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Nadine Lucas
PATH Program
Founder
SESSION DETAILS
PATHWAY:
RECOVERY CAPITAL
SESSION TITLE:
Exploring Compassionate Recovery Through the Lens of Internal Family Systems with PATH Program

SESSION DESCRIPTION:
Healing is possible! We Invite you to join our online compassionate communities where you can make meaningful connections and receive support on your PATH to Healing Addiction and its Underlying Trauma.
PATH is an international non-profit organization centered on improving the lives of people all over the world struggling with addiction and its underlying trauma. As a voice for recovery, we bring individuals together, creating compassionate, HEART-centered communities where people can grow and thrive by Healing from Addiction and Recovering from Underlying Trauma.
We are guided by Internal Family Systems, Mindful Self-Compassion, body-oriented procedures, and trauma-informed practices, seeking to embody a sense of safety and care as we heal.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) offers a unique perspective on who we really are. According to Richard Schwartz (2021), who developed the model, Internal Family Systems is a “Revolutionary paradigm of understanding and relating with ourselves – a method that brings us into inner harmony, enhances self-compassion, and opens the door to spiritual awakening.”
Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to
1. Understand the principles and practices of PATH to Addiction and Trauma Healing – An international non-profit organization.
2. Describe the benefits and goals of the PATH Program
3. Understand and describe the 8 Insights:
Insight One: I Am Self – The leader of my internal system whose presence is compassionate wisdom.
Insight Two: I Have Parts – May I be open to the idea that they have differing needs and perspectives.
Insight Three: We Live in a Body – May I respectfully seek awareness and connection.
Insight Four: All Parts Are Welcome – May I accept that they hold a positive intent
Insight Five: I am more than my behaviors – May I be willing to examine their motives with an open heart.
Insight Six: I Notice When Parts Become Activated – May I be Self-led and willing to speak for my parts
Insight Seven: May I heal my burdens – Which allows my parts to express their inherent gifts.
Insight Eight: I Take Care of My System – May I be present as a source of strength for my parts.
4. Basic assumptions of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model and concepts of Self and parts (managers, firefighters, and exiles).
• Role of compassion
• Addictive processes through an IFS lens - Explore healing and recovery
5. Meetings: purpose, what to expect
BIOGRAPHY:
Nadine Lucas is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. She has been providing therapeutic services to children, teens, parents, and adults for over 30 years. Treatment settings include adolescent psychiatric hospitals, adult residential programs, public/private schools, community outpatient treatment centers, and private practice. Nadine received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Bridgewater State University in 1988, Master of Science degree in Counseling from Fitchburg State University in 2008, and earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Expressive Therapies from Lesley University in 2016.
Nadine is the president and founder of the PATH Program for Healing Addiction and Underlying Trauma (www.path2recovery.org). She founded this international non-profit organization in hopes of improving the lives of people all over the world struggling with addiction and its underlying trauma. Her goal is to connect with others in recovery who follow the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of healing; a psycho-spiritual therapeutic model developed by Richard Schwartz over four decades ago. As a voice for recovery, PATH strives to bring individuals together, creating compassionate communities where people can grow, thrive, and develop Self-leadership skills. PATH offers free online support groups, events, and a variety of resources for recovery. In addition to Internal Family Systems (IFS), PATH is guided by Mindful Self-Compassion, body-oriented healing, and trauma-informed practices. As a person in recovery, Nadine understands the challenges that people struggling with “addiction” may face. She also believes that understanding, educating, and raising awareness of how trauma plays a role in addiction is a fundamental step in ending the cycle of addiction around the world.
“PATH focuses on a harm-reduction principle, in which each member is invited to explore whether or not their current behaviors benefit them or harm them. They acknowledge that many people hold shame-based emotions or multi-generational shame, and so know the strength of a non-dogmatic and inclusive approach. All participants and all of their parts are welcome.” https://traumaresearchfoundation.org/lets-get-to-know-path/
Nadine has a history of disordered eating and food/sugar addiction due to underlying childhood trauma and a history of family alcoholism. Treatment has included ongoing individual therapy and attending 12-step programs such as Overeater’s Anonymous and Al-anon. While Nadine recognizes that 12-step programs help millions of people around the world and maintains great respect for them, she personally struggled with the patriarchal language, pathologizing principles, and what felt like a lack of personal agency. On the other hand, she felt empowered by the concepts of “Self” and “parts” in the IFS model. According to Richard Schwartz (2021), who developed the model, “Internal Family Systems is a revolutionary paradigm of understanding and relating with ourselves – a method that brings us into inner harmony, enhances self-compassion, and opens the door to spiritual awakening.”
Through her healing journey with IFS, Mindful Self Compassion, and PATH, Nadine has experienced a spiritual awakening. Her roles in life have completely transformed from those of “survivor” and “victim” to where she feels empowerment, strength, and joy. She believes that self-compassion is the key! Nadine is eternally grateful for the Internal Family Systems paradigm of Self-leadership/healing and has dedicated her life to bringing these teachings to others around the globe. Finally, Nadine whole heartedly believes in the words of Carl Jung, “Am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.”