Empowered Through Compassion: EMDR and IFS Informed Therapy

Collaboration with Hailee Wilson

On this episode, I am speaking with Hailee Wilson. She helped me design my website, and brand, and I wanted to share the great work that she does. How many of us in the field need someone in our corner who is tech savy, and able to walk us through creating our web presence?    You can find out more information on Hailee and her company at: www.bocoadvertising.com   And in true fashion of collaboration, she shares about her friend Allison Gianattasio, and her company which is found here: www.scrollmedia.co Although at first glance Allison might seem like Hailee's competition, the both have a lot of respect for one another, and collaborate to help build each other up. They both benefit from this!    I hope you enjoy our conversation, and if you ever do need someone to help with a website, or expanding your vision, you know someone who would be happy to help you :)

Ann Sinko Part 2

The is the second part of the discussion with Ann Sinko.  I hope you enjoy our conversation. She has so much to offer, and I feel so lucky to have had this opportunity to speak with her, and to share this conversation with you!

Ann Sinko and Our Ancestors

This is part one. In a couple of days, I will edit and publish part two of this wonderful conversation. I feel so lucky to have spoken with Ann, and I am thrilled to share this podcast episode with you! I hope you enjoy this, and I promise, to be continued soon...

Janina Fisher, Healing and Hope for Fragmented Selves

It was such a pleasure and honor to speak with Janina Fisher. I hope you enjoy this podcast! She is one of the masters of EMDR (she trained with Francine Shapiro) and she also had many conversations with Richard Schwartz.  If you would like to find out more about Janina Fisher, her Website is:  www.Janinafisher.com You can also find Janina Fisher's trainings at: www.therapywisdom.com I hope you enjoy this wonderful episode and conversation with Janina!

Joanne Twombly part 2

Here is the second part of my interview with Joanne Twombly.   It was such an honor to speak with her, and learn from her. We continue to speak about her incredible book, named: "Trauma and Dissociation Informed Internal Family Systems." It is a MUST read for those of us in the field of trauma healing!   Thank you Joanne for being a part of this 2-part, special episode. 

Exploring Dissociation with Joanne Twombly Part 1

Season 1, Episode 38, Release Date: 7-15-2024 Exploring Dissociation with Joanne Twombly Part 1   It was such an honor to have Joanne Twombly on the podcast! We speak about dissociation, and also about the integration of IFS and EMDR. Joanne wrote the first article with RIchard Schwartz that connected these two models.  She also has written "Trauma and Dissociation Informed Internal Family Systems: How to Successfully Treat Complex PTSD and Dissociative Disorders." This book was transformative for my work. In a clear and interested way, Joanne was able to share necessary information, so that we as therapist are able to better understand how to recognize and help people struggling with dissociation.   There were so many questions to ask, and Joanne was so gracious with her time, that I felt we could divide this conversation into two parts. In a day or two, I will publish the next section, so you can hear part two of our conversation. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I enjoyed having it :)

Speaking about EMDR with Notice That’s Jennifer and Melissa

Season 1, Episode 37, Release Date: 7-8-2024 EMDR and IFS Integration with Melissa and Jennifer for the Popular Notice That podcast Check out Notice That at www.emdr-podcast.com Find out more about Beyond Healing (Melissa and Jen's group practice in Missouri at: www.connectbeyondhealing.com   Melissa is thew Director of Clinical Embodiment at Beyond Healing, as wel as Supervisor, Trainer, Consultant and Psychotherapist. She is an approved EMDRIA Consultant. She has a special focus in dissociative disorders and holistic healinng. She is also a Reiki teacher and university professor.   Jennifer Savage is the Directorof Program Development at Beyond Healing. She is also a Supervisor, Trainer, Consultant, and Bilingual Psychotherapist-- American Sign Language. She is an EMDRIA approved Consultant. She also offers intensives, to work with clients seeking trauma healing in a more concentrated setting.   It was such an honor to speak with both of them for this episode!    

Robert Falconer and the Others Within Us

Season 1, Episode 36, Release Date: 6-30-2024 Robert Falconer and the Others Within Us   Robert Falconer is defintely a hero of mine. He has written many enlightening books that include "The Others Within Us" and his latest (hot off the presses) "When You're Going Through Hell... Keep Going." Find out more about Bob here: www.robertfalconer.us   Bob successfully combines trauma healing and spirituality in his work. Through grace, he has always been very motivated, to heal both his own trauma, as well as helping others on their journeys.  I admire how Bob looks toward other cultures (in addition to our own) to seek out wisdom and knowledge.    When I spoke about how much wisdom can be found from long ago, I questioned if society was moving backwards. Bob reflected on Owen Barfield's work, and shared that long ago there was a strong connection with nature that was lost. However, Own believed that this was something that was going to be rediscovered, albeit in a different way.   Bob shared that Western psychology is seen by some as colonization of the mind.  Is there a way to bring back spirituality to this? We spoke about how IFS does this, "to some degree." However, the 8 C's seem to stop short of some important Self qualities, such as: Luminosity, Transcendence, Radiance We spoke about how graduate schools seem content with the 8 C's-- particularly "calm"... however, to other cultures, spirituality is anything but calm. Bob shared how to the Sans people, Bushmen of the Kalahari, spirituality is moving, it is ecstatic dancing and high energy. Bob shared how so much of the time we banish esctatic spirituality in this society.    Perhaps one way to bring this back is through a psychedelic renaissance. We spoke about how IFS could help prepare someone for a psychodelic healing experience. Bob stressed the need for permission from the entire system. Bob shared how there has been some evidence which suggests psychedelics address rumination of a system.   Bob shared that he doesn't believe people can heal from trauma without some form of spirituality, or meaning, in their world. To him, each moment can be a doorway into eternity, if we can appreciate the present moment. We can do this by pausing when we find ourselves experiencing awe, wonder, joy. This is a way to respect our own existence.   We spoke about the definition of "mental health" and how our society puts these people in boxes that become extremely limiting. Instead, these people just might be the visionaries in the society, who are in need of more compassionate. We spoke about how other societies have been able to successfully construct a compassionate container for these people. Perhap, by learning from these societies, we can have kinder and more effective ways to address mental health in our society.    

Leslie Petruk and Parenting through the Eyes of a Child

Season 1, Episode 35, Release Date: 6-23-2024 Leslie Petruk and Parenting Through the Eyes of a Child   Leslie is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Director at the Stone Center for Counseling & Leadership, as well as a Clinical Supervisor. Find out more about the Stone Center here: www. thestonecenternc.com Leslie has expertise working with children, individuals, couples and families. She is an author, IFS trainer, presenter and therapist. She has written two chapters of Jenna Riemersma's book, "Altogether Us."   This is a special epsidoe, because Leslie was also my first IFS teacher, in my Level one training. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher :) We nerded out a little about poetry, and here are some of our favorite poets-- Rumi, Nikita Gill, N. Scott Momaday, Jeff Foster, David Whyte, John O'Donohue, and Matt Licata.   Here is some of the transcript that I wanted to highlight:   David. Leslie, how can we use sandtrays in our practice? Leslie. This is a way to help dive into unconscious realm with clients. I like to give clients choice, and allow them to pick objects. They create something, without relying on their "thinking brain." In a way, it is like their parts are being laid out in front of them.  David. Some people might have diffculty when given too much choice and freedom. This might even feel threatening. How do you handle this situation? Leslie. I hold the space. I focus on creating a welcoming and trusting space, and I also hold onto the truth that clients know inside what to do. I might reflect what they are doing, and what is happening, as I create this safe container for them. Although it could be more challenging for children with trauma to get started with sandtrays, once they are able to be part of this process, they tend to get lost in the sandtrays.   David. When you write about parenting skills, how do you differentiate between helping someone have good parenting skills, with overall good relationship and communication skills? Leslie. That is a good question, because healthy attachment applies to any relationship. I remember one time after I did an incredible piece of work with my IFS therapist. I found that I was so present to my children afterwards, and it was a very dramatic shift that had never happened in quite the same way before. I wanted to share this with every parent!   David. We have so much power over our children's lives. In some ways, they are all they really know. Leslie. As my child left for college, I worried if I had given her enough to be successful. Launching children is so hard, in many different ways. But, it is also a beautiful process.   Leslie. My hope with working with parents is to help them have clarity of their parts, and to understand their agendas.  David. It seems important to put our children's needs first.   Leslie. I think it is all about balance. If we are not there for ourselves, we can't be our best selves for our parents. We need to care for our needs-- so we can give our children guidance and a safe place.  David. I feel like as parents we want to helop our children be self-led. Leslie. Yes, and at the same tie, children are naturally filled with joy and curiosity. David. Basically, life is a sandbox for children. Leslie. The biggest message I would want to give to others is to have self-compassion. There is always something you can feel guilty about as a parent. Guilt can be a motivator to make a repair. But, it is not helpful to use this guilt as a bat to beat ourselves up with.  Being able to repair with ourselves as well as our children is so important.   Leslie shared that when we are activated, it is a reminder for us to get curious! 

Victoria Eagle and the Internal Family Systems Telehealth Collective

Season 1, Episode 34, Release Date: 6-16-2024 Victoria Eagle and the IFS Telehealth Collective   Find out more about Victoria here: http://ifstherapyonline.com/victoria-eagle-ifs-therapy-in-california   This is a very special episode for me, to introduce a wonderful co-worker of mine, Victoria Eagle. She has been working at the IFS-Telehealth Collective, she is a supervisor here, and also runs group with one of the founders Paul Ginter. Find out more about these groups here: http://ifstherapyonline.com/ifs-community-groups   Victoria shared that she was drawn to IFS because of its non-pathologizing nature. She felt that she was able to see her clients (first children, then parents) through this lens of compassion and connection.    When Victoria was trained in IFS, and shared the concept of multiplicity, and helped people see the parts within them, she helps parents relate to these parts as if they were their children. Victoria sees these parts as individual clients that are walking into her office. In this way, each part is an entity that we want to get to know and appreciate.   As we accept and love our inner world, this energy also is reflected in our relationship to the outter way as well.   Victoria shared how when people are able to experience their self energy, she can see this reflected in their faces "it is as the sunshine is warming them."   Victoria shared how the IFS-TC handles diagnosing clients, and how this is a collaborative process. The diagnosing is done to describe symptoms, and help care for people. She strives to choose the least pathologizing diagnoses, and holds these diagnoses lightly.