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

Graphic novelist Sacha Mardou shares her journey of healing trauma through art. Known for her IFS-inspired webcomics, she discusses how her therapy sketches transformed into a memoir, 'Past Tense.' Sacha reveals the impact of IFS on breaking generational burdens and how her comics make therapy relatable and approachable. She emphasizes the importance of confronting inherited shame and trauma, fostering understanding within family dynamics. Through her work, she aims to inspire others to navigate their inner worlds.

In this engaging discussion, Kay Gardner, an IFS lead trainer and embodiment meditation expert, guides listeners through grounding practices to deepen their body awareness. Kay emphasizes the importance of connecting with the earth's energies, using visualization techniques to nurture and revitalize oneself. Listeners are invited to experience emotional balance through this calming meditation, enhancing their overall well-being and self-awareness.

Mary Kruger, an IFS lead trainer and therapist, specializes in addiction and eating disorders. She shares her transformative journey with Internal Family Systems, emphasizing understanding addiction as a system imbalance rather than a moral failure. The discussion highlights how befriending addictive parts can lead to healing and how shame perpetuates addiction cycles. Mary also explores the power of group work in promoting connection, reducing shame, and fostering compassion, ultimately encouraging listeners to view their struggles as teachers on the path to recovery.

Tamala Floyd is a seasoned psychotherapist and author with over 25 years of experience, dedicated to healing personal and generational trauma. She discusses the importance of ancestral wisdom in healing, emphasizing how engaging with our family history can enhance emotional well-being. Tamala shares techniques for connecting with our internal system through guided meditation and highlights the necessity for therapists to engage in their own internal work. Her love for travel intertwines with her legacy burden work, showcasing a unique approach to transformation.

Joanne Twombly, a Certified IFS Therapist and author on dissociative disorders, shares her expertise in trauma therapy. She discusses the importance of coping skills and the innovative 'fire drill' exercise for emotional clarity. The conversation highlights the complexities of dissociation and the vital role of safe spaces, hypnosis, and internal communication in healing. Joanne also emphasizes the necessity of a holistic understanding of trauma's impact on mental health, especially in therapeutic settings.

In this insightful discussion, Susan McConnell, a lead trainer with the IFS Institute and author on somatic therapy, shares her expertise on reconnecting mind and body. She addresses how trauma and societal pressures create disconnections from our physical selves. The conversation dives into the importance of embodiment for emotional healing and touches on the elemental connections that ground us. Susan also offers a practical somatic meditation, emphasizing movement's role in processing emotions and enhancing self-awareness.

Chris Burris, a lead trainer with the IFS Institute, discusses therapist burnout, working with inner critics, attachment wounds, and the fluidity of internal parts. He highlights the importance of befriending our parts and completing unfinished business from the past in therapy.

Climate psychologist and author, Steffi Bednarek, explores climate change through an IFS lens, discussing societal denial, trauma responses, and the importance of acknowledging collective silence. She emphasizes the need for systemic solutions and encourages uncomfortable climate conversations to address the urgent need for regenerative change.

Join Ann Sinko, a Senior IFS trainer and ceremonialist, as she dives into the intriguing world of polarizations in Internal Family Systems therapy. She discusses how power struggles arise from unbalanced systems and the impact of inherited family dynamics on personal conflicts. Ann highlights the significance of recognizing these polarizations to break free from chronic stuckness. With a mix of humor and personal anecdotes, she offers insights on self-inquiry, empathy, and her upcoming workshop to help navigate these complex internal landscapes.

David Polidi, an IFS therapist, and podcaster, discusses the movie 'Inside Out 2' through an IFS perspective. They explore the depiction of emotions and self in the film, the significance of friendships in adolescence, character representations, memories, and emotional repair. The conversation highlights the interplay of emotions, parts, and self-energy in shaping one's identity.