In 2020, shortly after the world seemed to shut down for COVID,  I began a program called Grit. It was a workshop led by Everett Considine within Bright Line Eating (BLE). Grit was aimed at helping us recognize how we respond with food to the stress of a shut down, or other stressors. It used this thing called Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) but I didn’t need a therapist because I was learning how to work with my own inner system and these things called “parts”. I also was paired with another participant, and we were able to help each other work with their parts.

After Grit came another program called Freedom. Both of these were focused on food-related parts but as most of us who struggle with eating disorders know, it’s not just about the food. I shared that program with a friend, Jody with whom I had attended graduate school. A short time later she told me about this man, Dr. Peter Malinoski who spoke at the Catholic Psychotherapy Association conference about IFS from a Catholic perspective. She asked if I thought she should reach out to him, and I said sure. To shorten a long story, Jody’s contact with Dr. Peter led to a community of therapist and eventually me working with the Resilient Catholic Community.

While Jody was working to connect with Dr. Peter, she and several other classmates began doing a PESI course on IFS. I mentioned to Jody that I liked the accountability of a buddy that I was getting in the BLE programs, but I didn’t think it was the right program for me long-term. I liked the IFS part and began to pursue training through the IFS Institute. Jody and I started talking about a mastermind group or accountability group and what that would look like. After a fashion, we invited Laura, Jennifer, and Adele thinking that only 1 or 2 would join us. Much to our surprise and blessing they all said yes.

In January of 2021, our Inner Circle was formed and an appointment from 9 AM-10:30 EST on Thursday, has been on my calendar each week since. I feel like I must note the courageousness and fortitude of Jody and Adele who live in British Columbia and are joining us at 6 AM local time! Most weeks, I think Jennifer, Laura and I are pushing it to make it at 9 AM. None the less, we made a commitment and as much as humanly possible we are present, and we don’t book anything in that time slot.

We had an agenda when we started our meeting that was to be able to do an IFS parts check-in with each other and then to have an opportunity for case consultations or whatever support was needed. We agreed to re-evaluate if it was meeting our needs which it was and it has continued ever since. Many of us have moved from working for someone else to starting our own businesses and having support along the way has been invaluable.

Others have asked us to create what we have but there isn’t a cookie cutter answer. We are all IFS therapists, graduates of Divine Mercy University and women. We are in different states of life and spread across North America. As many of us look at another Zoom meeting on our calendar as a form of torture, this Zoom meeting has been life giving. I know these ladies have my back. When parts of me are “All Parts’d Up” they are there to hold space for me. I know that it takes commitment but most of all, it takes love.

Because we share so much, it was a natural progression to consider what it would be like to work together and thus, Integrated Hearts was conceived. Three states and 2 countries does not make for easy bookkeeping and taxes so we decided we would all share the Integrated Hearts name but keep our business separate. Laura has her company which is Interior Freedom. Jennifer has Integrated Hearts Counseling and Consultation. I have Trinitas. Jody and Adele are each operating their own business under Integrated Hearts. We have plans to eventually form an official company that shares more than a website but 5 counselors and their parts does not mean we have the direction, time and expertise to get it all done.

Trinitas is a nod to me being a Third Order of the Most Holy Trinity. The founding intention of St John de Matha at the end of the 12th century was the ransom of Christians held captive by nonbelievers, a consequence of crusading and pirating along the Mediterranean coast of Europe. Their motto “Trinitati Gloria, Captivis Libertas, and in its title, Ordo Sanctae Trinitatis et (redemptionis) Captivorum”.

The motto and name speak to the order’s spirituality: God-Trinity and redemptive charity. Their early work to love by ransoming captives who are unjustly deprived of their freedom or damaged in their dignity has manifested in countless ways in my life since my call and profession in 1995. Today, I think of the many ways that sin in the form of trauma and neglect holds a person hostage interiorly and I am able to witness the healing power of the Most Holy Trinity as I accompany a person through inner healing.

Wherever Integrated Hearts and Trinitas take me I am so grateful for Jody, Adele, Laura and Jennifer. These ladies are the sisters I never had and there are not enough words to say how much I love them! Now, Trinitas has given me the opportunity to work with Janet and Lori, who have beautiful hearts, and I am excited to see where the Lord takes us!

Our Lady of Good Remedy, Pray for us!

Blessed Anna Maria Taigi, Pray for us!

Blessed Elizabeth Canori Mora, Pray for us!