Uncategorized – The Liberation Institute

Authentic Movement

Elizabeth Hoke — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 21:22:35 +0000

Authentic Movement is a relational movement practice centered on deep listening, embodied expression, and witnessing. In this practice, one person moves while another witnesses with attentive presence, creating space to be seen in authenticity without judgment or performance. Through spontaneous movement, stillness, and reflection, Authentic Movement invites communication through the body and cultivates awareness, connection, and trust in inner experience.

Facilitator Bio: Sarah-Luella Baker (Sarah-Lu) facilitates Authentic Movement spaces focused on embodiment, presence, and relational witnessing. Their work supports participants in exploring authentic expression through movement, reflection, and compassionate observation. Sarah-Lu is a transdisciplinary artist, witch, somatic practitioner, and experiential evolutionary astrologer. An RSMT/E with an MFA in dance, they weave somatics, ritual, ancestry, astrology, and radical education in service of individual and collective liberation. Sarah-Luella is a graduate student in Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling at Naropa University. Supervisor #: Brad Byrum #T2185

When: 10 AM- noon Saturdays, Sept 12, Oct 10, Nov 7, Dec 12
Where: SE Portland, Location shared upon RSVP. We will provide the Zoom/Google Meet link or physical address after registration to support privacy and confidentiality.
Cost: Donation-based
RSVP Email: [sarah-lu@liberationinstitute.org](mailto:sarah-lu@liberationinstitute.org)

Hawai’i Mindfulness Group

Elizabeth Hoke — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 20:23:47 +0000

Mondays 6-7:30, drop-in, meets virtually, free

Description: “Join us Monday evenings from 6:00–7:30 PM for a free, online mindfulness meditation group. This welcoming drop-in space offers guided meditation, mindfulness and self-compassion practices, and opportunities for group discussion and connection.”

Facilitator: Katrina Kinsley, email directly to join this group katrina@liberationinstitute.org

Bio: “Katrina Kinsley is a Mindfulness-Based Counseling Intern at Liberation Institute Hawaii, providing individual and group therapy. Her gentle, compassionate approach integrates mindfulness-based practices to help clients manage stress, develop effective coping skills, navigate challenges, and strengthen their capacity for emotional well-being. Alongside her clinical work, she facilitates mindfulness and self-compassion groups throughout Hawaiʻi, creating welcoming opportunities for individuals to cultivate greater presence, resilience, and peace.”

Katrina is supervised by Stever Dallmann, PhD

Relationships and Intimacy Therapy Group

Elizabeth Hoke — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:22:02 +0000

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

Elizabeth Hoke — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:20:04 +0000

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!