Deepen & Expand Your Relationship with Yourself with IFS and Nature-based Practices

This weekend workshop is designed for coaches, therapists, and group leaders familiar with Heal Your Life (HYL) work. While the focus is on HYL practitioners, the event is open to anyone interested in exploring this unique blend of modalities. 

**Workshop Overview:**

This immersive experience empowers Heal Your Life teachers and workshop leaders with foundational knowledge of Internal Family Systems (IFS), integrated with nature-based practices and experiential learning. We will broaden the HYL framework by deepening the connection between mind, body, and emotions. This will include expanding the relationship with inner dynamics, exploring the healing potential of nature, engaging in creative reflection, and experiencing peaceful pauses.

Led by Michéle Quesenberry, MS Exp Ed, a seasoned and certified IFS Practitioner (Level 3 & PA), and Heal Your Life Teacher and Life Coach, you will reconnect with HYL colleagues and make room for the infinite well of love to flow freely! Together, we will learn, explore, play, and grow, building on the holistic teachings of Louise Hay, the trailblazer who started a movement of personal transformation.

**What You Will Learn:**

- The basic principles of IFS and nature-based therapies.

- Similarities and differences between IFS and HYL.

- How to apply IFS to nature-based practices.

- Identifying and embodying the qualities of Self-energy.

- Understanding the IFS process of unblending to differentiate between Self-energy and parts.

- Recognizing the protective parts of the system and their proactive/reactive roles.

- Utilizing nature-based experiences to deepen personal insight and relationships.

Through experiential activities like ceremony, nature walks, guided meditations, reflective journaling, creative expression, IFS Scultps (like family constellation work), and multi-sensory play, participants will nurture connections with themselves, others, and the natural world. 

**Details:**

- **When:** December 6-8, 2024 (Arrive by 4:00 PM on the 6th, departure at 4:00 PM on the 8th)

- **Where:** Harmony Hills, 186 Nutwell Rd, Deale, MD 20751 (20 acres of bird and tree sanctuary with walking trails and a spacious yurt for workshops)

- **Cost:** $497 (Early Bird Discount: $50 off if registered by October 11)

 

**What’s Included:**

- 2 days of experiential learning led by Certified IFS Practitioner Michéle Quesenberry, alongside retreat collaborator Sandra J. Filer.

- 2 nights of lodging (double occupancy, twin XL beds).

- 2 lunches, afternoon snacks, and beverages. (Breakfast and dinners are group-prepared meals with participants assigned to meal teams).

 

This event serves as both a reunion for HYL practitioners and a learning retreat to explore the integration of IFS with nature-based therapies. Participants will be asked to provide feedback at the end of the weekend, and photos will be taken throughout for marketing purposes.

Michéle Quesenberry, MS Exp Ed

Michéle is a certified Internal Family Systems practitioner (Level 3) and licensed Heal Your Life coach and workshop leader. She has been facilitating diverse groups, trainings, workshops, and community health programs for over 20 years. Her approach is rooted in experiential learning, nature-based practices, and cultivating strong inner-world connections for social and emotional wellbeing.  She brings depth and authenticity forged through her transformative and evolving healing journey.

Sandra J Filer, MBA

Sandra is a high energy believer in the human capacity to achieve whatever the mind can conceive. She specializes in working with ambitious women seeking fulfillment in their Life and work. Her approach is heartfelt, effective and immediately applicable.  Also known as The Happy Goddess®, her ultimate goal is to guide her clients far away from that inner critic and deeply into self-love and appreciation.

TRAVEL:

Two airports are within 50 minutes of the venue.  DCA/Regan National and BWI/Baltimore Washington International.

We will do our best to support your transportation to and from the airport on arrival and departure days.  Once we have an idea of where everyone is coming from and what kind of flights everyone has, we can provide more specifics.  The latest pick-up times on arrival day is 2:30, please consider the time needed to deplane and get bags, etc.  The earliest we can get you to an airport on Sunday would be 5:30. Harmony Hills can accommodate those who need to depart on Monday.

WHAT TO PACK

Please remember to bring a refillable water bottle, a journal, and something to write with.  Bring shoes for walking easy outdoor trails and something easy to slip into for the indoors such as slides or slippers.  May is typically beautiful weather in the 70’s.  Bring layers, the yurt is affected by the weather so it can be a little cooler than the outdoors and sometimes extra warm.  A rain jacket might be nice in case Mother Nature decides to spritz on us.  

FOOD

All breakfast and dinners are group meals and will be designed, purchased, and prepared by the participants divided into meal teams.  Sandra will be the meal coordinator and help organize the teams and menus.  She will be reaching out to everyone to begin the coordination process very soon.  In the meantime, think about which delights you more, co-creating breakfast or dinner.  We'll shop for the ingredients and have them stored and ready.  Examples of recipes will be shared to assist with the creative cooking ideas to flow!

Coffee, tea, creamers 2 lunches and 2 afternoon snacks will be provided.

We will do our best to accommodate special dietary requests.  If it is an allergy, we will ensure food is labeled. If it is a preference versus and allergy, please plan accordingly to supplement as necessary.  Our meals are selected in consideration of all the participants and staff.  If it our goal to serve healthy and nourishing food.

Let's work together to create delicious meals while taking everyone's choices, preferences, and options into consideration.