On today's episode I chat with Sacha Mardou, a graphic novelist and artist, known in the IFS community for her IFS-inspired webcomics. In her new graphic memoir, Past Tense, Sacha brings readers along on her deeply personal, years-long journey to heal trauma, uncover legacy burdens, and connect to her true Self.

She began illustrating her IFS and therapy experience privately in her sketchbooks. Those evolved into webcomics vividly depicting her inner system and healing process which she shared with the world through social media, and now in her new graphic memoir.

We discuss:

How her private therapy session sketches grew into webcomics and a book
How IFS can shift our inner world and multi-generational family dynamics
Breaking the chain of legacy burdens for her daughter
Sharing her family members' private details and stories in her comics
Using comics to visually represent the complexity of therapy and inner healing, making the IFS therapy process more tangible, relatable, and approachable for many people

One of my favorite quotes from this episode:

"How many of us carry shame or trauma that isn't even ours to begin with? Legacy burdens, passed down through generations, shape who we are until we take the courageous step to face them." – Sacha Mardou

Sacha will join in a discussion hosted by Dick Schwartz and Jeanne Catanzaro at the 2024 IFS Annual Conference in a session called, Bringing IFS to Life, where they will discuss how Sacha's comics have helped demystify the IFS therapy process for clients.

You can connect with Sacha on her website, on Facebook and Instagram @Mardou_Draws

Learn more about her new book, Past Tense, here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714479/past-tense-by-sacha-mardou/

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Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside Podcast. He is a writer, counselor, and IFS Level 1 practitioner.

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Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. Jack is a graduate of Derek Scott's IFS Stepping Stones Program.

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Maaike de Gruyter (regisseur)