Man Within Podcast 1086 - Jenna Riemersma: Why Jesus’ Approach to Sin Feels Backwards
Jan 26, 2026
Jenna Riemersma, therapist and IFS practitioner who integrates faith and therapy, speaks about internal parts and compassionate healing. She explores how curiosity replaces control, how Jesus’ relational approach maps onto IFS, and a simple three-step tool—Notice, Know, Need—for moving toward wounded parts.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Personal Example Of Internal Conflict
- Jenna describes lifelong internal conflict with parts like wanting Oreos versus fitting into jeans.
- She links this common inner war to struggles with addiction and compulsive sexual behavior.
Self As The Imago Dei
- IFS sees the true core as a healthy, undamaged Self that resembles the Imago Dei inside each person.
- Burdened parts form when painful experiences hijack healthy aspects, causing internal conflict and suffering.
Compassion Outperforms Control
- Compassionate relationship with burdened parts heals more deeply than shame-based control or elimination.
- Fighting parts can produce short-term sobriety but worsens inner war and relapse risk long-term.
