Celebrating the Unburdened System: a Talk with Mariel Pastor

Mariel Pastor, an IFS lead trainer, explores her journey into Internal Family Systems, from her initial reluctance to becoming a trainer to her current passion for the model. She recounts her transition from the entertainment industry to therapy, driven by a need for service and a sense of personal inauthenticity. Mariel details the collaborative process of creating the new Level 1 Training Manual, emphasizing its focus on practical application and integration of trainer voices. The conversation highlights the unburdened system mandala, a tool for envisioning parts in their healed states, while cautioning against its misuse as a rigid ideal. Mariel also discusses Character Mapping, a method blending IFS with storytelling to aid artists in character development and self-healing.