Keynotes

In contrast to the trauma-inducing pathway humanity currently travels, our species evolved a wellness-informed pathway that meets basic needs through deep nestedness. It begins with the Communal Evolved Nest that includes Nature immersion, regular healing, social free play, responsive relationships, positive touch, welcoming social climate, multiple nurturers, soothing perinatal experiences, and child-directed breastfeeding. The millions-years-old Communal Nest promotes health and wellbeing, beginning with nurturing by mothers and others, following Nature’s gift economy of fulfilling basic needs throughout the lifespan.

Deep Nestedness also includes Intergenerational Nestedness that honors ancestral wisdom, human and nonhuman, and the wellbeing of future generations, as well Cosmic Nesting practices that maintain a sense of rootedness in Earth’s cycles and systems. Nestedness throughout life fosters an integrated self, where heartmindedness predominates and the Indigenous/kinship worldview guides behavior. Nested communities partner with the rest of the ecological community, promoting flourishing in all.

At the core of every human being is an essential Self – an innate, indestructible sense of wholeness and peace. However, this often becomes obscured by life’s challenges, traumas, conditioned beliefs, and internalized narratives of unworthiness. We can learn to reconnect with this unchanging ground of wholeness to restore balance, resilience, and lasting
wellbeing.

Join Stephanie Lopez, Gestalt psychotherapist and President of the iRest Institute, for a transformative keynote exploring how the power of presence and essential Self can be harnessed within the therapeutic relationship. Rooted in the principles of iRest® Yoga Nidra Meditation, this session reveals how embodied presence fosters empathic resonance, strengthens the therapeutic alliance, and supports clients of all ages in rediscovering their essential Self that has never been harmed or broken.

Through this experiential and insightful presentation, you will learn a simple yet profound approach to cultivating presence as a foundational resource. This orientation not only deepens self-trust and inner peace but also enhances self-regulation and emotional resilience across the lifespan. Discover how embodying presence can enrich your clinical work, and your own life, with lasting mental clarity, calm, and connection to the essential Self.