The Edery Report: News & Insights

Clinical Intelligence & Leadership Briefings from Dr. Rivka Edery


Editor’s Preface: The 2026 Clinical Pivot


Welcome to the redesigned Edery Report. As we transition into the 2026 operational year, my primary focus is on the global rollout of the U-Model™ Master System. To ensure this space provides maximum clinical value, I have streamlined the archives to prioritize Clinical Intelligence, Institutional Leadership, and Proprietary Frameworks.


The reports here are curated briefings designed for dedicated practitioners. They represent a 'psychologically locked' synthesis of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), anchored in the universal mediators of change. Whether you are following my candidacy for the NASW-NY Vice Presidency or integrating the U-Model™ into your own practice, this report serves as your primary source for innovation in complex trauma recovery.


- DR. RIVKA EDERY, PSY.D., LCSW


Let's integrate research-led innovation into our chapter leadership - I invite you to support my candidacy for Vice President in the upcoming NASW-NY election.



I. THE LEADERSHIP DESK


Vision for the 2026 NASW-NY Vice Presidency I am honored to announce my candidacy for Vice President of the National Association of Social Workers, New York Chapter. My mission is to bridge the gap between complex trauma research and front-line social work leadership. We are entering a new era where institutional governance must be informed by the universal mediators

of change - psychological flexibility and affective regulation.


  • 2025 ACBS Recognition of Excellence: Awarded for outstanding contributions to social work and the application of Contextual Behavioral Science.


Thank you to the ACBS community for recognizing the U-Model™ as a bridge between social work and contextual science.


  • National Governance: Serving as a Grant Reviewer for the ACBS Foundation and an Abstract Reviewer for the 2026 NASW National Conference.


THE LEADERSHIP DESK


PUBLISHED: JANUARY 17, 2026


Leading with Self-Energy: My Vision for the NASW-NY Vice Presidency


I am officially announcing my candidacy for Vice President of the National Association of Social Workers, New York Chapter. Leadership in our field is often viewed through the lens of administration and policy alone - but I believe the future of social work requires a deeper integration of clinical intelligence and institutional governance.


My vision for 2026 is built on three pillars:


  • Bridging the Research-Practice Gap: Utilizing the 'Death Star Project' data and the universal mediators of change to inform how we train and support our clinicians.


  • Addressing Moral Injury: Creating systemic 'Self-energy' within our organization to protect social workers from the burnout and secondary trauma that often lead to professional attrition.


  • Psychological Flexibility in Governance: Applying the same principles of the U-Model™ - calm, clarity, curiosity, compassion, confidence, courage, creativity, connection, and values-based committed action - to how we lead our chapter and advocate for our members.


Policy & Resilience: A Note on Clinician Self-Leadership:  As I continue my candidacy for the NASW-NY Vice Presidency, I am reflecting on the 'Secondary Trauma' epidemic in our field. My proposal for the 2026 chapter year includes a structured 'Self-Leadership' initiative - utilizing the U-Model™ principles to help our social workers unblend from the 'Rescuer' parts that lead to moral injury.


Policy Note: The Resilience Mandate (Jan 2026) As I move through the 2026 campaign trail, the feedback is consistent: Social workers are exhausted by systems that don't give back. My commitment as Vice President is to advocate for 'Clinical Governance' - policies that treat clinician unburdening as a systemic necessity, not a personal luxury.


As a 2025 ACBS Excellence Award recipient and a long-standing member of the clinical community, I am ready to bring a high-authority, heart-centered approach to this role. I invite you to join me in this vision.


II. THE U-MODEL™ CLINICAL DISPATCH


The 2026 Master System: Operational Rollout The U-Model™ is now fully operational as a 7-stage protocol designed to transition clients from trauma-driven reactivity to values-aligned adaptability. By integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), we create a psychologically locked sequence that treats the mind as a dynamic internal family.



  • The Descent (Phases 1-2): Identifying the "Inner Platoon" (Managers and Firefighters) and anchoring in the Self.


  • The Trough (Phases 3-4): Achieving empathic resonance and present-moment acceptance at the base of the U.


  • The Ascent (Phases 5-7): Leading with Self-energy to commit to values-driven action.


Research Insight: The "Death Star" Integration. My framework is built on the Hayes et al. (2020) meta-analysis, which found that therapeutic success relies on universal mediators rather than brand-name protocols. The U-Model™ operationalizes these findings for practitioners working with complex PTSD and attachment trauma.


Technical Reframe: The 'Skitch' Response in High-Conflict Ethics. In my latest training session, we discussed how Skitch (Firefighter) parts often take over during ethical dilemmas to 'put out the fire' of moral injury. True ethical leadership requires the Self to acknowledge the Skitch's protective intent before making a values-based move.


Insight: The Somatic 'Micro-Residue' Research for my upcoming 2026 Kraków Conference presentation reveals that 'Exile' parts often communicate through pre-verbal somatic pressure rather than narrative. In the U-Model™, we call this 'Incoherent Grief.' Clinical success in Phase 3 depends on the therapist's ability to witness this pressure without a cognitive agenda.


III. PRACTITIONER RESOURCES & MEDIA


The Clinical Voice Series: Access the latest audio briefings and technical worksheets designed for the 18-hour and 30-hour certification cohorts.


  • Module 1: Meet Your Protectors: A deep dive into the "Niggle" (Manager) and "Skitch" (Firefighter) parts of the internal system.


  • Module 2: Somatic Resilience: Techniques for tracking "Incoherent Grief" and pre-verbal trauma markers.


  • The 30-Day Journey: My new workbook, Between Self and Parts: A 30-Day Journey of Self-Discovery with The U-Model™: ACT & IFS. , is now available through Edery House Press for individuals seeking a compassionate path to unburdening.

Weekly Wisdom: Issue No. 1 — The Architecture of Resilience

From the Desk of Dr. Rivka Edery | Published: January 17, 2026


The Context: This week, while reviewing my clinical notes for the upcoming Kraków 2026 research briefing, I was struck by how often we mistake "numbness" for resilience. True resilience isn't the absence of our parts' reactions; it’s the presence of our Self-energy.


3 Clinical Insights


  1. The Compassion Pivot: Resilience isn't about evicting a "Skitch" (Firefighter) part. It’s the Self’s capacity to witness the heat of the fire without becoming the smoke. If you are breathing through the smoke, you are still in the lead.
  2. Somatic Anchoring (Stage 2): When a client’s system is flooded, don't hunt for a story. The quickest path back to Present Moment Contact is a neutral somatic anchor. I often ask: "Can you feel the specific texture of the chair against your shoulder blades?" This bypasses the cognitive 'Manager' and speaks directly to the nervous system.
  3. The 'Death Star' Foundation: My frequent reminder to my 18-hour certification cohort: Success is never about the "brand" of your therapy. It is about the universal mediators - the flexibility of the human being holding the tool.


2 Quotes to Carry


  1. "The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship between your Self, and your Parts." - This is the foundational thesis of Edery House Press.
  2. "We are the sky, not the storm." - The U-Model™ mantra for achieving immediate Cognitive Defusion.


1 Question for Your Week


"Which specific member of my 'Inner Platoon' is trying to take the steering wheel during my high-stakes moments this week, and am I willing to ask it to move to the 'Consultant's Chair' so my Self can lead?"


P.S. I’ll be discussing this 'Self-Leadership' model at the upcoming Chapter meeting. I hope to see you there as we build a more resilient 2026 together.


IV. GLOBAL HEALING COMMUNITY


The IFS Fireside Gatherings Join our monthly international community of IFS and ACT explorers as we practice "Self-to-Part" connection and co-regulation.


Next Gathering:

  • https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8_08b8YgQc6Ei3Ib-K6c8Q


Facebook Group:  "Beyond Acceptance: Your Inner Parts Welcome to an ACT & IFS Community"

https://www.facebook.com/share/utKN6WT4Bgp6gAtW/



  • Key Insights:
  • "I am not my Parts -> my Parts are not me -> Parts are not their burdens.  Self is the healing elixir."
  • "All parts have wisdom - Self unlocks it."