Our next Parts Work Unconference is on May 27th!
Our 5th Parts Work Unconference is happening in less than a month, on Saturday, May the 27th 2023 - get your (free) ticket, come and share!
What is an Open Space Unconference?
It is a participatory event based on the Open Space Technology, bringing together participants sharing about IFS and other Parts Work related practices.
We believe that a community of practice is of primary importance, and we love this system that allows people to connect, share what they have learned, and connect with others sharing similar interests, passions, practices, and, let’s be honest with it, challenges.
Some participants described it like this:
A place where people want to gather to speak for their parts, allow parts to decompress, learn, and resonate with other parts like themselves. A place where we can practice what it feels like to find and live from Self -and Self-led parts- while in the company of others attempting to do the same.
A welcoming, open, heart-centred and non-judgemental space for people from different backgrounds, abilities and cultures to share their knowledge and experiences of using the Internal Family Systems model to process personal and collective adverse life events.
The Parts Work Unconference, similar in structure to open space technology and task parties, gathers a group of people who want to explore IFS and invites them to host sessions based on areas of interest, curiosity, or expertise. The sessions are spread over 4 time bands with a possibility of 52 sessions, both open and closed. The “session marketplace” evolves organically as the day unfolds, with participants choosing freely how and where they want to engage.
What to expect?
Good question!
It is participant led: what happens is what happens. It is not a training, not group therapy, not a workshop, nor a normal conference with keynote speakers (even if we have some people coming that we are really excited about): we fill in the schedule during the event, and we join the sessions we are called to join (or propose one if we feel the calling).
It can feel a bit challenging for our parts that need to know what is going to happen, and yet it works.
Don’t take our word for it:
I attended this event, having no idea what to expect. I left this event feeling totally inspired, in awe, and uplifted by the power of community. Deeply grateful that I attended and I intend to continue coming for years to come!
The Unconference was a surprise for me. I didn't know what to expect. For me it was an inspiring, creative, rewarding way to connect, to create and to work together, to be together. I learned a lot, both by giving and by participating in sessions. Very welcoming energy to share skills, insights and experiences. It was a great joy, it was a gift.
My parts have been in a 2-3 year deficit for intimate, humane, safe, self-aware, self-responsible conversations. The pandemic (and the often harshness of the internet) have engendered conversations that can feel the opposite to these. Here, I talked and listened, and felt commonality, warmth, belonging. So thankful for this deep nourishment. Attending will be a priority now.
If it helps, here are some sessions from our 4th Parts Work Unconference:
Spiritual Emergency / The Dark Night of The Soul by Alex
Mapping & tracking your parts by Pau
Using IFS to get results by Bill
The Integral Guide to Well-being by Levi
IFS & Grief by Anja
Parts Dance Party by Sid
How to contribute and support?
Well, first of all, come. It is free.
Spread the word, and let people that are interested know. This is non for profit, and relies fully word of mouth. Our marketing parts are not that professional. We are blowing on a dandelion, hoping the seeds reach the right places. (So far, they did)
Support us during the event: tech a human support is always welcome.
Propose something else we have not thought about (just write us).
Other updates:
We published an essay on IFS and facilitation, on the ways in which supporting a participatory event is similar to supporting an inner system (ours, or others).
In case you want to work with us for coaching and therapeutic coaching:
here is Alex, and here is Pau. Pau is pretty booked out, Alex has still some availability.