Pause with Laura

🍃 Read my Sunday Pause here: parenting our parts inside & out - https://mailchi.mp/1c2f07a802f1/dadsday
Wishing you a restful Sunday, as you take a moment to honor the ways you've been fathered or not, and the ways you father and parent all the children and dependents in your life. It extends way beyond biology.

Here's my 85 year old dad who still downhill skis and ran our annual 12K Bloomsday run in less than 2H. We give thanks for good health, and endless curiosity for life! His best advice ever: always back up slowly!

Sometimes last minute plans are just what the doctor ordered! Treat yourself THIS weekend (5/24-27) for restoration and yoga at the peaceful Kripalu Retreat Center in Stockbridge, MA, with my wonderful IFS colleague, gifted yoga teacher, Amy Weintraub founder of LifeForce Yoga. It's not too late to register!

This May weekend is a tasty appetizer for a second Kripalu weekend September 8-13 combining IFS & LifeForce Yoga when I get to co-teach with Amy!

Memorial Day weekend, Amy will guide you through accessible LifeForce Yoga practices to soothe and energize, clear the cobwebs, and restore your peace. You'll experience how these techniques can make a difference in your mood, and quite possibly the way you move through life.

Click here for registration details: Yoga Skills to Shift Depression and Anxiety, Tools for Emotional Well-Being. https://kripalu.org/presenters-programs/yoga-skills-shift-depression-and-anxiety

Then September 8-13, join Amy and me for LifeForce Yoga & IFS: New Tools to Bring Balance to Your Life!

Experience a gentle, evidence-based yoga protocol to help you soothe and clear your mind as you work with manager parts, reactive parts and those tender young parts from your highest, most compassionate Self. This will be a wonderful week of learning, inspiration and Self care.

We’re excited to share this special time with you, on the mat with our parts!
Amy developed Life Force Yoga, teaches all over the world and wrote the invaluable books, "Yoga for Depression" and "Yoga Skills for Therapists" which has a useful accompanying Yoga for Your Mood card deck. Watch her work on her website or youtube.

Amy biked to meet me for dinner last summer after her Cape Cod Institute workshop. Amy and I were IFS Level 1 colleagues way back in 2009 at Bastyr University in Seattle, WA, and share a love for so many things in addition to IFS & yoga...nature, biking, hiking, fresh air, sunrise (Amy), sunsets (Laura) and moving our bodies outdoors. She also lives in my home state of Arizona and cherishes the magic of the desert as much as I do!

We are kindred spirits and can't wait to collaborate and connect with you and your parts in September, unless you can get to Kripalu this weekend for Amy's solo touch. She's a gifted, wise, healing delight!

September Registration Details:
https://kripalu.org/presenters-programs/lifeforce-yoga-and-internal-family-systems-new-tools-bring-balance-your-life?utm_source=Laura+Schmidt+LMFT%3A+contacts&utm_campaign=7e40bf78f4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_04_01_02_50_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b8e02e9c34-7e40bf78f4-515141321&mc_cid=7e40bf78f4&mc_eid=eaa6607d2a

🙌🏼 It’s been a big week in the land of IFS Group Consultation as 4 of my 8 month groups came to a close. My heart is full over the opportunity to connect IFS professionals from across the continent and oceans as we welcome clinical vulnerabilities, challenges and milestones, staff cases and welcome all the parts that emerge in this important work.

🙏🏽It was a true joy and honor to support these wonderful, motivated, curious consultees and all their parts.

So. Many. Hard-working Parts needing to meet and trust Self so they can relax and let the Self energy flow in session. We are most effective and least drained when our inner wisdom leads, rather than our parts.

The 1st photo is 7 of the 9 group members in my Mentoring for Group Leaders
2nd is our Intermediate Tuesday IFS Certification group.

3rd is my joy, relief and gratitude for getting to do this work and for all my Managers that make this happen! It’s a lot to set up and maintain, but I keep doing it because it’s so satisfying, and important!

👉🏼Our Mentoring group supports current and future IFS Group Leaders in their desire to expand their clinical reach through launching and leading their own groups. We reviewed extensive practical and emotional details related to this venture. I shared many of the juicy Behind the Scenes tips and insights gained over years of this endeavor. So. Many. Details to consider and share!

👉🏼Certification Groups support future IFS Therapists and Practitioners in their ongoing journey towards becoming the proficient, confident, Self-led clinician they are working so hard to be and achieving the credential that reflects that hard work. I feel such pride and gratitude whenever a consultee finally reaches that next step of Certification—well done and well-earned!

🍃I look forward to more learning and clarity in our next sets that begin in the Fall! Keep an eye out for these colleagues; they’re making a big difference in our world! Here’s to all our Managers and Self energy!

👉🏼Join my mailing list for group updates and early registration details at pausewithlaura.com Link in Bio

It's been a big week in the land of IFS Group Consultation as four of my 8 month groups came to a close. My heart is full over the opportunity to connect IFS professionals from across the continent and oceans as we welcome clinical vulnerabilities, challenges and milestones, staff cases and welcome all the parts that emerge in this important work. It was a true joy and honor to support these wonderful, motivated, curious consultees and all their parts.

I'm always so grateful for your trust and commitment to this important work.

So. Many. Hard-working Parts needing to meet and trust Self so they can relax and let the Self energy flow in session. We are most effective and least drained when our inner wisdom leads, rather than our parts.

The top photo is 7 of the 9 group members in my Mentoring for Group Leaders and the 2nd is my Tuesday IFS Certification group. (more pics to come once I locate them :)

I’m so grateful for the time we shared-–for your honesty, questions and thoroughness in your prep.

Our Mentoring group supports current and future IFS Group Leaders in their desire to expand their clinical reach through launching and leading their own groups. We reviewed extensive practical and emotional details related to this venture. I shared many of the juicy Behind the Scenes tips and insights gained over years of this endeavor. So. Many. Details to consider and share!

Certification Groups support future IFS Therapists and Practitioners in their ongoing journey towards becoming the proficient, confident, Self-led clinician they are working so hard to be and achieving the credential that reflects that hard work. I feel such pride and gratitude whenever a consultee finally reaches that next step of Certification—well done and well-earned!

I look forward to more learning and clarity in our next sets that begin in the Fall! Keep an eye out for these colleagues; they’re making a big difference in our world!

Here’s to all our Managers and Self energy!

Please join my mailing list for group updates and early registration details at pausewithlaura.com

Happy spring!!

I can’t even wrap my head around this. Just wow. Thank you clear skies and nature’s magic. How am I going to sleep now?! 🙏🏽🌚⭐️

Get outside to go inside!

My weary parts got to replenish last week during my annual April solo retreat a few hours from home. This is where I restored--in this magical, silent sanctuary.

I wrote more about the privilege of both working and resting in my Sunday Pause reflection and hope you'll take a peek (or better yet subscribe and receive your own directly and more easily!): http://mailchi.mp/5620995e5e72/workandrest

I didn't get as much writing done as I had intended--but it was a lesson in listening to my body and giving her what she needed--which was walking, napping, cold dips (40Fish degree water, stings a little but is so worth it and sun helps!), paddles on the lake, no schedule and reading whatever I wanted. You'll see the stack of options I brought with me! So many good books! I usually end up opening 1 or 2.

It was hard to leave as you can imagine!

Walk gently on this earth. We need to care for her. She gives us soooo much!

🌻Happy May Day, a celebration of rebirth and new life!
Aka Beltane, today is arguably the second most celebrated cross-quarter day (after Halloween), marking the midpoint between spring equinox and summer solstice.

🌻Here’s what new life looks like in the Upper Left USA of Eastern WA! neighborhood forsythia and nearby wild arrowleaf balsam root.

What images of rebirth are welcoming you wherever you are in the world?! 💐

Happy May Day, a celebration of rebirth and new life!
Aka Beltane, today is arguably the second most celebrated cross-quarter day (after Halloween), marking the midpoint between spring equinox and summer solstice.

Here's what new life looks like in the Upper Left USA of Eastern WA! neighborhood forsythia and nearby wild arrowleaf balsam root.
What images of rebirth are welcoming you wherever you are in the world?!

The field of couples therapy lost one of our courageous, tenacious, loving pioneers this week. Sue Johnson, developer of Emotionally Focused Therapy, you will be missed. You and your model have changed the lives of therapists and clients all over the world. You reminded us over and over that healing happens in relationship. YES YES YES!!

EFT has impacted my career for nearly 3 decades. I was on the EFT track until IFS stole my heart, but I've always been grateful the pearls of this framework--helping couples to be vulnerable so they can connect and heal.

My last conference with you was in Seattle when Wamft hosted you for 2 days. I'm so grateful you could join us here in Washington.

Thank you, Sue. We'll miss you. Your legacy reaches far and wide.

I'll put the Psychotherapy Networker's touching Lifetime Achievement award to Sue in 2022 in comments. I'm so glad that happened in time! She was dealing with cancer during this time.

Maintaining the integrity, ethics and competency of therapists is one of my passions and commitments. I've both benefitted from ethical/competent therapists/supervisors & been harmed by unethical/incompetent ones. All of these experiences shaped me into the therapist, consultant and supervisor I am today.

After 5 years as an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, I recently completed another 6H refresher course and added supervising 2 more motivated, gifted WA state MFT Associates! It's an honor to get to mentor new MFT/IFS therapists. I can't wait to support them in their ongoing evolution.

Earning the credential of AAMFT Approved Supervisor by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy is one of the most comprehensive and rigorous supervision designations in the field of therapy.

If you're wondering what it takes to become an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, here it is. It's a lot and took me 5 years! It's important to know what experience your clinical supervisor or consultant has before you start working with them.

-180 hours supervising clinicians
-36 hours being supervised by an AAMFT Approved Supervisor (Mary Kruger was one of mine and still mentors me today. In fact, I get to co-supervise an Eating Disorder Consultation Group with her each month!
-30 hours of coursework specific to the nuts, bolts, ethics, dynamics, structure and purpose of clinical supervision
-Writing a comprehensive paper on my theory and practice of supervision for approval by a committee of academic clinicians
-Approved Supervisors must maintain their clinical LMFT license and pass a refresher course every five years. DONE!

Hi everyone, I'm thrilled to partner with my friend and colleague, the gifted yoga teacher/IFS practitioner, Amy Weintraub, for a week of IFS & yoga at the restorative Kripalu Retreat Center (Stockbridge, MA) September 8-13!

LifeForce Yoga & IFS: New Tools to Bring Balance to Your Life.

Experience a gentle, evidence-based yoga protocol to help you soothe and clear your mind as you work with manager parts, reactive parts and those tender young parts from your highest, most compassionate Self. This is a wonderful week of learning, inspiration and Self care.

You and yours are invited to join us! All are welcome, so please pass along.

Amy developed Life Force Yoga, teaches all over the world and wrote the invaluable book, "Yoga for Depression".

We were L1 colleagues way back in 2009 at Bastyr Univ. in Seattle, WA, and are excited to share this special time with you, on the mat with our parts!

Details: https://kripalu.org/presenters-programs/lifeforce-yoga-and-internal-family-systems-new-tools-bring-balance-your-life

The earth is my medicine, my sanctuary.
Walk gently on this sacred ground.
Happy earth day! 🌎

This is me after a full day IFS learning, a haircut and some eyebrow tending!

Welcoming comfy clothes, no makeup, new grey hairs with a mind of their own and lines that accompany life. What’s your comfy look?!

It’s a good day and I’m grateful. Thanks for being in my world. 🙏🏼🩵

Pretty stoked about women’s sports today as I get to watch the NCAA women’s championship on a major TV network for the first time in my life!

Peek at my Sunday Pause mailing for a few stories, photos and podcast links !
Link in bio

And subscribe to get your very own directly since I often don’t get to reposting here in SM!

http://eepurl.com/iNCr42

this is powerful and distressing and important. "It's a mirroring of the trauma that lives in me," shares Deran. :(
Thank you Mardou and Deran Young, LCSW

This is pretty exciting as IFS comes to Glennon, Abby and sister! Listen to Richard Schwartz do a demo with Glennon regarding her disordered eating system. She's so open and brave. You can feel the sweet, playful, supportive connection between all 4 of them.
Dick Schwartz also gives a super helpful, concise overview of the Model. Glennon asks him to explain it to a 3rd grader and he reminds us kids digest this model much quicker than adults and all our thinking parts!

As an IFS therapist, I wait, watch and wonder which next celebrity will get a taste of this transformational, life-changing model and start sharing it with the world. We hear about these discoveries more often than ever, and it's truly exciting--changing the world, one part at a time!

Years ago I started writing a letter to Oprah with pure excitement about this non-pathologizing approach to food and eating. I wanted her to know about IFS. Of course, I never felt good enough about the letter to send :( I still don't know if she knows about IFS, but it has been the most effective and life-giving approach to working with extreme Protectors like restrictive and bingeing parts. This is not a battle with ED (the eating disorder). It's a process of befriending ED! Imagine that!

enjoy listening. So grateful for this one and all the other IFS podcasts out there in the world.

‎We Can Do Hard Things: Inside an Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Session with Glennon & Richard C. Schwartz on Apple Podcasts ‎Show We Can Do Hard Things, Ep Inside an Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Session with Glennon & Richard C. Schwartz - Apr 1, 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D15FzxC8NwA
I wanted to share this beautiful song called, “A Prayer”. Inspired by and created from one of Mooji's prayers from the book ‘Mala of God’, the images in the video reflect the many ways in which different cultures aspire for that same one essence which we call God or pure Consciousness, Buddha Nature, Holy Spirit, reflection of the Divine, or Self. I hope you'll take a listen.

"A Prayer“ by Omkara & Gotama, with lyrics by Mooji.

May you discover the life Which is free of sorrow
May your mind be illumined In the Truth
May you conquer the fear of death
May you never be ashamed Of the presence of the Holy Spirit
Nor feel the need to defend yourself In any personal way
May your trust be great Your heart full of love
And may you carry the perfume Of the Lord's presence
Wherever you go
This is the prayer
That I make for you In the name of The Holy Spirit of God
So be it

Mooji Mala Music emanates from Heart Satsangs with Mooji available on https://shop.mooji.org/product/music/...

Re: the photo: I spent many an Easter Sunday morning shivering at 4600 feet in the Huachuca Mountains of southeastern Arizona during a crisp, sunrise service with my family and our Lutheran congregation. I never fully appreciated this tradition until I shared a sunrise service on the rim of the Grand Canyon during high school with our German club and a dozen German exchange students--2 of whom I'm still in touch with! I'm ever grateful to the brave teachers who made us get up in time for this sacred moment. (this pic was from an unexpected GC visit in '21 and a sunrise I couldn't miss no matter what)

Anyone else a sunrise service alum?!

I shared somw reflections in my Sunday Pause mailing at sunrise this morning. You can read it here and are encouraged to sign up to get your own copy directly, and quicker 🪺💐🩵

🌷An Easter basket of goodies for you

read more about my Easter sunrise morning prayer & important IFS Offerings from colleagues in my Sunday Pause. - https://mailchi.mp/337d6f12f442/springpause

I missed asking this on Monday b/c of all the March Madness excitement, but what's something specific you're looking forward to this week--professionally or personally? (post a pic if you'd like)
We're still straddling snow & spring here in the Upper Left USA, so I'm looking forward to walks like this with my timeshare pup between clients and groups!

March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph is significant in the Schmidt Haus. Here we are in Spokane celebrating 30 years of being a couple and reflecting on the undulating internal and external terrain we have navigated. Long partnerships take work, commitment, grace and a bit of luck. Choosing a spouse at 25 years old still feels a little reckless or risky, but it worked for us, thankfully!

Erik & I reconnected after college on this Feast day in 1994 at the Catholic Lay Apostolate, Madonna House in rural Ontario, Canada, where I lived and volunteered (as a Protestant) for 9 months.

Erik was intrigued with this community founded by the Russian author of "Poustinia", Catherine deHueck Doherty--or so he says! and visited with XC skis so I could join him and my dear friend and mentor, Fr. Louis LaBrecque. Erik later spent 3 months at MH after I left to work in the Sierra Nevadas of CA.

After an 8 week self supported bike tour Fall '94 through British Columbia and across WA state (we never imagined we'd end up living here 9 years later!), and a season ski instructing in CO at Keystone, Erik proposed on an overnight backpacking trip summitting Mt. Elbert. It was quite the adventure--clearly a sign of things to come.

Here's to 30 years more, Sherpalein. I'm so grateful for us.

Last pic is how we met: college Fall weekend PE credit mountain biking and rock climbing. Sounds quite fitting, doesn't it?! Erik's not sure why he's the only one with a yellow helmet...hmmmm

☘️ read my Sunday Pause gratitude and blessing on St. Patrick's Day https://lauraschmidtlmft.com/category/sunday-pause-mailing/

Thank you, colleagues near and far for your interest, support and referrals! 5 Spring Consultation Group Sets are launched—with clinicians across the country and beyond. I get to mentor and support a wide range of healing professionals

from those in their early stages of learning IFS,
to those seeking Certification,
to advanced clinicians who have been doing this for decades,
to aspiring consult group leaders ready to take a leap into the next step of leading their own groups!

I feel such gratitude I get to be a part of such important work.
I love supporting colleagues in the often isolating, sometimes bewildering life of a therapist and helping you experience the validation that YOU ARE NOT ALONE in your clinical challenges, uncertainties, and sometimes missteps. We need safe. confidential spaces to explore and unpack the internal world of being a therapist.

My Managers now get to relax and settle into rich meetings of connection, validation and learning. The openness and vulnerability has brought tears in more than one group. This is sacred time. Once groups are rolling, I’m reminded that the hard work in trying to herd cats—I mean organize and launch groups :) — is always worth it.

Infinite thanks and gratitude to my mentors, my tormentors, my clients and all the consultees I get to work with. (and all the BTS support for me!)

Onward we go!

Happy International Women's Day!
Celebrating the power, courage, resiliency, perseverance and capacity of women all over the world! I'm grateful to you. Keep going. Keep supporting one another!

Here's my playful part adding Wonder Girl to the mix of white dudes. Someday she'll join them!

It's Solstice Eve ✨Start welcoming in the light with my latest Sunday Pause Mailing! I hope it helps you open your heart to just a little wider to new sources of joy this season.

http://eepurl.com/iGnwPM

❄️ Sunday Pause, Winter Solstice video clips - https://mailchi.mp/1be8b6991f64/sundaysolsticepause

Regardless of how we celebrate the holidays, or not, this is an emotionally loaded time of year. How are your parts about now and what do they need from you to get you to January?

I reflected on this in my Sunday Pause mailing and the spectrum of polarizations December offers us:

expectation and reflection

highs and lows

joys and sorrow

light and darkness

giving and receiving

gratitude and grief

waiting and realizing.

Which ones stand out for you?

We're still waiting for enough snow to shift into ski season.
Here's a peek into the basin we hope to enjoy soon on skis and a last minute ride Saturday before the snow fell...
and now it's melting. The unpredictability of weather offers many good opportunities to hang out with parts!
Waiting, expectation, patience, acceptance, creativity...