosity, exploration, self-discovery, and deep connections thrive. Committed to facilitating holistic development and nurturing the possibilities for students to embody their wholeness.” — Michéle Quesenberry
My Approach

My Approach
I believe the quality of our relationships shapes what becomes possible—within ourselves, with one another, and with the living world. My work is about thoughtfully co-creating the conditions where people can express more of who they are, participate more fully, and discover new possibilities for connection, creativity, and contribution.
Through Internal Family Systems (IFS), experiential learning, nature-based practices, and decades of facilitating groups, I invite people to slow down, become curious, and welcome every part of their experience. Rather than trying to fix, change, or overcome ourselves, we learn to relate differently—to our bodies, emotions, protectors, one another, and the environments we inhabit.
I strive to cultivate spaces where curiosity, boundaries, vulnerability, and play can coexist—where difference is welcomed, wisdom is shared, and people feel supported to explore at their own pace. Whether facilitating a retreat, partnering with another facilitator, or working with a small group, my role is not to produce transformation, but to steward the quality of relationship from which insight, healing, growth, and meaningful participation can naturally emerge.
At the heart of my work is a simple invitation: to reconnect with ourselves, one another, and the living world in ways that foster belonging, wholeness, and a more vibrant participation in life.
Experience
For over 20 years I’ve engaged groups and individuals in direct experience for personal and/or professional growth. I’ve done this through leading and developing various retreats, trainings, workshops, one-on-one coaching, and community outreach programs. My approach is rooted in experiential learning, Self-compassion the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model and nature-based therapies.
This combination has proven to offer transformative and deeply meaningful journeys.

Experiential & Authentic
Immersive and hands-on for a holistic and transformative experience. Web-of-Wonder retreats serve as a microcosm of real-world social and emotional dynamics. An opportune place for parts discovery, relationship building and Self-emergence. Learn through direct and purposeful activity and reflective pauses with meaningful growth and insights. Expand skills to be true to yourself with the response-ability to thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Explore internal and external aspects around communication, decision making, boundary setting, problem-solving, overcoming limitations and even celebrating success.
Let's cultivate collaborative connections that honor our unique journeys and celebrate our interconnectedness.
Nature-based & Integrative
In harmony with the natural world, our retreats offer a transformative journey where participants engage in mindful exploration, sensory immersion, and creative expression, guided by the therapeutic framework of Internal Family Systems. Through experiential activities immersed in nature's embrace, individuals cultivate a profound connection with both their inner landscapes and the external environment, recognizing the intricate interplay between the two realms. This holistic approach fosters a deep understanding and empathy for the diverse facets of one's being. At Web of Wonders, we create a space of unconditional acceptance, nurturing a profound sense of validation and belonging, reaffirming each participant's inherent worth and importance. Through this synergistic exchange, participants unearth profound insights, build resilience, and rediscover a profound sense of wholeness and alignment with themselves and the world around them.
Facilitator Highlights

Group
Facilitator
1995 — Current Day
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Short workshops to multi-day events
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Groups of 4 to 250+ participants, including coordinating and directing multiple facilitators
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Professional trainings, personal transformation, retreats, workshops, community building, team building, challenge courses, organizational development, board meetings, volunteerism etc
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Clients are healthcare professionals, facilitators, first responders, corporations, CEO's, non-profits, dignitaries, volunteers, employees, teachers, students, youth-at-risk, and people affected by trauma, addiction, incarceration, and disabilities.

Internal Family Systems (IFS)
2008 — Current Day
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Certified IFS Practitioner (Level 3), Sr Program Assistant
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Facilitate and teach IFS in private practice with individuals and groups
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Developed Nature-based IFS workshops and training for therapists and practitioners
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Program Assistant to Dick Schwartz, Pam Krause, Chris Burris, Mary Kruger, Kathy Cox, Jory Agate, Ann Sinko, Level's 1, 2, 3 and for Program Assistant Development Training.
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Continuous learning with numerous personal and professional workshops, retreats, trainings and consult groups

Courageous Self-Compassion
2018 — Current Day
This women's group was created at the request of Judge Chandlee for the women in the Calvert County Adult Treatment Court program: Breaking the Cycle of Addiction. The initial 8-week trial (2018) was met with great resistance as participants are court ordered to attend. This weekly women's group now continues at the request and free-will of the court program graduates. The focus is based on relationship with oneself from a curious and compassionate place with self-acceptance and courageous response-ability.

Clare's
Program
2019 — Current Day
Co-founder, practitioner and facilitator to a community oriented, healing centered approach for women who struggle with homelessness, addiction, and/or developmental trauma. Participants engage in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Neuro-feedback, 1-to-1 life skills coaching, and IFS groups as the foundation to support relational healing with self and others.

Farming
4 Hunger
2016 — 2019
Developed and implemented an IFS-experiential learning program for men who were incarcerated, which expanded to large community building events.
In collaboration with Farming 4 Hunger the program evolved with a multi-dimensional approach which utilized lived experience in the justice system as peer support to increase resiliency to adversity for youth and reduced recidivism rates for adult men.

Life Coach and Teacher-Teacher
2003 — 2015
Facilitated weekly and weekend Heal Your Life® workshops, and 5-day trainings to certify workshop leaders based on the transformational methods of Louise Hay; learning to love yourself, mind-body-emotions connection, endless well of love, inner child work, mirror work, releasing old emotions, forgiveness, and creating self-talk. Authorized by Hay House, Inc.
Training & Education
Professional Training
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Certified Internal Family Systems Practitioner (Level 3, Sr. Progam Assistant)
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Certified Holistic Spiritual Counselor and Life Coach
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Certified Heal Your Life® Teacher, Life Coach and Teacher-Teacher
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Certified Challenge Course and Team-building Facilitator with advanced trainings
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Certified Intentional Peer Support Trainer
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Chakra Yoga • Trul Kohr Tibetan Yoga
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Movements of Grace
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Certified Healing Breathwork Practitioner
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Mindful Self-compassion Teacher
Formal Education
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MS Experiential Education, Focus in Nature-based Therapies, Minnesota State University
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BA, Human Development breadth Recreational Therapy, Prescott College
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Recreation, Leadership, and Programming, Catonsville Community College
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AS in Music and Video Business AIFL