Bob Falconer

After a long career using many therapeutic modalities, for more than a decade, Bob Falconer has devoted his practice exclusively to Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy. Bob has completed all levels of IFS training and continues to study with many of the senior IFS trainers. He co-authored the book Many Minds, One Self with IFS founder Richard Schwartz and has helped to train more than a thousand people in IFS.  For the past several years, Bob has been devoted to completing the extensive research and writing of his new book, The Others Within Us, which deals with “unattached burdens,” “guides” and what has sometimes traditionally been referred to as spirit possession. In this episode, Daniel and Bob discuss Bob’s personal trauma and the historical fight for the cultural and professional recognition of abuse, trauma and PTSD. They then delve into the history of psychotherapy and its connections to capitalism and colonialism and Bob’s perspectives on Internal Family Systems (IFS). While exploring the major themes of Bob’s book, they discuss the porous nature of mind, differing cultural models of mind, psychosis and spirit possession, Bob’s personal experiences with “the others within us,” the imaginal realm, and how Western psychology might shift from a “mono-mind” perspective to a “porous mind” one in the future. Timestamps 03:39 Intro 05:29 Bob’s Abusive Upbringing and Early Spiritual Experiences 11:07 How Internal Family Systems Has Helped Bob Become a “Man of Joy” 13:37 The History and Evolution of Modern Cultural Conceptions of Abuse, Trauma and Mind 21:03 Competition, Capitalism and Colonialism in Psychotherapy 23:42 Internal Family Systems and Multiplicity of Mind 28:43 Bob’s Book and His Perspectives on The Porous Nature of Mind 31:48 “Something Foreign In My Mind”: The Client Who Changed Bob’s Perspective 39:09 “The Others Within Us”: The Core Claim of Bob’s Book 45:36 Generational Trauma and Different Cultural Approaches to “The Others Within Us” 49:19 How Forces Not Clearly Linked To Our Personal History Might Get Into Us 52:53 Limitations of the Western Conception of Mind and Differing Cultural Interpretations of “Psychosis” 57:39 Possible Portals To A More Widespread Recognition of The Porosity of Mind 1:00:05 Navigating The Imaginal Realm 1:03:51 How Coaches and Practitioners Can Make Space for Porosity of Mind and The Others Within Us 1:09:20 Closing The Others Within Us

Bob Falconer, author of "The Others Within Us: Internal Family Systems, Porous Mind, and Spirit Possession," explores accepting the porosity of our minds and its impact on spirituality. They discuss the use of client language, labels in therapy, and the fascinating work of Chico Xavier. They also touch on mediums, upcoming workshops, and the connection between IFS and shamanism. Check out Bob's website for more information.

Bob Falconer, an accomplished IFS practitioner and author, dives deep into the spiritual dimensions of healing in his latest discussion. He reveals the concept of unattached burdens and its transformative effects on therapy. Bob shares insights from a powerful session involving a malevolent entity, exploring how such experiences intersect with personal identity. He emphasizes the importance of Unburdened Parts in healing and advocates for a more porous understanding of the mind, ultimately blending psychology with spirituality for profound trauma recovery.