“The Mandala: A Model for Teaching and Therapy” with Stephen Buckbee

We will explore the “Mandala,” a teaching construct developed by Virginia Satir and how this beautiful idea is interwoven into the fabric of all of her teaching and therapeutic work. It is a model used to teach about diversity and uniqueness. We will look at how this systemic model can be a powerful tool for teachers and therapists.

We will discuss how the “Mandala” is a universal strength-based model and a tool for change. We will discuss the integration of the Mandala with the “Iceberg” another core model. We will look at how other key concepts like the communication stances, temperature reading, parts party, family mapping and the process of change are connected by the universals presented by the Mandala.

“You can never undo, but you can add on,” Virginia Satir

Stephen Buckbee is a retired from Bay de Noc Community College. He is a licensed in the State of Michigan as a master’s Social Worker and a Professional Counselor. He met Satir in 1985. He believed that she had much to teach, and she had a process that she wished to share. Before Satir died she invited him to join AVANTA now known as Virginia Satir Global Network. He has been actively teaching about Satir and her work since 1988. He is a partner with Mike Dupont and Dan Doyle in BDD Training Associates, focusing on the Process of Change in systems and teaching about the Satir concepts. He and his teaching partners have traveled extensively to teach and to encourage the exploration and evolution of Satir’s work.

He currently serves on the board of The Virginia Satir Global Network.