The Wonderful Sandy Novak and Her Experiences Teaching the Satir Model

02/05/24 • 37 min

The Virginia Satir Podcast: Exploring Satir's Legacy

Our guest today is an internationally renowned trainer and a leading authority of the Virginia Satir Growth Model. With a career spanning decades, Sandy Novak has touched the lives of countless individuals, therapists, and practitioners around the globe. Her passion for teaching and her commitment to spreading knowledge and wisdom has left an indelible mark on the world of family therapy and personal growth.

But what truly sets our guest apart is their deep connection to the work of Virginia Satir. Our guest has not only embraced Satir's transformative approach but has also dedicated her life to carrying forward Virginia Satir’s legacy in north America and throughout Asia. Sandy Novak has trained therapists, conducted workshops, and helped countless individuals discover the power of self-awareness, authentic communication, and profound transformation.

Today, we have the privilege of hearing about the wealth of experience, insights, and the invaluable lessons Sandy has learned along her journey. From her early interactions with Virginia Satir, to her current role as an international trainer, Sandy Novack’s story is one of dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to making the world a better place.

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undefined - A Conversation with Jean McClendon: Discussing the Self-Esteem Maintenance Tool Kit, Family Maps, Family Reconstructions, and her mark in the Satir world

A Conversation with Jean McClendon: Discussing the Self-Esteem Maintenance Tool Kit, Family Maps, Family Reconstructions, and her mark in the Satir world

Today’s guest, Jean McClendon, is a licensed clinical social worker, licensed marriage and family therapist, and AAMFT-approved supervisor. Jean maintains a thriving multi-service private practice in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and her journey in the Satir world and the field of family therapy is nothing short of extraordinary.

What sets Jean apart is her nearly two-decade mentorship by none other than the late Virginia Satir herself. Jean McClendon is widely recognized as one of the world's foremost practitioners and trainers of Satir's Transformative Model.

Throughout her career, Jean has crisscrossed the globe, applying the Satir Growth Model to diverse contexts, situations, countries, and cultures. Her work has touched countless lives, and she is celebrated as a Satir Global Network 'Living Treasure'.

In her consulting practice, Jean has lent her expertise to a wide array of industries, from family-owned businesses to high-tech corporations, hospitals to governmental agencies. She is a sought-after guide for team and leadership development, conflict resolution, transition management, and change leadership.

In today’s episode, Jean discusses her belief that increasing self and system esteem can have a profound impact on the health, relationships, and performance of individuals, families, and organizations. Her unique ability to grasp universal human needs and vulnerabilities makes her an effective agent for planned change in systems of all sizes and kinds.

I invite you to join me in a conversation with Jean McClendon—a guardian of the Virginia Satir legacy, a champion of human potential, and an unwavering advocate for healthier relationships and thriving individuals.

Next Episode

A Conversation with Dr. Hilda Richards: A DEI Trailblazer, A Great Leader, & Friend to Virginia Satir

Throughout a career spanning five decades, Dr. Hilda Richards has consistently broken barriers and forged historic change, specifically in the fields of nursing and higher learning. Over the years, at numerous institutions and organizations, she has been dedicated to expanding what we refer to today as diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Born in 1936 in St. Joseph, Missouri, Hilda was inspired early on by her mother’s belief in the value of education. Nursing school was the first step in a trajectory that eventually included earning two master’s degrees (in health administration and psychiatric nursing) and a doctorate in education from Columbia University. Among many other accomplishments, Hilda helped create the nursing program at Medgar Evers College of Brooklyn in 1972, where she became chair of the health sciences division. This opened the door for her leadership roles in academic administration as dean, provost, and chancelor—often as the first Black woman ever to hold her position.

In this episode, Dr. Hilda Richards talks about her inspiring life which includes time spent with Virginia Satir.