Laura Lively is a Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner and a Certified Life Coach. Using IFS, Laura healed the Parts of her that used alcohol as well as used IFS to lose over 150 lbs., which she’s now kept off for over 3 years. After finally changing lifelong issues with her weight because of the work she did with IFS, she trained and became certified so that she could help others experience healing, as she did. Listen to Laura’s podcast You and All Your Parts as well as her interview on The Kick Sugar Coach Podcast.

Healing is possible! We Invite you to join our compassionate communities where you can make meaningful connections and receive support on your PATH to Healing Addiction and its Underlying Trauma.

PATH is an international non-profit organization centered on improving the lives of people all over the world struggling with addiction and its underlying trauma. As a voice for recovery, we bring individuals together, creating compassionate, HEART-centered communities where people can grow and thrive by HEaling from Addiction and Recovering from underlying Trauma.

We are guided by Internal Family Systems, Mindful Self-Compassion, body-oriented procedures, and trauma-informed practices, seeking to embody a sense of safety and care as we heal.

Nadine is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, and Certified Soul Collage® Facilitator. She has been providing therapeutic services to children, teens, parents, and adults for over 30 years. Treatment settings include adolescent psychiatric hospitals, adult residential programs, public/private schools, and community outpatient treatment centers. Nadine received her Master of Science degree in Counseling from Fitchburg State University and earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University. She founded PATH as a means to connect with others in recovery who follow the IFS model of healing. Listen to Nadine’s interviews with Duffy Spencer on her radio show called “Just Relations” as she explores her own addiction with sugar:

For more information contact Nadine at nadineelucas@gmail.com.“

David M Kerwin celebrated thirty-nine years of recovery on December 11, 2021. He has been an RN since 1975 and is an Addiction and Dual Diagnosis Counselor. He owns and operates a Life & Recovery Coaching practice in Central Illinois. David is also Level I, II & III trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) as well as IFS Couples, Intimacy from the Inside Out (IFIO).

David and his lovely wife have been married over forty-five years. They have been blessed with four adult children and seven grandchildren. In his free time, David enjoys painting.

Listen to David’s interview on NPR Illinois with Vanessa Ferguson

DAVE SINCLAIR

PATH Meeting Facilitator

Dave Sinclair is a Men’s S.E.L.F. -Leadership (Self Energizing Life Force), and Recovery coach based in Alberta, Canada. Dave is a professionally certified IFS and Trauma informed coach (PCC), iEQ9 Enneagram Guide, 3VQ Coach/Facilitator, and a certified meditation instructor. All this comes together in the work between Dave and his clients who find themselves recovering from things such as chronic stress, disconnection from a sense of meaning and purpose, loss of identity, often time which are accompanied with some form of process or substance addiction.
Dave also holds an MBA, is certified as an Exit Planning Professional (CExP), and a Transition Planning Consultant (TPC), and these specific skills seem to resonate with business owners, and career professionals who find themselves overwhelmed. It may be a bit tongue in cheek, but Dave often introduces himself as a “Recovering Business Owner”. What he does bring is a sense of understanding and compassion as Dave has walked a mile in those shoes…

DIANA RICHARDS

PATH Meeting Facilitator

As a registered, licensed dietitian for over 20 years and nutrition therapist, Diana offers a non-diet approach in setting a foundation of curiosity for clients to discover their own eating philosophy and beliefs. She partners with other IFS colleagues to offer introductory and continuing education courses to other nutrition professionals. She is a Level 3 certified IFS practitioner, serves as training staff for many trainings and retreats, and participates in IFIO couples’ training. She offers consultation to dietitians and therapists interested in integrating IFS into their practice. Diana offers safety and warmth to all people regardless of shape, size, age, faith, gender, ethnicity, skin color, and sexual orientation. For more information:

KAREN STEWART

PATH meeting Facilitator

As a mental health psycho-social support specialist, Karen has over 30 years of experience in a wide variety of settings, from community mental health to hospital psychiatric emergency. For 10 years, she served as a mental health specialist for Doctors Without Borders throughout Asia and Africa.

Karen is a LCSW in CO & CA, a trained IFS therapist and a certified meditation teacher. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, a survivor of trauma and in long-term recovery from drugs and alcohol, she has utilized IFS in her own personal healing work.

DR. JUDITH BELTON

PATH Meeting Facilitator

As the Founder and Executive Director of International Federation On Family Life, formerly The Trauma Recovery Consulting and Coaching Community, LLC. Dr. Judith “Jai” Belton holds certifications and varied professional helper experiences. Dr. Jai is a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach Supervisor, Certified Family Trauma Specialist, and Grief and Loss Specialist. Dr. Jai has over three decades of experience in Family Systems, Mental Health and Addictions Counseling, Recovery and Life Coaching, Workshop Facilitation, Consulting and Training for Trauma-Informed and Responsive Practices, Curriculum Development, Diversity, Inclusion, Cultural and Social Justice Initiatives. She is a proud mom of two grown people, a doting Mimi to her granddaughter, a wild bird mom and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

BOBBI PARISH

PATH Meeting Facilitator

Bobbi is a survivor of both childhood developmental and adult interpersonal trauma, and has been in recovery for decades. She has a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and was initially trained in Family System’s Theory. In 2014 she retired from Therapy and began practicing as a Trauma Recovery Coach. She is now the Executive Director of The International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching, which offers five different certifications for Trauma Recovery Coaches, all that were developed and written by Bobbi. She is now training in Internal Family Systems, which she finds to be a perfect complement to her Family System’s training. She is also trained in Polyvagal Theory, Neurofeedback, Breathwork and HeartMath — finding that a balance between Somatic and Internal Family System approaches are a beautiful pairing for facilitating a trauma survivor’s healing.

ANNIE MCCREA

PATH meeting Facilitator

Annie combines her 32 years as an RN with extensive Trauma Recovery Education to bring healing and hope to others as a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach. As a survivor of complex PTSD and chronic health conditions brought on by trauma, Annie believes in the power of our bodies and minds to overcome, heal and thrive.Annie is IFS informed through continuing education, will be trained in IFS for Coaches, and works personally with an IFS trained therapist.Annie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. They have 2 grown children. She is currently training her Godlendoodle Bess to be a Therapy Dog, loves to spend time outdoors and is enduring a never-ending remodel of her home.

RYTA KUNCIUNAS

PATH Meeting Facilitator

Ryta, who has a Masters in Counselling, did her psychotherapy training in Hakomi Integrative Psychotherapy (with an IFS component). She worked as a clinician in the welfare sector for over 20 years in Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies, Residential Youth, and Aged Care. Ryta has completed the IFS Circle Training and has had a part time private practice. She has lived experience as a trauma survivor and has been on this planet, mostly in Melbourne, Australia since 1959!

ACHARA TARFA

Achara uses compassionate coaching for complex trauma to support survivors of sexual abuse, racial trauma, religious trauma, narcissistic abuse, domestic violence, and high-conflict divorce. With over 20 years of experience in mentorship and communication disorders, she is also dedicated to helping clients with ADHD and parents of children with ADHD understand executive functioning skills and the neurological aftereffects of trauma. As a trauma survivor herself, using her education, unique skills of courage and resilience, and lived experience, she is able to provide safe spaces for her clients to be seen and grow into their authentic selves in order to develop secure attachments in relationships. For more information: https://acharatarfa.com

Nadine Lucas, LMHC, RPT, SoulCollage® Facilitator

PATH Founder/President & PATH Workshop and Meeting Facilitator

As a person in recovery, Nadine understands the challenges that people struggling with “addiction” may face. She believes that understanding, educating, and raising awareness of how trauma plays a role in addiction is a fundamental step in ending the cycle of addiction around the world.

“I have a history of disordered eating and attended Overeater’s Anonymous on and off for over 30 years. I found the program and support helpful. I wasn’t alone anymore! I developed a loving relationship and trust with my sponsor. She validated my experiences and loved me unconditionally, which brought me tremendous healing.

Recently, in my 50s I discovered IFS. It has changed. My. Life! It is a completely different paradigm than 12 step programs, one that resonated with me on a profound level. I fell in love with IFS… and found that it provided a roadmap for deep healing from the trauma underlying my addictions. Trauma is at the root of addiction and in IFS, Self-compassion is at the root of healing. Compassion, which is love, heals inner conflict and suffering. This is done by befriending all aspects of ourselves and developing an internal relationship of self-love.

The IFS language and paradigm is unique. I found myself longing to share my IFS experience of healing with others utilizing the model. But there were no IFS support programs for folks like me in recovery from addictions and trauma. Then one day I had an epiphany. Why not create support groups based on IFS language and principles!? Hence, PATH was born.”

For more information: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/
therapists/nadine-lucas-northborough-ma/464823

Body Confidence and Food Freedom Workshop Facilitator

As a registered, licensed dietitian for over 20 years and nutrition therapist, Diana offers a non-diet approach in setting a foundation of curiosity for clients to discover their own eating philosophy and beliefs. She partners with other IFS colleagues to offer introductory and continuing education courses to other nutrition professionals. She is a Level 3 certified IFS practitioner, serves as training staff for many trainings and retreats, and participates in IFIO couples’ training. She offers consultation to dietitians and therapists interested in integrating IFS into their practice. Diana offers safety and warmth to all people regardless of shape, size, age, faith, gender, ethnicity, skin color, and sexual orientation

Bloom Your Authentic Self Workshop Facilitator

Maria Mellano and Nadine Lucas, LICSW/CP, is an experiential psychotherapist licensed in Massachusetts as a clinical social worker with over twenty years of experience. Maria is an IFS trained, certified psychodramatist, soul-aligned money and business coach and course creator. Maria is passionate about creating transformational growth in her clients’ lives, devoted to living and teaching a life led by the heart. She works with clients of all genders to heal and integrate the mind, body, and soul so they can grow purposeful lives they love.
https://www.bloomalifeyoulove.com/Authentic-Self-Workshop-Learn-More-and-Register

Facilitated by:
Nadine Lucas (More Information)
Maria Mellano (More Information)

Trauma-informed yoga sessions that help folks to mindfully move their bodies and get in touch with their bodies, mind, and spirits; rebuilding yourself into the healthiest version of yourself.