Yesterday, I began the 6-month Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy Level 1 training. For those who’ve been following my work, you’ll know I often reference Virginia Satir’s teachings—especially the Satir Change Model and the Personal Iceberg Model. I find her work deeply relatable and aligned with my worldview. She was a visionary, far ahead of her time in both principles and practice. It was through Satir’s work that I first reconnected with the idea of the “wholeness” within myself—and within each one of us.

I feel fortunate to be part of this training and excited to explore and learn from seasoned practitioners. I often imagine Virginia Satir as a powerful matriarch I can tune into for counsel—like an inner voice asking, “What would Virginia Satir do or say in this situation?” Her work, rooted in the Human Validation Process Model, emphasizes the importance of honoring and validating each individual’s experiences, emotions, and perspectives within the family system. Her approach to authentic validation as a foundation for healthy communication and relationships was truly groundbreaking—and still feels incredibly relevant today.

“I believe the greatest gift I can conceive of having from anyone is to be seen by them, heard by them, to be understood and touched by them.”
— Virginia Satir

During one of our discussions, our trainer, Tricia Antoniuk, shared a line that instantly resonated with me:
“The impact of my healing is generational.”

It brought to mind the words of Resmaa Menakem:

Trauma decontextualized in a person looks like personality.
Trauma decontextualized in a family looks like family traits.
Trauma decontextualized in people looks like culture.”

And the same is true for healing.

Healing integrated into a person looks like personality.
Healing integrated into a family looks like family traits.
Healing integrated into people looks like culture.

These simple yet profound reflections stirred something in me—and inspired me to revisit my intentions for advocating healing-centered responses, especially in my parenting. My hope is that my children will grow up learning new ways to meet adversity and change—ways that reconnect them to their agency and the fullness of who they are.

Lana Kristine Jelenjev
Community Alchemist, Speaker, Healing-centered engagement and HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) facilitator, Safer and Brave Space Designer, Author “What’s STRONG With You?”

By Lana Kristine Jelenjev