Positive Masculinity Wednesdays, 6-730PM

/in , /by

When: Wednesdays, beginning July 29, 2026

Time: 6:00-7:30 pm

Where: Online (link provided when registering)

Cost: Free

To RSVP or learn more: jean-paul@liberationinstitute.org

Positive Masculinity is a therapy group for anyone who identifies as a man, including cis and trans men. Together we’ll explore what kind of man we want to be through honest conversation, reflection, and shared experience. We’ll examine the messages we’ve inherited about masculinity with curiosity rather than judgment, exploring how they shape our relationships, work, purpose, friendship, love, fatherhood, sexuality, and the expectations we carry in a changing world. This is not about finding the “right” way to be a man, but about discovering what authenticity, integrity, and connection look like for each of us.

About the Facilitator: JP Jenkins is a clinical mental health counseling intern whose work is informed by over 30 years in the creative arts, mindfulness practice, and a deep interest in relationships, identity, and human flourishing. He integrates mindfulness, somatic awareness, and evidence-based therapeutic approaches to create spaces where people can slow down, reflect honestly, and deepen their relationships with themselves and others. JP is supervised by Brad Byrum (license #T2185)

ep 6. Religion and Healing

/in /by

The conversation with Sophia Moss, a licensed professional counselor associate, delves into the concept of mental wellness, the impact of the current medical model on mental health, and the hope for alternative approaches. The discussion emphasizes the interconnectedness of healing, the harm caused by conformity to societal norms, and the potential for change through critical awareness and diversity in the field of therapy. The conversation delves into the concept of hope and its role in mental wellness, exploring the idea of hope as a catalyst for change and healing. The speakers discuss the power of hope in the context of mental health as a human right, and the role of disobedience, imagination, and individual action in shaping a hopeful future.

Takeaways

  • Mental wellness is about abundance, connection, and community, not just the absence of illness.
  • The current mental health system perpetuates harm by encouraging conformity to societal norms and lacks critical awareness of systemic factors. Hope as a catalyst for change
  • The role of disobedience, imagination, and individual action in shaping a hopeful future

Chapters

  • 00:00 Hope for Alternative Approaches
  • 30:46 The Power of Hope
  • 35:06 Mental Health as a Human Right
  • 36:12 Individual Action and Hopeful Change

Relationships and Intimacy Therapy Group

/in , /by

When: Thursdays

Time: 6-8PM 

Where: via Google Meet

Suggested donation: $5-10 per weekly session. No one turned away for lack of funds. 

To join contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org

Description: This weekly group offers a collaborative space for couples to drop in and learn effective tools for cultivating resources, building a coherent vision for growth, and managing communication strategies. Facilitators Suzanne Astar and Steve Domain are committed to create a safe-space for different relationship styles and configurations, focused on helping couples live the dream they have for their relationship. Group will include techniques from the Gottman Method, and Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT). 
 
Bios: 
 
Suzanne Astar is a Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee. She brings together body-based processing, Narrative Therapy, and Jungian Depth Psychology to help individuals, couples and families reclaim harmonious dynamics and strengthen insight for greater learning. She is both a movement facilitator and bodyworker helping individuals and groups access transformational states of well-being and wholeness. She uses her wisdom and training in these domains to help couples access their deeper truths and navigate challenging areas surrounding behaviors, habits and values. Her passion is to help communities through multi-faceted and interdisciplinary tools including story-telling, creativity and mindfulness.

 Suzanne is supervised by a Licensed Person, LPCC #7498 

BIPOC-Led Mental Health Support Group

/in , /by

When: Thursdays

Time: 4:15pm

Where: via Google Meet

Suggested donation: $5-10 per weekly session. No one turned away for lack of funds. 

To join contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org

A weekly support group for navigating cultural expectations, identity, comparison, emotional overwhelm, and the pressures of modern life.
The group is BIPOC-led and especially supportive for individuals whose experiences are shaped by race, culture, immigration, family systems, and being underrepresented in academic or professional spaces, while remaining open to anyone seeking support, reflection, and community.

Some themes we may explore include:

• Anxiety, stress, burnout, and emotional overwhelm
• Comparison, FOMO, and social media pressure
• Relationships, belonging, loneliness, and identity
• Cultural expectations, generational differences, and family pressure
• Internalized shame, perfectionism, and self-criticism
· Effects of Colonial Values and Historical Trauma 


Facilitators:

Facilitators – Ishan Gala & Taylor Vitug

Ishan:  Hello, I am a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee working with a diverse population through the Liberation Institute. As a second-generation South Asian immigrant, I understand how complex cultural identity and generational experiences can be. I look forward to hearing what each person brings into the group and supporting you through your process.
Some themes I’m interested in exploring include generational differences, cultural expectations, belonging, and developing an identity that feels authentic to the individual while navigating multicultural influences.
It’s important to me that this group welcomes people from all backgrounds, and we aim to create a space where everyone feels seen, respected, and supported wherever they are in their journey.

Taylor: Hi! My name is Taylor Vitug, I am a second generation Filipino American. I’m a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern currently working towards licensure. Growing up between two cultures brings unique challenges throughout the lifespan. Having a supportive community where these experiences are understood can make a meaningful and positive difference. 

I am passionate about making my clients and individuals within this group feel valued, empowered, and seen. My clinical experience includes working with clients with a variety of populations and ages, and I value the opportunity to learn from each person’s unique story and lived experience. I look forward to connecting with clients and offering a space with reflection and support. I hope to see you there!  

 

Mt Tabor Drop-in Meditation

/in , /by

When: Tuesdays in July & August

Time: 7:00-8:00 PM PDT

Where: In person at Mt. Tabor near Reservoir 5 (details will be shared with RSVP)

Suggested donation: Offered by donation, no one turned away for lack of funds.

To RSVP or learn more: Email Liza at lizab@liberationinstitute.org

Join us in the practice of presence and interconnection in the setting summer sun at Mt Tabor! We will gather in the grass to the east of reservoir number 5 at 7:00 PM. There will be a few minutes to talk and greet each other. Then we will find a comfortable meditation posture to practice together for about 25 minutes. Meditations will center around training attention to rest in the present moment, connecting with nature and the beings around us, and a loving-kindness practice. We will conclude with time to ask questions and share our experiences. 

Please bring whatever you need to be comfortable sitting on the earth: blanket, meditation cushion, chair, bench, shawl, water. Feel free to reach out with any questions.   

About the Facilitator: Liza (she/her) first encountered meditation during a month-long yoga teacher training in Baja Mexico in 2007. With her background in botany and ecology, she followed the spiritual path and studied multiple healing modalities to explore the multilayered aspects of healing. In 2018, she completed a traditional three-year, three-month meditation retreat in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and then taught for four years as an Associate Lama. She is now completing her graduate studies in mental health counseling at Prescott College, with an emphasis on ecotherapy, somatic and emotion-based therapy, and is a student intern at Liberation Institute. She also has availability for individual counseling sessions. Liza is supervised by Brad Byrum T2185

Climate Wayfinding, and 8-Week Group Reading Journey

/in , /by

When: Mondays – June 22 to Aug 17 


Time: 5:00-6:30 PM PDT

Where: Online with Liberation Institute (link will be shared with RSVP)

Suggested donation: Offered by donation, no one turned away for lack of funds.

To RSVP or learn more: Email Liza at lizab@liberationinstitute.org

Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home is a newly published book by Katharine Wilkinson, co-editor of All We Can Save and Drawdown. It is a compassionate, empowering guide that helps readers move from climate grief and overwhelm to meaningful action and direction. This book is designed to be read together, building community and support as we learn to navigate the climate crisis. It features interactive elements like journaling prompts, practical exercises, and conversation guides. 

This group will meet for 8 sessions, one for each chapter. Participants will read the chapter beforehand, spending 1-2 hours each week on reading, journaling, and self-reflection. We will then come together to discuss the chapter and engage in group explorations. If you don’t have the book yet, please contact your local library to order it.

For anyone who feels grief, overwhelm, frustration, and a desire to come together to process what is happening locally and globally, this group is for you.   

About the Facilitator: Liza (she/her) has been involved in the eco-crisis since she was a teenager, witnessing the vast harm to our landscapes: open-pit mines, clear-cutting, dams, and bottom trawling our oceans. After completing a degree in botany, ecology, and conservation, she connected with the spiritual path and spent two decades learning about how we really heal. In 2018, she completed a traditional three-year, three-month meditation retreat in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and taught as an Associate Lama for 4 years. She is now completing her graduate studies in mental health counseling at Prescott College, with an emphasis on ecotherapy, somatic and emotion-based therapy, and is a student intern at Liberation Institute. She also has availability for individual counseling sessions if desired. Liza is supervised by Brad Byrum T2185

 

ep 5. Plants and Other Friends

/in /by

The conversation explores the intersection of plant medicine, wellness, and community, highlighting the impact of cannabis legalization on mental and physical health. It delves into the concept of freedom of expression, conflict resolution, and the symbiotic relationship with nature as essential components of wellness. The conversation explores the impact of the current mental health system, the role of capitalism, and the need for collective care and individual empowerment from a young age. It also highlights the importance of community support and the radicalization of children through education.

Takeaways

  • Plant medicine plays a significant role in mental and physical health, particularly in addressing issues such as PTSD and chronic pain.
  • Wellness encompasses freedom of expression, conflict resolution, and a symbiotic relationship with nature, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all living things. Collective care and individual empowerment are essential from a young age.
  • The impact of the current mental health system is influenced by capitalism and the need for community support.

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
  • 05:04 The Role of Plant Medicine in Mental and Physical Health
  • 13:28 The Concept of Wellness and Freedom of Expression
  • 21:24 The Shift in Understanding Suffering and Healing
  • 27:11 The Impact of the Current Mental Health System
  • 44:36 The Role of Education in Radicalizing Children

ep 3. Welcoming the Unknown

/in /by

The conversation begins with an introduction to Miko and his role at the Liberation Institute, followed by a deep dive into Miko’s personal experience and healing journey. The discussion then explores the rediscovery of tradition, understanding suffering and healing, cultural traditions and healing practices, holistic non-dual state and healing, and the challenges of the mental health system. The conversation delves into the evolution of consciousness, the medical model, cultural perspectives, the intersection of science and spirituality, the boundaries of science, ubiquitous intelligence, mental health as a human right, shifting social value, celebrating mental health journeys, radical self-care, and healing justice.

Takeaways

  • Personal healing journey through spiritual practices
  • Cultural traditions and their impact on healing Evolution of consciousness in the face of unprecedented times
  • Shifting social value to celebrate mental health journeys

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction to Miko and Liberation Institute
  • 06:31 Rediscovery of Tradition and Spiritual Practices
  • 12:21 Understanding Suffering and Healing
  • 22:13 Holistic Non-Dual State and Healing
  • 28:16 The Medical Model and Cultural Perspectives
  • 35:06 Ubiquitous Intelligence and Mental Health as a Human Right
  • 42:08 Radical Self-Care and Healing Justice

ep. 4 Plants and Other Friends

/in /by

The podcast episode features a discussion with guest Alicia Navarrette, who shares insights on cannabis, plant medicine, wellness, and personal growth. The conversation delves into the impact of cannabis on health, the symbiotic relationship with plants, and the importance of freedom of expression and healthy conflict resolution in wellness. The conversation explores the power of questions in addressing societal issues, the challenges within the mental health system, and the vision of mental health as a basic human right. It emphasizes the importance of collective care, individual empowerment, and early intervention in shaping a more supportive and inclusive society.

Takeaways

  • Cannabis as plant medicine
  • Symbiotic relationship with plants The power of questions in addressing societal issues
  • Challenges within the mental health system
  • Vision of mental health as a basic human right

Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction and Birthday Wishes
  • 05:32 Impact of Cannabis on Health and Wellness
  • 19:11 Wellness, Expression, and Conflict Resolution
  • 27:11 The Power of Questions
  • 44:36 Mental Health as a Human Right

ep.4 New Ways To Love

/in /by

The conversation explores the themes of mental wellness, healing, and the impact of the current medical mental health model. It delves into the complexities of diagnosis, the importance of witnessing, and the need for alternatives to the existing model. The conversation explores the need for a strength-based approach to mental health care, the impact of diagnosis on access to resources, and the importance of storytelling and imagination in healing. It also delves into the redefinition of relationships and the role of consent. The discussion concludes with a vision for mental health as a basic human right and the changes needed to achieve this.

Takeaways

  • Mental wellness involves being present and aware of the complexity of life.
  • Healing is a process that involves feeling safe to be oneself and being present with one’s own awareness. Strength-based approach to mental health
  • Impact of diagnosis on access to resources
  • The role of storytelling and imagination in healing
  • Redefinition of relationships and the role of consent
  • Vision for mental health as a basic human right

Chapters

  • 00:00 Harm of the Medical Mental Health Model
  • 26:17 Strength-Based Approach to Mental Health Care
  • 38:09 Mental Health as a Basic Human Right