The Satir Institute of the Rockies

Sandy Novak brings her thirty years of teaching experience and twenty years of learning and teaching the Satir Model. She holds masters degrees in education and counseling psychology and a certificate in family therapy as well as extensive other training, including the two year Module 1 and 2 of the International Satir Training Institute. She has been in private practice for 18 years, specializing in treating couples and trauma. She is a senior adjunct faculty member at Naropa University and faculty member of Avanta, the International Satir Family Therapy Network. She has taught Satir in Eastern Europe, Hong Kong, and North America, assisting Dr Banmen on numerous occasions.

She presented a professional paper at an Oxford University Round Table in July, 2005. She presented on Couples Relationship Enhancement at the Avanta Annual Meeting in Federal Way, WA in 2006 and at the May, 2007 World Family Congress in Prague, Czech Republic. 

Sandy has authored and edited several works on the Satir Model.
 

 

 

 

More about Sandy:
 

Curriculum Vitae

Sandy Novak, MS, MA, SEP, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist

1480 Lee Hill Dr. #7

Boulder, CO. 80304

 

Education

Masters in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology at Naropa University, May, 1997

Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy at Denver University Graduate School of                                                  Social Work ,  May, 1990

Masters in Education at University of Wisconsin, Madison, August, 1976

BA in English and Education at University of Wisconsin, Madison, December, 1972

Satir Model Family Therapy Trainings through Avanta International Institutes, Crested Butte, CO. 1987, 1990

Certificate in Somatic Experiencing Trauma Resolution Therapy (SEP) through the Foundation for Human Enrichment, Niwot, CO, 1992

Training in BODYnamics Developmental Therapy through BODYnamics Institute, Denmark, 1994

Trainings in Brief Satir Systemic Therapy through Satir Institute of the Pacific, 1997-2004

Training in EMDR, Boulder, CO. 2001

Experience

Psychotherapist in Private Practice in Boulder, Colorado, 1989 to present             

Senior Adjunct Faculty, Transpersonal and Contemplative Counseling Departments at Naropa University, 1998 to present, Areas of expertise: Child and Adult Development, Family Systems and Therapeutic Relationships                             

Faculty of Avanta, The Satir International Family Therapy Network, 1994-present              

National Disaster Mental Health Team of The American Red Cross, 2001-2002             

Faculty, Asian International Satir Therapy Advanced Training Institute, Hong Kong, July, 2004

Advisory Board, Douglas College Post- Graduate Family Therapy Certificate Program       Vancouver, BC. 2005-6

 Trainer, Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy, Level One, Boulder, CO. 2005, 2006, Assistant trainer,                     Vancouver, BC., 2007

Licensure

State of Colorado: Licensed Professional Counselor, Number 2011, July 31, 1998

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

Avanta, The International Satir Family Therapy Network, Governing Board Member 6 years, officer 4 years

Satir Institute of the Rockies, Founder and Director of Training

The Satir Institute of the Pacific

American Red Cross Mental Health National Disaster Team

Collaborative Divorce Professionals of Boulder

The Psychotherapy Guild of Boulder

Women Caring for Women

Satir Publishing Committee, affiliated with Satir Institute of the Pacific, chair

Satir Couples Training Workshop Development Committee, chairperson

Publications

 Alleviating Prejudice and Hate: the Strategies of Virginia Satir, (2006).The Satir Journal: Transformational                     Systemic Therapy, vol. 1, 65-80.

How V. Satir Affected Me. (2006).  In Honoring Virginia Satir and Her Legacy, (pp. 10-11) Burien, WA: Avanta                 Network

On editorial committee of book soon to be printed, name yet to be determined, “Satir Verbatim”  to be published by Zweig,  & Tucker

Presentations
“Couple Enrichment”, presentation at the 2006 Satir Multi-disciplinary Conference titled Virginia Satir’s 90^th Birthday and Her Global Legacy, Seattle, WA. Aug. 2006

“The Relational Self” presentation at 30^th Anniversary Contemplative Psychotherapy Conference, Naropa University, Boulder, CO., May, 2006

“The Effect of Trauma in Early Childhood on the Development of the Self”, a paper                                                        presented at the Child Psychology Round Table Symposium, Oxford University,                                                                 UK, July, 2005

“Enhancing Couples Communication Using the Satir Model”, a one day training for                                                          couples, Kitchener, Ontario, July, 2005

“Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy, Level One”, a  ten day training in the Satir Model                                            given to therapists and graduate students, 2004-5, 2005-6, Boulder, CO.

                “International Satir Advanced Counseling Practicum”, supervisor of trainees in Hong Kong,
                            China, July, 2004.

                Teaching Assistant for Ergos Institute, Trainings in Somatic Experiencing, 1998-present

                "Enhancing Your Communication Through Satir's Tools for Change", a four day
                        workshop at the "Power to Create Change Conference", Waterloo, Ontario, August, 1996 and at                               the Avanta Network Annual Meeting, Crested Butte, CO, 1997

"Satir Works! The Satir Model: Applications in Counseling" part of an international series of two day trainings for mental health workers and therapists,  Denver, Co. May 1997 

          "Through Healthy Families to Healthy Individuals", a two week training for students and professionals,                     Humanitarian Institute, Riga, Latvia, E. Europe, 1998

Courses Taught

                Child Development in TCP Dept., Naropa University, 3 credits

                Family Systems in TCP Dept., Naropa University, 3 credits

                Child Development in MACP Dept., ., Naropa University, 2 credits

                Human Development in MACP Dept., Naropa University, 2 credits

                Family Process in MACP Dept., Naropa University, 2 credits

                Therapeutic Relationships in MACP Dept., Naropa University, 2 credits

Dr John Banmen, R Psych. has an international reputation as an author and educator, training thousands of therapists across the globe. He has taught in Canada, the Czech Republic, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Slovakia, Taiwan, Thailand, Venezuela and USA. He has co-authored The Satir Model: Family Therapy and Beyond. He has also co-edited two other books and recently edited Satir Today, a special issue of Contemporary Family Therapy Journal. Dr Banmen is the founding president of the British Columbia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; a former member of the board of Directors of the American Association for Marriage ad Family therapy (AAMFT); a recent member of the Board of Directors of the British Columbia Psychological Association and of Avanta, the International Satir Network; the Director of Training for the Satir Institute of the Pacific; and a retired professor from University of British Columbia and a trainer with Virginia Satir at the Satir International Summer Institute for ten years. He is presently an Associate Professor at the University of Hong Kong.

The Satir Institute of the Rockies is dedicated to training in the teachings of Virginia Satir. Satir’s Transformational Systemic Therapy is the most dynamic, effective therapy ever known.

Virginia Satir (1916-1988) is internationally recognized for creativity in the practice of family therapy. Based on a conviction that people are capable of continued growth, change & new understanding, her goal was to improved relationships & communication within the family unit.

Referred to as the “Columbus of Family Therapy” and “everybody’s family therapist”, Satir stayed at the forefront of human growth and family therapy until her death in 1988. Virginia Satir, founder of the Satir Model, believed that therapy is an intense experience with the inner self. The counselor/therapist helps and encourages the client not only to accept and deal with the pain and problems but also accept and live an inner joy and peace of mind.

The Satir Institute of the Rockies provides training in Satir’s Transformational Systemic Therapy with both Level 1 and Level 2 classes. Please browse our site and Contact Us with any questions.