The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast

Join Dave Adamusko, a certified Internal Family Systems therapist, as he unpacks the powerful technique of direct access in therapy. He explains its vital role for clients with trauma, showcasing how it can quickly lead to emotional breakthroughs. Dave shares insights on working with one's inner child and the importance of direct engagement in therapy. The conversation is filled with practical techniques, such as integrating Gestalt methods and emphasizing the significance of understanding our internal dynamics for personal growth.

In this engaging conversation, Anna Purpero, an educator and children's book author, dives into the art of parenting with a focus on repair rather than perfection. She explains how Internal Family Systems can transform parenting by promoting self-compassion and playful communication, especially during conflicts. Anna shares innovative ways to discuss emotions with her kids, like using fun metaphors, and emphasizes the power of real apologies. Her book, 'My Friends Inside,' beautifully illustrates these lessons, blending storytelling with emotional insight.

Britt Frank, LCSWS, SEP, is an inspiring therapist and author of 'The Science of Stuck.' In this engaging conversation, she shares her journey from cult life to self-discovery. Britt redefines procrastination as a protective mechanism and emphasizes that our inner critics can actually serve as the best coaches. She discusses the emotional shifts during menopause and how parts work can transform these experiences into meaningful transitions. With humor and insight, Britt encourages listeners to embrace their complexities for holistic well-being.

In this week's episode I welcome three guests--Robin Barre, Ann-Katrin Bockmann, and Kasra Mirzaie--to talk about IFS and working with teenagers. We explore how IFS often skips over this phase of life, both in how we work with clients and how we relate to our own inner adolescent parts. We tend to romanticize childhood or focus on early wounding, yet there’s a lot of cringing and avoiding when it comes to the teenage years. Adolescence is where so much transformation happens. It’s where meaning gets made. It’s when parts start to emerge with passion, intensity, and voice. My guests are each doing beautiful work in the world to support teens. Our teens (and teen parts) need room to grow, roll their eyes, slam doors, and ask big existential questions. This episode makes space for and sense of it all. We talk about normalizing rebellion, exploring identity, meaning making, and listening deeply to the parts of ourselves and our teens who are still figuring it all out. We also talk how IFS can overlook the developmental and cultural realities of adolescence. This conversation left me feeling full of insight and hope. Speaking of hope, be sure to check out my extended interview with this trio over on The One Inside on Substack, where they each share what is giving them hope right now.  In this episode, we explore: Why adolescence often gets skipped over in parts work What we miss when we pathologize normal adolescent development and behavior The meaning crisis and mental health crisis we are currently experiencing The difference between burdens and suffering that transforms Why validation is essential for connecting with teens How Self-Led parenting looks different during the teen years Questions to carry with you: What would it be like to revisit your inner teenager with curiosity? Which of your parts “woke up” during adolescence? What did you need then, and how might you offer it now? About my guests: Ann-Katrin Bockmann, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and speech therapist, certified IFS and Somatic IFS therapist, IFS approved clinical consultant and Co Lead Trainer for the IFS Institute. She works at the Institute of Psychology at Hildesheim University (Germany) and in private practice. Kasra Mirzaie is a licensed psychotherapist, research assistant, and teacher in Germany who works with people of all ages in diverse psychological, educational and medical contexts.  Robin Barre is a Level 3 trained IFS psychotherapist and approved consultant. She also is a professional consultant for those who provide services for adolescents.   Episode Sponsors: IFS Demoz  Curious what Internal Family Systems looks like in action? Join IFS Demoz, a live demonstration series led by IFS pioneer Mike Elkin. Each week, Mike takes on real-world challenges through one-on-one role play, modeling IFS techniques in real time. Whether you're new to IFS or a seasoned practitioner, these sessions offer powerful insights into how the model truly works. Each demo includes an open, inclusive Q&A—so bring your curiosity. Live sessions happen weekly on Zoom, and recordings are available to all registrants. Inner World Collective A supportive community can change everything when you're learning and applying the IFS model. The Collective is an online space for IFS therapists and practitioners to connect with like-minded professionals, build confidence, refine their skills, and feel truly supported as they bring IFS into their clinical work. Inside, you'll find expert consultation, supervised and peer-led practice groups, monthly guest speakers, recorded demos and demo groups, and Self-led workshops—all designed to help you flourish as an IFS practitioner. About The One Inside: Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more.  Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger. Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence. Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start.  Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast.  To learn more about sponsorship opportunties on The One Inside Podcast, email Tammy  

Join Richard "Dick" Schwartz, founder of the Internal Family Systems model, and Tiffany "Ocean" Morgan, a certified IFS therapist with lived experience of OSDD, as they bridge the gap between IFS and the plural community. They discuss the nuances between dissociative identity parts and IFS parts, emphasizing respect and understanding in therapy. Trust, communication, and honoring every part are key to healing. Their heartfelt conversation sheds light on the complexities of identity and the importance of inclusive language in mental health.

Susan Stiffelman, a licensed marriage and family therapist and parenting coach, shares her insights on the complexities of parenting. She discusses the importance of staying connected to oneself, especially when faced with a child's distress. Stiffelman emphasizes that parenting should come from a calm center rather than reactive ‘hijacked’ parts. With anecdotes from her own life, she highlights the need for self-compassion and understanding one's emotions to foster healthier family dynamics. Tune in for practical wisdom and empowering strategies!

On today’s episode I meet Jessica Laurel Kane, a writer, illustrator, and storyteller whose new book, Once Upon an Upset: Illustrated Stories, Insights, and Reflections to Help Parent Our Children While Re-Parenting Ourselves, captures the spirit of Internal Family Systems in such an authentic and creative way.  Jessica isn’t formally trained in IFS, but she lives it and teaches it through her stories, illusrations, and books. She discovered IFS organically during a slient retreat and got to know her inner world by interviewing her parts--like characters in a story.  Her work shows how imagination can be a healing tool. She makes “being with your parts” feel accessible, visual, and real. This episode is about the power of healing through storytelling, and I think you’re going to love hearing Jessica tell hers.   Key Takeaways: “I treated myself the way I was treated.” Jessica describes how growing up with neglect led to internal self-neglect and how getting to know her parts shifted that pattern. How a 10-day silent retreat helped her meet the younger selves she’d been avoiding, and why she started interviewing them like characters in a story. “Only you get to say when you’ll give birth to your creative self.” Jessica shares how parts of us often hold the key to our creativity and our stuckness. Parenting as a mirror: how Jessica hears old internal voices while parenting her son, and how she learned to pause, check in, and choose a different path. “The glue is compassion.” A conversation about looping thoughts, panic attacks, and what it takes to rewire old stories with new ones. How her late mother planted the seeds for the parts work and self trust Jessica now uses to nurture herself and her son. Favorite Quote: "Sometimes I search desperately outside of myself for a place to rest and be still, forgetting that this place is inside of me."—Jessica Laurel Kane About Jessica Jessica Laurel Kane is the author of several books, most recently: Leaving Cleveland: A Memoir, The Boy with the Heavy Suitcase (a picture book) and Once Upon an Upset: Illustrated Stories, Insights and Reflections to Help Parent Our Children While Reparenting Ourselves. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and son.  Episode Sponsor: Michelle Glass Whether you’re IFS-trained and supporting clients in medicine work or a psychedelic facilitator looking to integrate IFS, Michelle Glass offers courses designed to build confidence in preparation, journey, and integration. Courses include:  “Supporting Clients’ Psychedelic Journeys Utilizing IFS” or her 22-Hour “Comprehensive IFS Introduction for Psychedelic Facilitators.” Learn more at thelistenerllc.com   Upcoming Events: The Science of Calm free online summit April 21 - May 4, 2025 Self-Led Parenting: How Internal Family Systems Can Transform Your Family's Life - a course I'm leading with Susan Stiffelman on May 1, 2025    About The One Inside: Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more.  Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger. Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence. Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start.  Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. Jack is a graduate of Derek Scott’s IFS Stepping Stones Program.   If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or two of The One Inside Podcast please contact Tammy at tammysollenberger@comcast.net

In this conversation, Irina Diyankova, a licensed psychologist and certified IFS therapist, dives into the intriguing interplay between neurodivergence and trauma. She shares insights on time blindness, sensory sensitivities, and the challenges of distinguishing hardwiring from unhealed trauma. Irina emphasizes that coping skills are not one-size-fits-all and that the journey toward healing can be complex and ongoing. Her warmth and personal experiences illuminate the need for a tailored approach in therapy, especially for neurodivergent clients.

On today’s podcast, I chat with Ashley Booth, a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist, trainer, researcher—and former oceanographer! Ashley’s new book, Quieting the Storm Within: A Simple, Intuitive Guide to Your Inner World, is beautifully written and illustrated, accessible, and deeply rooted in IFS. We talk about why she chose to create a picture book for adults, how parts mapping can be playful and powerful, and how IFS and psychedelics both point us toward connection with our parts, with the natural world, and with something larger than ourselves. Ashley shares her journey from marine science to healing work, the grief that led her there, and the awe and Self Energy that keep her grounded in the work today. Key Takeaways: “IFS is such a visual model.” Ashley talks about why she chose to make a picture book for adults and how dyslexia, digital art, and parts mapping all played a role. What is the “parts unstack” exercise and how can it help externalize what’s happening inside? “All parts are either the steward of a need or trying to get that need met.” Ashley walks us through her reframing of protectors as helpers and the importance of naming needs with compassion. How her own psychedelic experiences influenced the metaphors in the book, and how IFS supports integration and meaning-making. “Self is the conduit.” Ashley shares how visual reminders, art, and little moments of awe can help us reconnect to Self Energy in everyday life. Favorite Quote: "We all need to be able to connect with the love and the compassion that's available to all of us that doesn't judge. And our parts need to be held by that, right? And our Self is the conduit for that to happen." – Ashley Booth About Ashley Booth Ashley Booth, LCSW, is a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist, IFS practitioner, researcher, and educator. She’s the author of Quieting the Storm Within: A Simple, Intuitive Guide to Your Inner World, releasing in March 2025. Ashley is also the founder of IFS and Beyond, where she offers consultation, integration, and teaching at the intersection of Internal Family Systems and psychedelic therapy. A former oceanographer, Ashley brings deep curiosity and reverence for nature into her work, helping people reconnect with their inner and outer worlds. Learn more at ifsandbeyond.com or ashleybooth.net. Episode Sponsors: IFS Demoz  Curious what Internal Family Systems looks like in action? Join IFS Demoz, a live demonstration series led by IFS pioneer Mike Elkin. Each week, Mike takes on real-world challenges through one-on-one role play, modeling IFS techniques in real time. Whether you're new to IFS or a seasoned practitioner, these sessions offer powerful insights into how the model truly works. Each demo includes an open, inclusive Q&A—so bring your curiosity. Live sessions happen weekly on Zoom, and recordings are available to all registrants. Inner World Collective A supportive community can change everything when you're learning and applying the IFS model. The Collective is an online space for IFS therapists and practitioners to connect with like-minded professionals, build confidence, refine their skills, and feel truly supported as they bring IFS into their clinical work. Inside, you'll find expert consultation, supervised and peer-led practice groups, monthly guest speakers, recorded demos and demo groups, and Self-led workshops—all designed to help you flourish as an IFS practitioner.   About The One Inside: Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more.  Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger. Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence. Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start.  Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. Jack is a graduate of Derek Scott’s IFS Stepping Stones Program.   If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or two of The One Inside Podcast please contact Tammy at tammysollenberger@comcast.net    

In this engaging discussion with Tanis Allen, a certified IFS therapist and author, listeners dive into her journey within the IFS community since the '90s. Tanis reveals insights from her new workbook designed to make IFS accessible, emphasizing how awareness marks the start of healing. She breaks down how to recognize and work with your internal parts, sharing her favorite transforming Four Drawing Exercise. With a focus on shared learning and personal reflection, this conversation offers invaluable tools for anyone interested in IFS.