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

Ronda Bonfanti, a memoirist and healing advocate, shares her inspiring journey from CPTSD to self-love. She reveals how IFS transformed her understanding of her inner world, moving beyond the limitations of CBT. Ronda emphasizes the healing power of humor and journaling while discussing her memoir, which captures the intersections of her therapy experiences. She also dreams of creating an IFS community through 'Parts and Paddles,' blending healing with fun. Her story is a beacon of hope for anyone feeling broken.

In this episode, I talk with Max Littman, an IFS therapist, consultant, and writer. Max's new book, Internal Family Systems Therapy for Gay and Queer Men: A Companion for After Coming Out, launched the morning we recorded this conversation. His work centers on attachment, attunement, cultural burdens, and the relational impact of trauma — especially for gay and queer men who are still healing the parts shaped by growing up without safety, guidance, or representation. We talk about why this book matters, the parts that continue to carry burden even after coming out, and the places where Queer identity, family dynamics, and IFS meet. "Unburdening offers an opportunity to reclaim a personal embodied sense of spirituality, one that honors our inherent worth and belonging." Max shares his own story of growing up without language for his identity, the isolation he felt as a teen, and how those experiences shaped his clinical work. He describes a part he calls "teen without guidance," and the insight that came from recognizing how much that part still needed care. Together, we explore: What coming out doesn't automatically heal The "teen without guidance" part and why it matters How cultural, religious, and family burdens live in the system The longing for belonging and its impact on relationships How IFS helps gay and queer men reclaim sexuality, connection, and choice The role of community, experimentation, and attunement in healing The challenge of navigating adulthood with fewer developmental and relational experiences than many same-aged peers received Be sure to check out Max's blog that I keep hearing so much about. And don't miss my extended interview with Max over on Substack for paid subscribers. About Max Littman Max Littman is an IFS therapist, consultant, and writer based in Oakland. He works at the crossroads of Queer healing, trauma recovery, and attachment. His debut book, Internal Family Systems Therapy for Gay and Queer Men, is available now. Learn more or connect with him at maxlittman.com. Episode Sponsor This episode is sponsored by the Unblend.me web app. You know those moments between sessions when something comes up and you need a gentle nudge to pause, slow down and go inside? The Unblend app helps you do just that. It's IFS informed, HIPAA compliant, and guides you through checking in with your parts to calm your nervous system. Learn more and try it for free at Unblend.me About The One Inside I started this podcast to help spread IFS out into the world and make the model more accessible to everyone. Seven years later, that's still at the heart of all we do. Join The One Inside Substack community for bonus conversations, extended interviews, meditations, and more. Find Self-Led merch at The One Inside store. Listen to episodes and watch clips on YouTube. Follow me on Instagram @ifstammy or on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger. I co-create The One Inside with Jeff Schrum, a Level 2 IFS practitioner and coach. Resources New to IFS? My book, The One Inside: Thirty Days to Your Authentic Self, is a great place to start. Want a free meditation? Sign up for my email list and get "Get to Know a Should Part" right away. Sponsorship Want to sponsor an episode of The One Inside? Email Tammy.

Dr. Angele Close, a clinical psychologist and motherhood coach, shares her transformative journey through early motherhood and matrescence. She explains how Internal Family Systems (IFS) provided her with tools to navigate the pressures of being a 'good mom.' Angele discusses cultural myths that burden mothers, the impact of loss and community, and the choices between work and staying home. She offers practical tips to access Self-energy and emphasizes the importance of compassion for oneself, reframing motherhood as a profound developmental experience.

Caitlan Siegenthaler, a Level 2 IFS therapist and host of the Return podcast, shares her journey of integrating Internal Family Systems with Human Design. She reveals how Human Design can unlock parts of ourselves previously hidden, transforming self-judgment into compassion. Caitlan outlines the five energy types and their significance in understanding our inner systems. Curious exploration is emphasized over mastery, making this conversation a blend of depth and accessibility, perfect for anyone seeking authentic self-connection.

In this insightful conversation, Nick Brüss, a licensed therapist specializing in psychedelic-assisted therapy, shares his expertise on integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) with psychedelics. He discusses how IFS can facilitate grounding during psychedelic experiences and emphasizes that true healing comes from post-journey integration. Nick warns against spiritual bypassing, urging a compassionate approach to self-exploration. He also highlights how Self can evoke the same connection and wonder that psychedelics often reveal, reminding us that authentic healing begins within.

Explore the fascinating world of numbing parts and their impact on our lives. Discover how these invisible protectors shield us from pain but can also steal our vitality. Learn about the concept of 'checking out' and the opportunity costs associated with it. Tammy shares personal insights and metaphors to illustrate numbness, while Jeff highlights cultural perspectives. Together, they present the NUMB framework to help reconnect with our true selves. Dive into the complexities of grief and the journey toward self-awareness!

In this engaging discussion, Dr. Steve Chee, an integrative East-West physician and certified IFS therapist, shares his journey of healing from childhood sensitivities. He reveals how love and relational safety are crucial for personal growth and emotional regulation. The conversation highlights the differences between 'co-regulation' and 'co-revelation,' emphasizing the genuine connections that facilitate healing. Listeners also explore the interplay of passion and vulnerability and the importance of reclaiming the sacredness of each individual, making this a rich exploration of emotional well-being.

In today's episode, I chat with David Hoffman, a lawyer, mediator, and a founding member of Boston Law Collaborative. David was named "Lawyer of the Year" in Boston, and he even teaches at Harvard! I love how he's using IFS to help people with conflict. We talk about how IFS has shifted his focus from getting people to settle, to helping them make Self-led choices. We discuss: How does a lawyer and mediator bring the language of parts into a legal setting? What is the "reasonable reason" behind "unreasonable behavior" in conflict? How can we make decisions from a place of "Self-led" wisdom rather than from our "gladiator parts?" How can simply naming a part change the dynamic of a conversation? David shares an example of how saying "there's a greedy part" shifted a negotiation for the better. How does the IFS model help us understand ambivalence and the "negotiation within" that happens before we even enter a conflict? "There's something we can do here to enable people to manage their conflicts more successfully and to be less fearful and less hateful in the world." —David Hoffman I absolutely loved getting to know David and I'm so glad he's bringing the IFS model to a new audience. He's also offering a new six-week IFS training for lawyers and mediators this fall through the IFS Institute with guest appearances by Dick Schwartz, Mke Elkin, and Fatimah Finney. Episode Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by the Internal Family Systems institute. Join renowned attorney and mediator David Hoffman for a six-week live workshop starting this October. Explore how the IFS model can support lawyers, mediators, and conflict professionals to lead with more clarity, compassion, and Self — with special guest appearances by Dick Schwartz, Mike Elkin, and Fatimah Finney, this program offers practical tools for navigating client engagement, negotiation, and ethical decision-making. Space is limited and live attendance is required. Learn more and register now at ifs-institute.com. About David Hoffman David Hoffman, a mediator, arbitrator, and founding member of Boston Law Collaborative, has been a leading voice in bringing the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model to the legal community since 2010. He holds Level One IFS training and has co-presented with IFS founder Dr. Richard Schwartz. A plenary speaker at the 2022 IFSI Conference, his work has been featured in the Harvard Negotiation Law Review, where he authored a seminal article on "Mediation, Multiple Minds, and Managing the Negotiation Within." In addition to his private practice, he serves as the John H. Watson, Jr. Lecturer on Law at Harvard Law School, where he integrates the IFS model into his courses. About The One Inside: Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, replays of live events, meditations, 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 helps 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

On this week's episode, I welcome Bob Falconer, Chelsea Odhner, and Jonathan Rose, the co-authors of the new book, Opening the Inner World. We dive into what it means to be both spiritual and plural. If you've ever found yourself wondering how inner work and spiritual seeking overlap, this episode is for you. We explore: What happens when we bring the language of parts into our spiritual lives? Can the concept of "Self Energy" connect with notions of divine presence? How does the idea of God resonate differently for various people and their inner parts? How can IFS be a deeply spiritual path without becoming dogmatic? What do we do when belief itself feels like a burden or triggers our inner system? Favorite Quotes: "When people bring in a spiritual experience or a spiritual concept, I don't want to assume that I know what that means for them." —Bob Falconer "Sometimes in spiritual direction, a part is the one that's praying. And that prayer needs to be honored and held and heard." —Chelsea Odhner Find their book here: Opening the Inner World Episode Sponsor: This episode is sponsored by Pisgah Coaching Institute. Founded by IFS-trained master coach Brian Jaudon, a pioneer in the integration of IFS and coaching for more than two decades. Brian and his faculty teach a blended methodology for clarifying and living into a vision of any kind. Learn more at pisgahcoaching.com. About the Guests: Chelsea Rose Odhner is a lifelong student of Swedenborg's teachings with extensive professional experience synthesizing his ideas. Combined with her work as a bodyworker, and an IFS practitioner and coach, Chelsea adds a unique and informed perspective to integrating IFS therapy with the system of the spiritual world that Swedenborg describes. Robert Falconer is a dedicated therapist and teacher of the IFS model who has contributed significantly to the field through his research and writings. His work focuses on how our minds are not just multiple, but also porous. He brings this lens to IFS, especially in the context of trauma and spiritual experiences. Jonathan Rose is a scholar of Emanuel Swedenborg and Neo-Latin translator who has published extensively on Swedenborg's theological and philosophical ideas. He serves as the Series Editor for the New Century Edition of Emanuel Swedenborg's Theological Works. His expertise brings a deep spiritual dimension to the book, offering readers insights into concepts in Swedenborg's spirituality that resonate with IFS. About The One Inside: Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, replays of live events, meditations, 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

Michael Hunter, founder of UpSpiral.Life, blends IFS, manifestation, and neurofeedback to guide personal transformation. Leela Hunter, an IFS therapist with over 15 years of experience, explores limiting beliefs with compassion. Together, they discuss how subconscious parts influence manifestation, the significance of self-awareness, and the concept of 'feeling good' as a nervous system state. They highlight the integration of IFS with neurofeedback, emphasizing how it enhances healing and aligns internal energies for a fulfilling life.