Restore Trust in Your Self: A Retreat for Internal Family Systems Therapists and Practitioners

The work of holding therapeutic space is sacred—and exhausting. If you're an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist or practitioner, you know the subtle erosion that happens when helper parts gradually eclipse your own Self energy. The protective parts meant to serve your clients become overactive in your own system, breeding self-doubt, wavering effectiveness, and quiet burnout. This four-day residential retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge, MA (October 18–21, 2026) offers what you may have forgotten you need: a chance to turn inward and restore trust in your own wise, embodied Self.

Led by Senior IFS Therapist and Approved Clinical IFS Consultant Laura Schmidt, this healing retreat creates intentional space for practitioners to befriend their hard-working Helper parts and strengthen their relationship with Self. Through experiential practice, somatic exploration, creative work, live demonstrations, and guided reflection, you'll examine how cultural and legacy burdens shape your clinical Protectors—and discover that your Self is genuinely enough, for your clients and for you.

This is not a training. This is a homecoming—a chance to remember what drew you to this work in the first place, and to practice the same deep internal trust you guide others toward.

What to Expect

Over four days, you'll engage in a carefully woven blend of practices designed to reconnect you with your own Self leadership:

- Experiential IFS work tailored to the specific challenges practitioners face
- Somatic and creative exploration to befriend protective and helper parts
- Live demonstrations showing real-time internal work
- Guided group reflection held in confidentiality and compassion
- Restorative time within Kripalu's nourishing, retreat-centered environment

You'll leave with a renewed sense of what it means to practice from a resourced, trusting place—and practical tools to sustain that Self-connection in your daily work and life.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, a renowned healing sanctuary in Stockbridge, MA, nestled in the Berkshires. All four days are residential, allowing you to fully immerse in the work and the supportive community. Kripalu provides meals, accommodations, and a peaceful setting designed for deep practice. Please wear comfortable clothing suitable for sitting, somatic movement, and creative expression. The venue is accessible; contact Kripalu directly for specific accessibility inquiries.