The Intimacy & Recovery Intensive: An Expressive & Contemplative Journey with Parts-Work (IFS)
June 13th-16th
With Adrienne Glasser, Kathleen Murphy and Mell McCracken (Sunday)
@Pureland Farms Topanga
What we have experienced:
We have often heard the things we learned to do as children to navigate and survive a dysfunctional family got us through, but now as adults get in our way. Often In 12-step programs we call these parts “defects” or rather, defensive parts of ourselves that are also our gifts. Perfectionism, hypervigilance, co-dependency, care-taking, self-abandonment, over-achieving, dissociating, numbing, addictive and compulsive behaviors with substances or with people, intense inner criticism, isolation, denial, reactivity and control are a list of common strategies. When these parts take over we become understandably self-involved- causing chaos or partake in the avoidance of others and our own lives. We created these protective adaptive coping strategies to stave off pain and abuse in childhood. These strategies are what IFS, Internal Family Systems, calls protective parts and they keep us stuck in the patterns and wounds from the past, many rooted in alcoholic or dysfunctional parenting, past abuse and trauma.
How it affects us now:
These ways of moving through the world and relating to ourselves and others keep us in survival mode -- leaves folded, not fully in bloom. Our intrinsic, free, creative, connected and true nature -- what IFS calls Self, is covered by a much needed protective system and for good reason.
We continue to:
-Struggle with intimacy in close relationships
-Fall into over-doing and over committing keeping ourselves too busy to have time for ourselves or close relationships.
-Tell ourselves stories of mistrust like we are “better off alone”, “can do it ourselves” and that “no one else can do it like we can”.
-Have inner critics that continue to beat ourselves up to try to be better
-Feel shame about our past or about current relationship patterns.
-Try to make relationships work, doing the “right thing”at our own expense or avoid getting close.
-Get angry and frustrated or try to control others when they do not behave as we want.
-Know that we are not as aligned with our deep sense of purpose and spiritual connection as we would like to be.
The solution:
We hear so often the medicine is compassion, to turn towards ourselves with curiosity and loving kindness. But how do we grow a practice of loving kindness towards self, to decrease feelings of overwhelm, to soften, and to heal from these old patterns and wounds? How do we move out of surviving into thriving -- to flourish and bloom into this Self?
Cultivating an Expressive Parts-Work (IFS) practice will teach you. This practice will help you to heal the protective parts that keep you stuck. You will learn how to have a relationship with your feelings by identifying emotions in the body. We practice this by noticing sensation, a practice called somatics. How to put your loving arms around yourself and relate to all parts of yourself with a loving soothing kindness. Expressive Parts-Work (IFS) will decrease feelings of overwhelm and increase compassion for yourself and others.
How this results in more intimacy and connection in your life:
When you deepen your embodied connection with yourSelf and all parts of you, you expand your window of tolerance for both unpleasant and pleasant emotions. You also create a more intimate way of relating to different parts of you-which is a relationship. By deepening the intimacy between your Self-awareness and various parts of yourself, you will deepen your capacity for intimacy with others, moving you into more aligned relationships, greater life purpose, pleasure, joy and flow.
What you will receive from this training:
-Clarity on your system of parts and authentic Self that arise in relationships
-More easily access your resources and Self-awareness in challenging situations
-Shift your relational patterns by being more open
-Increase in better boundaries when needed
-More emotional, physical (somatic) and spiritual intimacy with yourself and the ones you love.
-A deeper sense of compassion for yourself and others and a decrease in self-judgment.
-An embodied sense of your spiritual connection.
-A more comfort in connecting with your body on a somatic and physical way and a sense of more body freedom
-Increased authenticity with others and less fear in social situations.
Who your facilitators are:
Adrienne Glasser LCSW, RDMT (she/her) is an experiential psychotherapist specializing in addictions, codependency and trauma resolution. She is certified in Internal Family Systems, IFS, a powerful model of identifying both the egoic parts and authentic self that can heal the embodied trauma that underlies addictions.
She is the developer of Expressive Parts-Work, an experiential and expressive psychotherapy model that combines IFS with somatic, movement, role-play and spiritual interventions for trauma resolution. Adrienne studied somatics, dance movement therapy and the arts at Pratt Institute and was mentored by Tian Dayton. Adrienne runs Beyond Parts-Work trainings and intensives for helping professionals, those in recovery and those in the LGBTQ+ community. She also runs trainings at multiple treatment centers in the Beyond Parts-Work model.
She is a certified meditation instructor, a graduate of Nalanda Institute of the contemplative arts and has been mentored by Ethan Nichtern, Loch Kelly and her teacher Lama Tsultrim Allione.
In addition, Adrienne brings her own personal experience as a queer creative in recovery from addictive behaviors and codependency for over the last 20 years. She believes that we all have the embodied wisdom within to unlock our authenticity and freedom.
Kathleen Murphy M.A., LPC, LMFT
With over 35 years of experience in the behavioral health field, Kathleen Murphy has dedicated her career to supporting individuals facing substance use challenges that are often intertwined with relational trauma and attachment wounds. Her approach combines compassion, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to healing and recovery. In addition to her private practice and therapy intensives, Kathleen has served as the Founding Chief Clinical Officer at Breathe Life Healing Centers for over a decade. In this role, she played a critical part in developing the center's therapeutic methodologies and ensuring that it effectively served the needs of its clients. Her leadership and vision have significantly shaped the center's approach to therapy, focusing on holistic and family recovery. Kathleen has also held the position of Clinical Director and supervisor at ONSITE Workshops. She has also worked at The Meadows in Arizona, where she worked under the supervision of renowned expert Pia Mellody. Her therapeutic approach is remarkably eclectic, drawing from a rich tapestry of practices and modalities, Including Polyvagal Theory, Buddhist Psychotherapy, Trauma-Sensitive and Compassion-Based Practices, Hakomi, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, EMDR, IFS, AEDP, Interpersonal Neuroblology, Psychodramatic Methods and Gestalt. Through her innovative methods, Kathleen helps clients not only to heal from trauma and rebuild healthy connections, but also empowers her clients to quickly move towards exponential personal growth through her direct warmth and loving presence.
Mell McCracken CADC-II, ASAT, RAE (they/them) is a certified Breathwork Practitioner specializing in Holotropic Breathwork. '
Mell is the Executive Director of No Matter What Recovery, a treatment center for mental health and addiction.
Mell is a fierce advocate for healing and transformation through substance abuse counseling, sex addiction therapy, and treatment program development.
They have nearly a decade of experience and extensive expertise in empowering individuals to overcome their struggles with addiction and navigate the complexities of chemsex in the rainbow community.
They are committed to uplifting voices and breaking stigmas, one conversation at a time, and have spent their career fighting for inclusivity and empowerment through chemsex education and LGBT+ activism.
Where it all happens:
Pure land Farms in Topanga California
This program will be offered at Pure Land Farms in the rolling hills of Topanga California, a Buddhist retreat center. The land is named after Tanaduk, the Pure Land of the Medicine Buddha. Pure Land offers courses and workshops in the subjects of Tibetan Medicine, Buddhism, yoga, and rejuvenation, and group practices and small retreats in the Yuthok Nyingthig lineage, the unique spiritual tradition of Tibetan Medicine.
While Intimacy & Recovery is not a Buddhist or Pure Land Farms program ( all spiritual beliefs are welcome) it is connected to both the parts-work teachings of Dick Schwartz (IFS) and Feeding Your Demons, an ancient, shamanic, buddhist, embodied parts-work practice. We will be steeped in both Eastern and Western ways to view parts-work and connections to Lama Tsultirim’s Feeding Your Demons (parts-work) are directly connected to the lineage of Pure Land Farms.
There are beautiful nature walks, a pool, sauna and scenic views that are all part of the incredible landscape of Pure Land Farms. As there is a dedication to Buddhist medicine at the farm, there are fresh herbs and gardens surrounding the property and Tibetan medicine healers that can be booked on-site as a separate service from the program.
Lodging
There is a wide range of lodging options and varied cost. Lodging and airfare cost is separate from the cost of the intensive. There is a wide range of living quarters across the campus from single occupancy with private bathrooms, to bedrooms with shared bathrooms and also beautifully designed yurts for those that enjoy glamping while keeping Tibetian traditions & aesthetics.
Once you have completed your interview and payment, you will be provided with a link to book your stay directly with Pure Land Farms.
Scheduling
Thursday June 12th
It is strongly recommended to arrive the night before programming before sunset to settle and easily find Pure Land Farms-especially if you are flying to LA.
Friday June 13th
Teachers: Adrienne Glasser & Kathleen Murphy
9am-10 check-in
10-12:30 Who we are, fundamentals of recovery, intimacy, and expressive parts-work (IFS)
12:30-2:30 Lunch n Play
2:30-5:30 Experiential Learning & Meditation
5:30-7pm Dinner n Play
7:00-8:00 Evening creativity & connection time
Saturday
Teachers: Adrienne Glasser & Kathleen Murphy
9:30-12:30 Experiential Learning & Meditation
12:30-2:30 Lunch n Play
2:30-5:30 Experiential Learning & Meditation
5:30-7pm Dinner n Play
7:00-8:00 Evening creativity & connection time
Sunday
Teachers: Adrienne Glasser, Kathleen Murphy & Mell McCracken
9:30-12:30 Experiential Learning & Meditation
12:30-2:30 Lunch n Play
2:30-5:30 Experiential Learning & Meditation
5:30-7pm Dinner n Play
7:00-9:00 Movement Journey & Breathwork
Monday
Teachers: Adrienne Glasser, Kathleen Murphy & Mell McCracken
9:30-12:30 Integrations & Closing Ceremony (programming ends)
12:30-2 Optional lunch provided (Participants are welcome on the property until 5pm)
The Beyond IFS
Recovery Intensive
June 2025
Feel, Heal and Thrive!
I understand what it’s like to not live your truth.
And what it takes to live an authentic, connected life of freedom.
I was the “sensitive” person in my family. I was also the caretaker in my family whose salvation was found in helping others, focusing on other people and engaging in addictive and compulsive behaviors to manage my feelings. Simultaneously, I had the resourcefulness or in IFS what they call Self-energy that self-soothed through playing pretend, dancing, and being creative in my own world.
Creativity, true empathy, helping others and seeking truth through chaos has been not only a sacred place of respite but also connection to a higher source for me. These qualities have been my guide to a path of recovery in a myriad of ways-The 12 Steps, somatic/movement therapy, buddhist psychology & practice and the path of parts-work through the psychotherapy model of Internal Family Systems. I simultaneously studied these experiential therapy systems as I healed that required me to be vulnerable and face my own deepest wounds as part of the training. I have seen and experienced first-hand the power of group experiential parts-work and how quickly people transform into living in alignment with their values and bring joy to their everyday lives.
My life experiences and your life experiences are what co-create your healing, support and connection to purpose together. I have taken the best of what I have learned in my many professional trainings and my life experiences of recovering from PTSD, complex grief, disordered eating, addictive behaviors and co-dependency to give you the best methods that actually work. I have created a powerful combination of Experiential Somatic Arts, Buddhist Practices & Parts-Work (IFS) called Beyond IFS to connect you quickly with your authentic self, increase self-compassion and shift habitual patterns.
Beyond IFS Recovery Intensive June 2025
HEAL
protective parts of us that keep us stuck
patterns & wounds from ACOA parenting & past abuse
FEEL
Learn a new, embodied relationship with your feelings to decrease overwhelm
THRIVE
Increase compassion for yourself and others
Deepen intimacy
Move into aligned relationships and
greater life purpose
With Adrienne Glasser LCSW and collaborations from
Kathleen Murphy LMFT, and
Mell McCracken CADC- II ASAT