Bob Falconer on IFS, Spirituality, and Trauma

In this soul-stirring conversation, IFS pioneer Bob Falconer returns to explore the intersection of Internal Family Systems (IFS), spirituality, and trauma healing. We discuss how trauma creates separation, the necessity of spiritual connection in deep healing, and how curiosity can be a transformative force. Bob shares insight from his upcoming books and over 50 years of clinical experience, emphasizing the porous nature of the mind and the healing power of respectful engagement with all parts of the self—both personal and transpersonal. This episode is a heartfelt invitation to open your inner world with compassion and wonder.

3 Key Takeaways:

1. A surprising reason why many trauma survivors don’t fully heal—and what might be missing.
2. The two types of curiosity—and why only one leads to transformation.
3. What Bob means when he says “the mind isn’t just multiple... it’s porous.”

👤 Guest: Robert Falconer

Robert Falconer is a dedicated therapist, teacher, and global educator of the IFS model. Author of The Others Within Us, Bob brings over five decades of experience to his work exploring the porous nature of the mind, particularly in the context of trauma and spiritual experiences. His latest books, Opening the Inner World and Spirit Speaks, delve into the intersection of IFS, mysticism, and healing.

Get your copy of Opening the Inner World and Spirit Speaks: https://swedenborg.com/product/opening-the-inner-world/

Resources & Offerings:

➡️Register for a FREE IFS Training "From Burnout to Balance": https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-yt
➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library
➡️ Register for a FREE IFS Training "From Burnout to Balance": https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast
➡️ 1-Month Grace Period with Jane – Use code JOHN or visit: https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador
➡️ 10% Off at Grounding Well – Use code GWJOHNCLARKE or visit: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE
➡️ 10% Off at Dharma Dr. – Use code JOHN or visit: https://dharmadr.com/JOHN

Connect with me:

https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/
https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/
https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapy
https://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapy

Transcript:

Bob Falconer: [00:00:00] And McGilchrist makes this wonderful point, which at first really pissed me off, but usually when there's a radical new idea, it pisses me off at first because it takes me out of my comfort zone. He says, how we pay attention is a moral act, and I think how we pay attention is a choice like that, that determines the nature of the world we live in.

John Clarke: Going Inside is a podcast on a mission to help people heal from trauma and reconnect wit

Grab Your Seat for the Free IFS Webinar Here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast