Going Inside: Healing Trauma from the Inside Out

In this episode of Going Inside, I continue my Internal Family Systems (IFS) demo with Sarah in the third session of a four-part series. We explore how internal and external expectations can block freedom, joy, and imagination. Sarah connects with a part of herself that has carried the burden of meeting others' needs since childhood, believing that anticipating and managing expectations would keep her safe. Together, we invite more trust, curiosity, and playfulness into her system, creating space for greater ease and self-acceptance.*This is part 3 of a 4-part series of real Internal Family Systems therapy sessions*Please note that the client's name has been changed to protect their privacy.Key Takeaways:Expectations can create internal pressure that limits our ability to be present and embrace spontaneity.Protective parts often form in childhood to keep us safe, but they may no longer serve us in the same way as adults.Trusting the present moment allows for greater emotional freedom, creativity, and self-acceptance.— Resources & Offerings:🧠 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🌱 Join Pathways to Self – My IFS basics course for therapists and practitioners: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/pathways🧠  Download My Free IFS Meditation – Get access here: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/free—Connect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapy

In this conversation, Mel Galbraith, a Level 3 certified IFS therapist and COO of IFSCA, shares her insights on unblending and direct access techniques in Internal Family Systems therapy. She discusses the challenges clients face when protectors resist and the importance of curiosity and patience in therapy. Mel emphasizes prioritizing client safety and flexibility, enabling deeper healing. She also shares the vital role self-energy plays in creating a safe therapeutic space, avoiding the pitfalls of bypassing protectors.

In this episode of the Going Inside Podcast, I do a second live Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy demo with Sarah, revisiting her journey of addressing heavy emotional burdens and discovering the power of creativity and play. We explore blocked imagination, a sense of responsibility for others' emotions, and the effects of reconnecting with playful, lighthearted parts. The session includes an unburdening process and Sarah learns how bringing creativity into daily life can foster emotional balance and resilience.*This is part 1 of a 3-part series of real Internal Family Systems therapy sessions*Please note that the client's name has been changed to protect their privacy.Key Takeaways:Reconnecting with imaginative parts can help reframe heavy emotions and create space for joy and lightness.Releasing emotional burdens allows space for new, positive qualities like lightness, music, and playful energy to take root.Building relationships with parts helps manage challenging interactions and turn serious situations into opportunities for growth and play.---Use code: JOHN for a 1 month grace period with Jane or click HERE to get started!Receive 10% off a grounding product at Grounding Well with code GWJOHNCLARKE or by clicking the link: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKEDownload my Free IFS Meditation: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/freeJoin Pathways to Self - An IFS basics course for therapists and practitioners:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/pathwaysConnect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@JohnclarkeTherapy

In this episode of the Going Inside Podcast, I conduct a live Internal Family Systems (IFS) demo with Sarah, a client who explores her discomfort with vulnerability and connection. Together, we uncover the roots of these feelings in a protective part that emerged during childhood, carrying grief and longing for attunement. We create a safe space for this part, paving the way for healing and rediscovering joy.*This is part 1 of a 3 part series of real Internal Family Systems therapy sessions*Please note that the client's name has been changed to protect their privacy.Key Takeaways:Protective parts often arise in childhood to shield us from pain and can be released through acknowledgment and care.Creating a safe, compassionate space for your parts fosters healing and deeper self-awareness.When burdens are lifted, parts can rediscover their original roles, enabling greater emotional balance and fulfillment.Use code: JOHN for a 1 month grace period with Jane or click HERE to get started! https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador/ Receive 10% off a grounding product at Grounding Well with code GWJOHNCLARKE or by clicking the link: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE Download my Free IFS Meditation: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/free Join Pathways to Self - A weekly IFS consultation group for therapists and practitioners: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/pathways Connect with me: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/ https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapy https://www.youtube.com/@JohnclarkeTherapy 

Leslie Sanchez, a licensed therapist specializing in childhood trauma for first-generation Latinx individuals, discusses the challenges of growing up with emotionally immature parents. She highlights how these dynamics affect adult relationships and self-esteem. The conversation dives into setting boundaries as a crucial aspect of healing and personal growth. Leslie shares insights on Internal Family Systems therapy and her journey to reconnect with her authentic self, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion in overcoming inherited emotional burdens.

In this episode of Going Inside, I’m interviewed again on Mannah’s Therapeutic Astrology Podcast (TAP). Mannah, an Evolutionary Astrologer and Trauma Therapist, explores how astrology informs her therapeutic work, while I dive into Internal Family Systems (IFS) and parts work. We discuss how to compassionately connect with protective parts, create internal attachment repair, and navigate the challenges therapists face when maintaining compassion without an agenda. If you’re a therapist, coach, or anyone interested in trauma and self-discovery, I think you’ll find this episode both inspiring and practical.Key Takeaways:Every part of us, even those with extreme behaviors, has a protective role rooted in past experiences or trauma.Accessing self-energy with compassion and curiosity allows protective parts to feel safe and begin healing.Internal Family Systems (IFS) fosters de-shaming and deeper healing by creating space for connection between self and parts.Learn more about Mannah at: https://www.therapeuticastrologer.com/---Use code: JOHN for a 1 month grace period with Jane or click HERE to get started!Download my Free IFS Meditation: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/freeJoin Pathways to Self - An IFS basics course for therapists and practitioners: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/pathwaysConnect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@JohnclarkeTherapy

In this  episode of the Going Inside Podcast, we're celebrating the podcast's 50th episode by diving deep into trauma healing approaches, the versatility of Internal Family Systems (IFS), and answering your questions. Thank you for joining me on this journey!Key Takeaways: 1. Healing through Internal Family Systems Therapy is best supported by patience, compassion, and forming deeper connections with all of your parts.. 2. Every healing journey is different, so it’s important to specialize each individual's process by respecting a client’s space, restoring agency, and using complimentary modalities of support if necessary. 3. The upcoming Pathways to Self IFS course is launching in 2025, an intensive training program designed to deepen IFS skills for therapists and practitioners. Use code: JOHN for a 1 month grace period with Jane or click below to get started! https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador/ Receive 10% off a grounding product at Grounding Well with code GWJOHNCLARKE or by clicking the link: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE Join Pathways to Self - A weekly IFS consultation group for therapists and practitioners: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/pathways Connect with me: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/ https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/ https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapy https://www.youtube.com/@JohnclarkeTherapy 

In this episode of Going Inside: Healing Trauma From the Inside Out, I guide my client “Cece,” a breathwork facilitator, through a live Internal Family Systems therapy session. Together, we explore her feelings of helplessness, a maternal-like protective part, and the connections between them. Cece’s courage and self-awareness bring valuable insights into her journey of healing and self-compassion.Key Takeaways:Cece identifies a helpless part tied to childhood trauma, visualized as a young girl who had been confined to a bathroom.A maternal-like protector emerges, expressing doubt about Cece’s ability to care for her inner child, reflecting internalized self-criticism.Through compassion and reassurance, Cece builds trust with her younger self, allowing for freedom, joy, and a deeper sense of connection.—Submit questions for our 50th Episode here.Use code: JOHN for a 1 month grace period with Jane or click HERE to get started!Receive 10% off a grounding product at Grounding Well with code GWJOHNCLARKE or by clicking the link: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKEDownload my Free IFS Meditation: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/freeJoin Pathways to Self - A weekly IFS consultation group for therapists and practitioners: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/pathwaysConnect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@JohnclarkeTherapy

In this episode of Going Inside, psychotherapist and author Forest Benedict shares his journey from Christian-based sex addiction therapy to healing religious trauma and embracing Internal Family Systems (IFS). Together, we explore the impact of religious trauma, the role of shame in addiction and identity, and the power of IFS in fostering authenticity and freedom. Forest reflects on his personal deconstruction, his professional pivot, and his mission to help others reconnect with their true selves in the face of societal and religious pressures.Key Takeaways:Religious trauma often involves suppressing one's identity and agency under the constant threat of judgment, creating long-term emotional and psychological challenges.Shame is a central force in both religious trauma and addiction, fueling self-critical behaviors that perpetuate cycles of pain and disconnection from the self.Internal Family Systems (IFS) fosters self-compassion, helping individuals reconnect with their authentic selves, heal internal conflicts, and reclaim agency.Learn more about Forest at: https://forestbenedict.com/---Use code: JOHN for a 1 month grace period with Jane or click HERE to get started!Receive 10% off a grounding product at Grounding Well with code GWJOHNCLARKE or by clicking the link: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKEDownload my Free IFS Meditation: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/freeConnect with me:https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@JohnclarkeTherapy

Ralph De La Rosa, a psychotherapist and author of "Outshining Trauma," shares his transformative journey from trauma and addiction to mastery in Internal Family Systems and Buddhist meditation. He discusses how self-energy aligns with awakened states, offering insights on reparenting our wounded parts. Ralph emphasizes cultivating peace and curiosity to regain balance, revealing the deep connection between self-awareness and emotional intelligence. He also explores the meaning of self-compassion, advocating for understanding over approval in the healing process.