Accessing Self

Most of us carry an inner crowd: the voice that pushes harder, the part that withdraws when things get tender, the one that braces for criticism before anyone has said a word. Internal Family Systems (IFS) offers a way to meet that crowd with something other than frustration. At its center is Self, the grounded presence marked by curiosity, compassion, clarity, calm, and connectedness.

Accessing Self is an in-person workshop at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, led by Jeanne Catanzaro. It is an experiential exploration of what becomes possible when you relate to your thoughts, emotions, and protective patterns from Self rather than from inside them. Whether you are new to IFS or already familiar with the model, the invitation is the same: turn your attention inward and see what shifts.

If you have been looking for a workshop that offers both understanding and direct experience, this one weaves accessible teaching with guided practice, so the ideas become something you can feel and use.

What to Expect

The workshop moves between teaching and lived experience. Through an introduction to key IFS concepts, demonstrations, guided practices, reflection, and group sharing, you learn to notice when parts of you have become activated and begin to build a different relationship with them.

Along the way, you explore:

- The dynamics of protectors and exiles
- The process of unblending from parts
- How increased access to Self can support greater choice, self-understanding, and connection with others
- How trauma, attachment, family, and culture shape the roles parts take on and the burdens they carry

Participants leave with:

- A deeper understanding of the IFS model and the concept of Self
- Practical tools for noticing and relating to parts
- Greater awareness of their own internal patterns and protective responses
- Experiential familiarity with practices for accessing qualities of Self
- A framework for approaching themselves and others with more curiosity, compassion, and understanding

No previous experience with IFS is required. Come with curiosity and a willingness to engage in personal reflection. The workshop is educational and experiential, and it is not intended to provide individual psychotherapy or replace mental health treatment.

About the Lineup

Jeanne Catanzaro is a spiritual teacher and a clinical psychologist, holding a PhD, whose work focuses on treating disorders and trauma. At Omega, she leads this exploration of Self within the IFS framework, bringing a clinical understanding of how trauma and attachment shape our inner lives to a setting designed for personal discovery.

MC YOGI is a musician born in San Francisco, California, who grew up immersed in a diverse cultural landscape that shaped his artistic path. His early years were marked by a passion for graffiti art, which became a creative outlet and a form of self-expression, and hip-hop culture became a significant part of his identity. Yoga entered his life in his teenage years and gave him a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him. That journey laid the groundwork for his music and spirituality.

Venue & Logistics

The workshop takes place at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. Omega's published listing notes that tuition covers the workshop itself, while accommodations, which include meals and campus amenities, are booked separately for those who wish to stay on campus. Commuters can attend from off campus. Please check the Omega registration page for current details on lodging, schedule, and any accessibility needs.