Empowered Through Compassion

In this episode of Empowered through Compassion, we dive into the heart of relational healing with Maureen Kelleher and Christina O’Reilly—two dynamic Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists who specialize in EMDR intensives for couples. With decades of experience, they offer a trauma-informed, attachment-centered approach that helps partners not only heal past wounds, but also rediscover one another through deeper empathy and connection. Founders of Fairfax Integrative Therapy in Virginia, Maureen and Christina are also trainers, supervisors, and leaders in the field of relational EMDR. Their approach blends Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic awareness, and powerful EMDR protocols to create transformation in relationships marked by high conflict, trauma, or disconnection. Learn more about their work at fairfaxintegrativetherapy.com. Together, we explore how EMDR can move beyond the individual and become a shared journey—one where partners witness each other's pain with compassion, and where Self energy becomes the foundation for healing. You’ll hear how Phase 1 and 2 of EMDR lay the groundwork for accessing Self energy, and how couples can learn to "interweave" support in the therapy room—holding space, offering presence, and becoming co-regulators in each other’s healing. This episode is packed with clinical insight, heart, and practical takeaways. Whether you're a therapist curious about EMDR with couples, or a partner longing to heal through connection, this conversation will leave you hopeful about what’s possible. 🎧 Don’t miss this one—it's a game-changer for relational healing.

What if healing doesn’t come from expertise, but from empathy? In this transformative conversation, David Polidi sits down with internationally renowned Motivational Interviewing trainer Stephen Andrew to explore what it really means to be present with someone in their pain. Stephen challenges the dominant medical model of mental health—assess, diagnose, and treat—and offers instead a radically human approach: one rooted in compassion, collaboration, and what he calls radical humility. Drawing from decades of experience, Stephen shares how MI is not just a technique, but a way of being—a spiritual, relational posture that meets people where they are, without judgment or agenda. Together, David and Stephen dive into the concept of the “trauma injury”—a phrase that invites healing and hope rather than pathology. They explore how many of our deepest wounds stem from power imbalances, and how true healing can only happen in spaces where we move from “power over” to “power with.” You’ll hear powerful reflections on: The three G’s of empathy: genuine, gentle, and a guess Why MI is Carl Rogers 2.0 How trauma teaches us to believe we don’t matter—and how empathy can quiet the nervous system enough for hope to return Why empathy is not a performance, but a presence How the “container” of compassion and acceptance allows the “medicine” of empowerment and partnership to emerge This episode isn’t just for therapists—it’s for anyone who wants to show up more fully, more authentically, and more tenderly in their relationships. If you’ve ever wondered what real healing looks like—or how to hold space for someone else’s pain—this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. “The individual is like a garden to be tended, not a machine to be repaired.” —Stephen Andrew

🎙️ New Episode: Healing Trauma, Dismantling Whiteness, and Building Community with David Archer Welcome back to Empowered Through Compassion. You won’t want to miss this powerful and deeply inspiring episode. Today, I sit down with David Archer, Today, I sit down with David Archer, the author of Anti-Racist Psychotherapy, an EMDR therapy trainer and complex/racial trauma specialist from Montreal Canada and the founder of Archer Therapy (https://archertherapy.com). He is a brilliant voice in trauma-informed care, and we explore the vital intersection between personal healing and collective liberation. We dive into what it means to practice trauma-focused care in a way that honors ancestral wisdom, community connection, and cultural context. Together, we examine the construct of whiteness and white supremacy in America—not just as historical realities, but as living systems that shape how we relate to ourselves, each other, and the land. David invites us to consider how colonization continues not just through land and violence, but through language, ideology, and the very ways we understand healing. We reflect on how internal healing fuels social change, and how reconnecting with indigenous perspectives and ancestral cycles can lead us to greater joy, justice, and wholeness. As David beautifully shares, healing is not just personal—it’s communal, spiritual, and revolutionary. David is currently collaborating with Thomas Zimmerman, developer of the Four Blinks approach to Flash. David himself is the creator of the Rhythm and Processing strategy, and together, they’ve developed a groundbreaking presentation: 👉 “Foundations of Trauma-Focused Care” — an experiential training designed to support healing from complex trauma and dissociation. This innovative approach invites you not only to learn, but to become part of a growing community of healers. Participants engage in real-time practice and biweekly consultation groups—forming a movement toward a more connected, compassionate, and inclusive model of care for the 21st century. 🌱 Join the revolution in mental health. Visit their site for registration and more information: Click Here You won't want to miss other books by David Archer: Anti-Racist Psychotherapy: Confronting Systemic Racism and Healing Racial Trauma (https://amzn.to/3aYwxSs) Black Meditation: Ten Practices for Self-Care, Mindfulness, and Self-Determination (https://amzn.to/3JEnhm7) Racial Trauma Recovery: Healing Our Past Using Rhythm and Processing (https://amzn.to/3C8HY89). Black Mountain: Fight for the Future (http://amzn.to/3qhKTYP). Transforming Complex Trauma: Reflections on Anti-Racist Psychotherapy (https://amzn.to/48Wff3r)    

Laura Patryas, an author, lecturer, and therapist, intertwines her expertise in optometry and metaphysics with her passion for healing through IFS and non-duality. In this heartfelt discussion, she shares a poignant story about baking bread, illustrating the sacredness of everyday moments. Topics range from the transformative power of presence in healing trauma to navigating self-awareness within IFS. Laura also highlights embracing uncertainty as a pathway to fulfillment and the integral role of community in the journey of self-discovery.

What if Mike White’s The White Lotus is more than just a dark comedy television series? What if we look at it as a striking exploration of the human psyche? In a recent episode of the Empowered Through Compassion podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sunni (Sun) Brown, a dynamic IFS practitioner, author of Gamestorming and The Doodle Revolution, and creator of Deep Self Design™. Together, we unpacked the psychological architecture of the show using the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. Sunni brings a rare blend of creativity, compassion, and clarity to her work, infusing IFS with elements of Zen, mindfulness, Hakomi, design thinking, with a deep appreciation of the powerful modality of doodling! With over 1.6 million views on her TED Talk, she is no stranger to harnessing storytelling to illuminate complex inner worlds. Our conversation turned The White Lotus from a binge-worthy show into a rich case study of internal dynamics—hypothesizing that some of the repeating themes might even reflect Mike White (the creator) own inner system!

Join IFS master Bob Falconer, who co-authored a book on Internal Family Systems, along with Chelsea Rose Odhner, a licensed massage therapist and IFS practitioner, and Jonathan S. Rose, a scholar of Emanuel Swedenborg's teachings. They delve into the profound connections between IFS and Swedenborg's spiritual insights. The discussion covers the 'middle realm' of angelic guidance, the sacred nature of healing as an ongoing journey, and the transformative power of love and understanding within spiritual evolution. Expect deep reflections on integrating inner and outer realities!

Delve into the transformative world of EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and Motivational Interviewing, where clients are seen as the experts of their own healing journey. Discover how these approaches foster deep connections, guiding clients from ambivalence to meaningful change. Explore the critical relationship between trauma and personal values, and understand the vital role of youth-focused interventions. This engaging discussion unveils the powerful integration of therapeutic strategies that empower clients to overcome challenges and achieve lasting transformation.

Ralph De La Rosa, a teacher, healer, and author of 'Outshining Trauma,' shared profound insights into the fusion of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Buddhism. He emphasized how compassion can transform personal suffering into hope, illuminating the nurturing environment necessary for genuine healing. Ralph's personal journey revealed the importance of confronting discomfort for true growth, while his reflections on therapeutic practices showcased how mindfulness and compassion foster deeper connections and empowerment in therapy. His legacy offers lasting wisdom.

Part 2 with Julian: The Inner Sauron – Power, Possession, and the Psyche In this episode, Julian and I dive deep into The Lord of the Rings through the lens of psychology, mythology, and IFS (Internal Family Systems). We explore the dark allure of Sauron—not just as a villain seeking domination through the One Ring, but as a metaphor for the exiled forces within us all. Julian draws powerful parallels between Sauron and the Aztec god Huitzilopochtli, both powerful spirits who reside in higher realms yet influence human behavior in devastating ways. We reflect on how these archetypes show up in our inner worlds—manipulating, isolating, and consuming us when left unseen. What if Sauron is an inner part we exile, giving it more power? And what if the One Ring acts like an unattached burden—seductive, cursed, and waiting to latch on to vulnerable parts of our psyche? We ask the big question: how do we care for our inner Sauron, and what choices emerge when we do? You can learn more about Julian’s work at https://www.psychedelic-integration.net

It was an absolute pleasure speaking with Julian Bermudez, founder of Psychedelic Integration, about his deeply personal and powerful approach to healing. In this episode, Julian shares his philosophy of psychedelic integration as a sacred return—a coming home to the body, to the heart, and to the version of ourselves that existed before life’s pain forced us to adapt. Through his lived experience and the space he holds for others, Julian invites us to see integration not as a checklist, but as a living, breathing practice of transformation. We explore the idea of purpose, reclaiming value, and the path to remembering who we truly are.