Going Inside: Healing Trauma from the Inside Out

Dr. Will Van Derveer, a leading psychiatrist and psychedelic therapy researcher, shares fascinating insights into the transformative power of MDMA in trauma recovery. He reveals shocking statistics, such as an 83% recovery rate for treatment-resistant PTSD, and discusses the importance of well-trained therapists to prevent harm. Listeners learn how MDMA enhances emotional connections and self-compassion, while contrasting its effectiveness against traditional SSRIs. The conversation also highlights the need for mindful approaches in psychedelic therapy, emphasizing love and connection as key ingredients in healing.

In this special breakdown episode, John Clarke takes us inside a real IFS (Internal Family Systems) therapy session with a demo client named Sandra. With transparency and depth, John unpacks the nuances of their interaction, from checking in with previously unburdened parts to recognizing a live polarity between imagination and expectations. This session is packed with insights for both practitioners and those curious about the IFS model. Expect honest reflections, subtle therapeutic moves, and rich emotional terrain.3 Key Takeaways:Discover how a single metaphorical image—like a genie named "Jolly Jeanie"—can illuminate the gifts and limitations within our internal system.Learn the signs of subtle therapist overreach and how honoring the client’s process can yield deeper transformation.Hear how the root of a manager part’s strategy often stems from early unmet attachment needs, like being “what mom wants.”Resources & Offerings:➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library➡️Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast ➡️ 1-Month Grace Period with Jane – Use code JOHN or visit: https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador ➡️ 10% Off at Grounding Well – Use code GWJOHNCLARKE or visit: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE ➡️ 10% Off at Dharma Dr. – Use code JOHN or visit: https://dharmadr.com/JOHNConnect with me: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/ https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapy https://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapyGrab Your Seat for the Free IFS Webinar Here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

What if healing trauma didn’t have to happen in an office—or even through traditional “talk therapy”? In this episode of Going Inside, John Clarke sits down with therapist Emmy Ferguson to explore how IFS (Internal Family Systems), nonviolent communication, and extended wilderness experiences can create profound healing and growth. Emmy shares her journey from leading month-long outdoor expeditions to becoming a therapist, and how she helps people unlock their emotional resilience by stepping into discomfort, conflict, and connection.Whether you’re a therapist, a healer, or someone on your own growth journey, this episode invites you to rethink what therapy looks like—and where true transformation happens.3 Key Takeaways:1️⃣ Why Facing Real-Life Challenges Can Unlock Emotional Healing Discover how stepping into discomfort—whether in therapy or the wilderness—helps people reconnect with their strength and capacity for change.2️⃣ The Healing Power of Conflict (When Done Right) Learn how nonviolent communication and group dynamics can transform conflict into connection and growth.3️⃣ IFS as a Way of Life, Not Just a Therapy Tool Emmy shares how IFS interweaves with practices like embracing mortality, restorative circles, and outdoor leadership to create holistic healing.Guest: Emmy FergusonEmmy Ferguson is a therapist who sees IFS as more than a therapeutic modality—it’s a daily practice of awakening to interconnection, healing, and aliveness. Her work is deeply informed by years of facilitating transformative wilderness expeditions, guiding restorative processes, and helping people embrace personal growth through challenge. Emmy helps clients access their inner healing capacity by integrating IFS with experiential learning and mindfulness around life’s impermanence.Resources & Offerings:➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library ➡️ Free IFS Training for Therapists: From Burnout to Balance: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ 1-Month Grace Period with Jane – Use code JOHN or visit: https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador➡️ 10% Off at Grounding Well – Use code GWJOHNCLARKE or visit: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE➡️ 10% Off at Dharma Dr. – Use code JOHN or visit: https://dharmadr.com/JOHNConnect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapyGrab Your Seat for the Free IFS Webinar Here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

In this episode of Going Inside, trauma therapist John Clarke sits down with Debra Wesselmann, MS, LIMHP, to explore her decades of work with attachment trauma in children. Debra shares the evolution of her integrative model combining EMDR and family therapy, explains how to work effectively with kids carrying "little parts" of trauma inside, and highlights the critical role of parents in the healing process. Whether you're a clinician or a curious listener, this conversation offers valuable insights into the art and science of trauma therapy.3 Key Takeaways:🌱 Discover why traditional EMDR protocols often need adapting when working with children who have complex trauma.🌱 Learn how involving parents and building a secure emotional environment is foundational before trauma reprocessing can even begin.🌱 Hear how "little parts" work and therapeutic storytelling can unlock healing for kids long before adulthood.🗣️ Guest: Debra Wesselmann, MS, LIMHP Debra co-founded The Attachment and Trauma Center of Nebraska where she has specialized in treating attachment trauma for 35 years. She's an EMDR trainer with the EMDR Institute and has authored numerous articles, chapters, and books including two co-authored with Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. Her latest book, EMDR and Family Therapy: Integrative Treatment for Attachment Trauma in Children (2nd Edition), is available through W.W. Norton, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.Website: DebraWesselmann.comInstagram: @debra.wesselmann.EMDRLinkedIn: Debra WesselmannFacebook: Debra Wesselmann, MS, LIMHPResources & Offerings:➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library➡️Free IFS Training for Therapists: From Burnout to Balance: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ 1-Month Grace Period with Jane – Use code JOHN or visit: https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador➡️ 10% Off at Grounding Well – Use code GWJOHNCLARKE or visit: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE➡️ 10% Off at Dharma Dr. – Use code JOHN or visit: https://dharmadr.com/JOHNConnect with me: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapyGrab Your Seat for the Free IFS Webinar Here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

In this powerful follow-up episode, trauma therapist John Clarke welcomes back Tim Amaral, an award-winning adult educator and creator of the Self-Led Learning model. Together, they explore how traditional education systems often undermine a student's sense of worth—and what it looks like to build classrooms rooted in connection, self-worth, and authentic community. Tim shares profound insights on how trauma-informed education can transform lives, why belonging is the foundation of learning, and what happens when students are finally seen and valued for who they are, not just what they achieve.3 Key Takeaways:What if education isn't about becoming someone, but honoring who you already are?Why removing threats isn’t enough—true safety in classrooms comes from connection.The secret power of allowing students to be exactly who they are—without agenda.Guest: Timothy AmaralTimothy Amaral is an award-winning adult educator and teacher trainer from Salinas, CA. He specializes in the teaching and application of trauma-informed practices, social-emotional skills, and needs-based responsiveness for use in the classroom, in the workplace, and in the home. He is the creator of the SELf-Led Learning model. 🌐 selfledclassroom.comResources & Offerings:➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library➡️Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast ➡️ 1-Month Grace Period with Jane – Use code JOHN or visit: https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador ➡️ 10% Off at Grounding Well – Use code GWJOHNCLARKE or visit: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE ➡️ 10% Off at Dharma Dr. – Use code JOHN or visit: https://dharmadr.com/JOHN Connect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/ https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapy https://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapyGrab Your Seat for the Free IFS Webinar Here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

In this expansive and heartfelt conversation, John Clarke sits down again with IFS practitioner and mystically-inclined guide Seth Kopald. What begins as a discussion of Internal Family Systems quickly evolves into something deeper — an exploration of the energetic, ancestral, and spiritual forces that shape who we are. From mystical downloads to subtle energy shifts, Seth shares how he blends IFS with reiki, intuitive knowing, and ancestral connection to help clients heal in multidimensional ways. If you've ever sensed there's "more" going on in a session — or in yourself — this one’s for you.Key Takeaways:What happens when healing moves beyond the clinical — And why staying curious might unlock more than you expect.The invisible weight you might be carrying — How ancestral legacies and cultural patterns live in your body until you learn to let them go.You’re not imagining it — The energetic connection between practitioner and client is real, and it’s changing how we do therapy.👤 Guest: Seth KopaldSeth Kopald is a certified, Level 3 Internal Family Systems (IFS) Practitioner with a PhD in Organization Management and a Masters in Education. He’s assisted IFS trainings at all levels, facilitated retreats with Dick Schwartz, and leads his own immersive healing experiences. Seth blends traditional IFS with reiki, Akashic Records, and ancestral healing to help others reconnect with their deeper knowing. He is also the author of Self-Led.Contact & Socials:seth@sethkopald.com sethkopald.comInstagram: @selfled_by_sethFacebook: @seth.kopald.ifs📚 Resources & Offerings:➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library-youtube➡️Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ 1-Month Grace Period with Jane – Use code JOHN or visit: https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador➡️ 10% Off at Grounding Well – Use code GWJOHNCLARKE or visit: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE➡️ 10% Off at Dharma Dr. – Use code JOHN or visit: https://dharmadr.com/JOHN💬 Connect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapyGrab Your Seat for the Free IFS Webinar Here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

In this episode of Going Inside, I share my real-time reflections and therapeutic insights while reviewing an IFS demo session with a client named Ace. With careful attention to pace, consent, and safety, I break down the many micro-decisions made throughout the session — revealing the internal logic and nuance behind the IFS model. Whether you’re a therapist seeking to deepen your client work or someone curious about what an IFS session really feels like, this episode offers a rare and compassionate behind-the-scenes perspective.Key Takeaways:🌱The micro-decisions therapists make throughout an IFS session🌱How to prioritize safety, pacing, and consent with protectors🌱Why humility and self-awareness are essential for good therapyResources & Offerings:➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library-youtube➡️  {Free Training} Learn how to incorporate IFS into your work: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-yt➡️ 1-Month Grace Period with Jane – Use code JOHN or visit: https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador➡️ 10% Off at Grounding Well – Use code GWJOHNCLARKE or visit: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE➡️ 10% Off at Dharma Dr. – Use code JOHN or visit: https://dharmadr.com/JOHNConnect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapyGrab Your Seat for the Free IFS Webinar Here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library-youtubeIn this soul-stirring conversation, IFS pioneer Bob Falconer returns to explore the intersection of Internal Family Systems (IFS), spirituality, and trauma healing. We discuss how trauma creates separation, the necessity of spiritual connection in deep healing, and how curiosity can be a transformative force. Bob shares insight from his upcoming books and over 50 years of clinical experience, emphasizing the porous nature of the mind and the healing power of respectful engagement with all parts of the self—both personal and transpersonal. This episode is a heartfelt invitation to open your inner world with compassion and wonder.3 Key Takeaways:✔️ A surprising reason why many trauma survivors don’t fully heal—and what might be missing.✔️ The two types of curiosity—and why only one leads to transformation.✔️ What Bob means when he says “the mind isn’t just multiple... it’s porous.”👤 Guest: Robert FalconerRobert Falconer is a dedicated therapist, teacher, and global educator of the IFS model. Author of The Others Within Us, Bob brings over five decades of experience to his work exploring the porous nature of the mind, particularly in the context of trauma and spiritual experiences. His latest books, Opening the Inner World and Spirit Speaks, delve into the intersection of IFS, mysticism, and healing.Get your copy of Opening the Inner World and Spirit Speaks: https://swedenborg.com/product/opening-the-inner-world/Resources & Offerings:➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library-youtube➡️Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ Register for a FREE IFS Training "From Burnout to Balance": https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast ➡️ 1-Month Grace Period with Jane – Use code JOHN or visit: https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador ➡️ 10% Off at Grounding Well – Use code GWJOHNCLARKE or visit: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE ➡️ 10% Off at Dharma Dr. – Use code JOHN or visit: https://dharmadr.com/JOHNConnect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapyGrab Your Seat for the Free IFS Webinar Here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

In this special and deeply personal episode, John Clarke pays tribute to the late Ralph De La Rosa — a gifted author, meditation teacher, musician, and trauma survivor whose voice and message left an indelible mark on the healing community. Through reflections, audio clips, and emotional commentary, John revisits their original interview and shares the impact Ralph had on his life and work. Together, they explore trauma, IFS, Buddhism, and the power of radical self-compassion.Key TakeawaysWhat if healing isn’t about fixing yourself? Ralph shares a radically different view of healing — one that doesn’t start with what’s broken, but with what’s already whole inside of you.Can playfulness be your secret to peace? Discover how reclaiming joy and spontaneity might be the missing ingredient in your emotional healing.Is your “Self” even really yours? Ralph and John explore a mind-expanding perspective on identity, self-energy, and the mysterious overlap between IFS and Buddhist philosophy.About Ralph De La RosaLearn more about Ralph and his work: 🌐 Website: ralphdelarosa.com 📚 Outshining Trauma on Amazon 📱 Instagram: @ralphdelarosa108Resources & Offerings:➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library-youtube➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ Register for a FREE IFS Training "From Burnout to Balance": https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ 1-Month Grace Period with Jane – Use code JOHN or visit: https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador➡️ 10% Off at Grounding Well – Use code GWJOHNCLARKE or visit: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE➡️ 10% Off at Dharma Dr. – Use code JOHN or visit: https://dharmadr.com/JOHNConnect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/ https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapy https://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapy➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library-youtubeIn this powerful episode of Going Inside, trauma therapist John Clarke sits down with award-winning educator Tim Amaral to explore how trauma-informed practices can transform education. Tim shares his journey from martial arts instructor to adult educator, revealing the development of the Self-Led Classroom model and its deep integration of IFS (Internal Family Systems) principles. Together, they discuss how safety, connection, and a sense of belonging are essential for meaningful learning. If you've ever questioned traditional education or wondered how to reach students or clients who’ve been left behind, this episode will expand your perspective—and your heart.🌿 Key takeaways:The true key to academic success and how traditional education often fails the very kids who need it mostHow love, belonging, and attachment show up (or don’t) in classroomsIs it possible for a trauma-informed classroom to flip the script on behavior “management”?Why learning doesn’t happen until attachment does—and how most systems get that backwards.Stay in touch with our guest below: 🗣️ Timothy Amaral Timothy Amaral is an award-winning adult educator and teacher trainer from Salinas, CA. He specializes in the teaching and application of trauma-informed practices, social-emotional skills and needs-based responsiveness for use in the classroom, in the workplace, and in the home. He is the creator of the SELf-Led Learning model.🌐 selfledclassroom.com--- Resources & Offerings:➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library-youtube➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ 1-Month Grace Period with Jane – Use code JOHN or visit: https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador➡️ 10% Off at Grounding Well – Use code GWJOHNCLARKE or visit: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE➡️ 10% Off at Dharma Dr. – Use code JOHN or visit: https://dharmadr.com/JOHNConnect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapyGrab Your Seat for the Free IFS Webinar Here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast