Exploring Satir's Legacy: The Virginia Satir Podcast

Welcome to this special episode, A Virginia Satir-Inspired Meditation for Finding Peace and Connection. This meditation was created for a live gathering of the Satir Global community, crafted specifically to offer a sense of calm and grounding during the heightened anxiety of the united states election season. But whether or not you're facing a moment like that, this meditation is here for you whenever you’re feeling disconnected, anxious, or otherwise dis-regulated. Inspired by the teachings of Virginia Satir, this meditation invites you to reconnect with a place of inner peace, strengthen your sense of self, and find renewed connection with those around you. It’s a time to breathe, let go, and tune into the resources you already have within you. Before we begin, please make sure you’re in a safe, comfortable environment—this meditation is meant to be experienced when you’re able to fully relax, so we ask that you not listen to it while driving or performing any task that requires your attention. May this meditation be a blessing to you, and may it bring peace and resilience to your relationships and to your life. Thank you for joining us today.  

Today’s guest is Mary Leslie, the co-author and editor of a new book, “Virginia Satir’s Evolving Legacy; Transformative Therapy with a Bodymind Connection.” She received her MSW from the University of British Columbia School of Social Work in 1969, served as a sessional faculty member 2008-2013, volunteered in South Africa with camps for vulnerable and orphaned children, has over 30 years’ experience in health care, and has been in private practice since 2001. Trained by Virginia Satir, Mary Leslie has a passion for working with people from all cultures who are on their unique journey towards transformation.  Some of Mary’s early social work experiences were ground-breaking and inspirational. She was part of the team that set up a downtown Vancouver community health clinic and she worked with the Children’s Foundation. Later at St Paul’s, Lion’s Gate Hospitals, and the Northshore Health Unit she participated in setting up the “Closer To Home” palliative care program. She worked extensively in BC for causes related to social justice, peace, and the environment. She is a strong and persistent spokesperson, whose clarity, fairness, gentle manner, and compassion model the values of her conviction to act for a safe and just world.  

Joanne Perold is the director and founder of Faethm, a South African based executive coaching company. She established Faethm to help businesses grow and leaders achieve their full potential. Joanne is a globally acclaimed Agile Coach, Certified Scrum Trainer, keynote speaker and facilitator. She’s held senior leadership roles for many years and uses those experiences in her work as an executive coach. She leverages her deep understanding of complex systems to bring holistic perspectives to her partnering organizations. Joanne has been consulting in and training agile methods for over a decade and combines her experiences as an internal coach and facilitator with her experiences as a consultant. She loves to learn and keeps learning; recently, she has deepened her coaching skills by being trained in the Satir coaching and mentoring program. She brings the human aspects of Virginia Satir’s work to many of the elements of her coaching, training and her work with leadership. She believes what she has learned through the Satir Model has been life changing personally and has been an incredible benefit to leaders and their organizations.  https://www.faethm.co.za/about-us  

Diana Hall went to UC Berkeley and graduated with a B.A. in psychology. Her early career was as a special education teacher. During her many years serving children who were on the spectrum she earned five different credentials in her field and experienced much success engaging her students with experiential interventions.   When she met Virginia Satir, she was inspired to go to grad school and later earned a master's degree in counseling. Diana became a licensed marriage and family therapist applying the Satir Model to help high conflict couples and their children. She became well-known and was invited to present at conferences in relation to her work with domestic violence and couple therapy. While Diana’s relationship to Virginia Satir began as a student, apprentice, and employee of Virginia Satir, Diana Hall reports that it was a great blessing in her life to have become a close friend, confidant, and a dear companion. Diana Hall was named the Satir Global Network Living Treasure in 2016. It is with great joy I welcome Diana Hall as our guest for today’s episode

We have a special treat today as we are honoring the work and life of Dr. Janet Christie-Seely.  She is an important figure in the Virginia Satir world, passing away in 2022 after a battle with Alzheimer’s and complications from Covid.  I will be talking to her surviving husband,  Tom Wright and his and Janet’s friends, Dr. John Banmen and Dr. Richard Kennedy.  Dr. Janet Christie-Seely was a vibrant mother, grandmother, family physician, family therapist, author, artist, lecturer, professor, and trainer of the Satir Model. Janet is remembered for being an avid learner, creative, intelligent, a beautiful spirit, and a non- judgmental human. She pioneered a family systems approach to family medicine, bridging family therapy and medicine, and founded the Ottawa Satir Learning Centre. Janet taught locally and internationally. Janet always saw the best in people and lived life to its absolute fullest with enthusiasm and passion. She leaves a legacy of her paintings, her teachings, her care for a community of patients, and her family, all infused with her revolutionary spirit of meaningful interaction, pioneering innovation, and desire to help people. https://satirglobal.org/tributes/ https://satirglobal.org/product/temperature-reading-poster-pdf/  

Beth Nemesh, PhD, MT-BC, LMFT, holds a PhD in Expressive Arts Therapies from Lesley University. She is a Licensed Marital Family Therapist, a Board-Certified Music Therapist, a Certified Satir Transformational Systemic Therapist (STST), and Certified Body-Mind Psychotherapist. Beth has been working with children, adolescents, couples and families since 1999. She has researched the niche field of family music therapy from both music therapy and family therapy perspectives. She has published articles and presented the topics of family-based music therapy, and musical interventions with families at national and international conferences. She has been conducting workshops and training for family therapists and music therapists in Israel, US and Canada. Beth advocates for the integration of creative arts in family therapy training, and the integration of a family system's perspective in music therapy education. Her unique expertise emphasizes the innovative use of musical interventions in family therapy.

Loveness Makonese is an academic, humanitarian and development practitioner with more than 15 years’ experience. Her work has specialized in Gender, Emergency health, Resilience building, social protection, inclusion and participation, nutrition, HIV and AIDS. She has special expertise in programme design, implementation, evaluation, knowledge management and Joint UN resource mobilization and partnership management. She is currently Deputy Representative for UN Women Zimbabwe. Throughout her career Loveness has worked for United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Zimbabwe Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health, CARE International, Institute of Land, Poverty and Agrarian Studies, Goal International, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN(FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (Smallholder Irrigation) Zimbabwe. Loveness has also provided consulting services for Rebel Advisory Group Better Schools project in Zimbabwe, International Organization for Migration, Zimbabwe Women Resource Network Centre, and research on Gender, Cultural and Social Dynamics of Corruption for Transparency International Zimbabwe. She is a published researcher and author. She has a PhD in Sociology from Rhodes University in South Africa (2013), MPhil in Land and Agrarian Studies from the University of Western Cape in South Africa (2007) and a BSc Degree in Sociology from University of Zimbabwe. She is also a qualified and certified trauma and family counsellor from Connect Zimbabwe.

Today, I have the honor of talking with Dr. Mary Jo Bulbrook.  Dr. Bulbrook is a renowned leader in the field of holistic nursing and energy healing, with a wealth of experience in integrating traditional and alternative approaches to healthcare. She has a distinguished 50 + year career as a university professor and clinical specialist in psychiatric mental health nursing. Dr. Bulbrook assisted in the development of world-renowned family therapist Virginia Satir's teaching organization, Avanta Network, now called the Virginia Satir Global Network. Drawing on their twelve years together, elements from Virginia's teachings and philosophy were integrated with Dr. Bulbrook's holistic nursing theory "Healing From Within and Without". Her expansive background of energy therapies was not only taught throughout USA and Canada but also taken to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Peru where she worked with traditional healers while education professors, nurses, and other health care and lay people. Her journey served to capture the worldwide perspective on education, health and healing to address local, national and international ways to improve the human condition where she gained first hand perspectives on worldwide needs, values and challenges. https://akamaiuniversity.education/ https://www.akamai.university/events-on-line.html  

Welcome to this week’s episode! Today we have a very special guest joining us. Tiffany McLallen, a licensed mental health counselor from Watertown, New York, is here to share her insights and passion for supporting first responders and other helping professionals. Tiffany is on a mission to ensure that those who dedicate their lives to helping others don't succumb to burnout. In her work, she's witnessed firsthand the toll that the demanding nature of these professions can take on individuals. But she's also seen the resilience and dedication that drives these helpers to continue their vital work. Today, Tiffany will be unveiling an exciting new initiative—a support group designed specifically for those in the helping professions. This group aims to provide a safe space for helpers to heal, reignite their passion, and rediscover the sense of purpose that led them to this noble calling in the first place. In a world where the demands on helpers are ever-increasing and the stakes are higher than ever, Tiffany believes it's crucial for these individuals to prioritize their own well-being. As she often says, "The world is on fire, and we need to be at our best to do what we are meant to do."   Connect with Tiffany on Facebook for more information about the closed group a "Helpers Perspective."                                https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090089376845&mibextid=LQQJ4d  or email Tiffany at: tiffanymclallenfadel@yahoo.com   

Today, I have planned a special treat for listeners as I lead us in "The Breath of Life," one of Virginia Satir's meditations published in "Guided Meditations and Inspirations" by Virginia Satir, edited by John Banmen in 2020. This meditation invites us to connect with the essence of our being, to breathe in the gift of life, and to embrace the present moment with gratitude and awareness. Virginia Satir used her guided meditations as a way of helping a group of people become centered and in touch with the physical, cognitive, and intuitive parts of themselves.  Her purpose was to help people grow and fully experience their life energy, access their internal resources and nurture a connection with the universe or their creator.  Before we begin, I must offer a word of caution: Please do not listen to this podcast episode while driving or engaged in any other activity that requires your full attention. These meditations are meant to be experienced in a safe and comfortable environment, where you can fully immerse yourself in the practice without distraction. So, find a quiet space where you can sit or lay down, ready your eyes to close, and prepare yourself to be fully present in this moment. As we embark on this journey inward, may you find peace, clarity, and renewal in Virginia Satir's timeless wisdom. To buy the book: https://satirpacific.org/product/guided-meditations-and-inspirations-by-virginia-satir/

Throughout a career spanning five decades, Dr. Hilda Richards has consistently broken barriers and forged historic change, specifically in the fields of nursing and higher learning. Over the years, at numerous institutions and organizations, she has been dedicated to expanding what we refer to today as diversity, equity, and inclusion. Born in 1936 in St. Joseph, Missouri, Hilda was inspired early on by her mother’s belief in the value of education. Nursing school was the first step in a trajectory that eventually included earning two master’s degrees (in health administration and psychiatric nursing) and a doctorate in education from Columbia University. Among many other accomplishments, Hilda helped create the nursing program at Medgar Evers College of Brooklyn in 1972, where she became chair of the health sciences division. This opened the door for her leadership roles in academic administration as dean, provost, and chancelor—often as the first Black woman ever to hold her position. In this episode, Dr. Hilda Richards talks about her inspiring life which includes time spent with Virginia Satir.  

Our guest today is an internationally renowned trainer and a leading authority of the Virginia Satir Growth Model. With a career spanning decades, Sandy Novak has touched the lives of countless individuals, therapists, and practitioners around the globe. Her passion for teaching and her commitment to spreading knowledge and wisdom has left an indelible mark on the world of family therapy and personal growth. But what truly sets our guest apart is their deep connection to the work of Virginia Satir. Our guest has not only embraced Satir's transformative approach but has also dedicated her life to carrying forward Virginia Satir’s legacy in north America and throughout Asia. Sandy Novak has trained therapists, conducted workshops, and helped countless individuals discover the power of self-awareness, authentic communication, and profound transformation. Today, we have the privilege of hearing about the wealth of experience, insights, and the invaluable lessons Sandy has learned along her journey. From her early interactions with Virginia Satir, to her current role as an international trainer, Sandy Novack’s story is one of dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.

Today’s guest, Jean McClendon, is a licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, and AAMFT-approved supervisor. Jean maintains a thriving multi-service private practice in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and her journey in the Satir world and the field of family therapy is nothing short of extraordinary. What sets Jean apart is her nearly two-decade mentorship by none other than the late Virginia Satir herself. Jean McClendon is widely recognized as one of the world's foremost practitioners and trainers of Satir's Transformative Model. Throughout her career, Jean has crisscrossed the globe, applying the Satir Growth Model to diverse contexts, situations, countries, and cultures. Her work has touched countless lives, and she is celebrated as a Satir Global Network 'Living Treasure'. In her consulting practice, Jean has lent her expertise to a wide array of industries, from family-owned businesses to high-tech corporations, hospitals to governmental agencies. She is a sought-after guide for team and leadership development, conflict resolution, transition management, and change leadership. In today’s episode, Jean discusses her belief that increasing self and system esteem can have a profound impact on the health, relationships, and performance of individuals, families, and organizations. Her unique ability to grasp universal human needs and vulnerabilities makes her an effective agent for planned change in systems of all sizes and kinds. I invite you to join me in a conversation with Jean McClendon—a guardian of the Virginia Satir legacy, a champion of human potential, and an unwavering advocate for healthier relationships and thriving individuals. 

In this episode, we have the privilege of delving into Sharon Loeschen's profound journey. She will share her experiences working alongside Virginia Satir and how she pioneered the immensely successful Satir Coaching and Mentoring program. In collaboration with Ginny Wong, Miriam Freeman, and other esteemed colleagues, the coaching and mentoring program boasts trained coaches and mentors actively engaged in 21 countries across the globe. For more information about the coaching and mentoring program, visit https://satirglobal.org/the-satir-coaching-and-mentoring-specialist-program/    

Our guest, Stephen Buckbee, has not only worked closely with the legendary Virginia Satir but has dedicated his life to spreading awareness of her groundbreaking therapeutic approach. Today, he shares his unique insights, experiences, and his unwavering commitment to carrying forward Satir's legacy. Stephen's journey is a remarkable one, filled with invaluable encounters and profound learnings from his time alongside Virginia Satir. His journey is a testament to the enduring impact of Satir's work on relationships, communication, and personal growth. In this episode, Stephen will not only shed light on his remarkable experiences working with Virginia Satir but also delve into one of his favorite assessment tools, the Satir Self-Mandala. 

In this first episode of season 1, you will be hearing excerpts from an interview I did with Dr. John Banmen at the 2023 Virginia Satir Global Network online conference.  Dr. John Banmen is internationally known as an author, therapist, and educator.  His training programs have taken him to over a dozen countries in Asia, Europe, South America and North America.  John’s co-authored book, The Satir Model: Family Therapy and Beyond (1991), received the AAMFT/Satir Research and Education prize in 1994. Dr. Banmen is the founding president of the BC Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a former member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), a former member of the Board of Directors of the BC Psychological Association, a member of the Board of Directors of the International Family Therapy Association and the founding Director of Training for the Satir Institute of the Pacific. In this interview, Dr. John Banmen shares his thoughts on the current application of Satir’s Model and his vision of its application going forward into the future.  It was quite an honor to sit down with Dr. Banmen, and I know you will enjoy his insights. If you want to see the full interview with the questions and answer session with the audiance, please go to satirglobal.org. Members get full access to all recorded sessions in the 2023 Satir Global Network Online Conference.  

Through candid conversations, we'll explore the rich tapestry of Satir's pioneering work in transformational systemic therapy, a groundbreaking approach that has touched countless lives around the world and continues to shape the way we understand relationships, communication, and personal growth.