How do mothers find the strength to raise safe, connected, and hopeful children when their own sense of safety is deeply shaken by forces beyond their control? 

In this episode of the Facing the Moment podcast, host Toufic Hakim, PhD, is joined by Ana Morante, LMFT, CFLE—an IFS and EMDR trained marriage and family therapist, certified family life educator, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) assistant trainer. Together, they explore the deeply human, intimate experience of parenting amidst acute environmental threats, immigration instability, and economic hardship. 

The conversation delves into the internal and external resources that help mothers protect their children without transferring fear, the cultural expectations of mothers as the "savior" of the family, and how accepting a "good enough" approach can foster resilient connections and secure attachment. 

In this episode, you will learn: 

The Impact of Environmental Uncertainty: How chronic external threats—such as immigration status, economic instability, and fear of deportation/ICE—impact the nervous system and intimate family dynamics. 

The "Family Savior" Trap: The psychological cost of cultural mandates that place the burden of family survival solely on mothers, and how running on empty leads to anxiety, detachment, or system overload. 

Accessing Generational Resilience: How to connect with the internal "wisdom of life" passed down through generations, utilizing simple quieting practices like conscious breathing and meditation. 

The Power of Safe Connections: The critical role of external resources, including safe relationships, community-building, and shared moments of joy, play, laughter, song, and dance. 

Deciphering Children's Silent Language: How children energetically sense their mother's emotional state from birth, and how they express fear differently across development (externalized outbursts vs. internalized super-compliance/stomach aches). 

Creating a Safe Emotional Harbor: Why parents are not meant to solve all of life's challenges for their children, and how validating a child's pain and perspective can heal relationship blockages and foster secure attachment. 

Support this podcast. Your donation supports production, outreach, and the continuation of meaningful conversations on Facing the Moment. ⁠www.foundationIFS.org/support

This episode of Facing the Moment explores the profound impact of physical illness, chronic conditions, and disability on the human experience 

Host Toufic Hakin, PhD, welcomes Nancy Sowell, MSW, LICSW,  a lead Internal Family Systems (IFS) trainer and psychotherapist, to discuss how individuals can maintain their identity and find meaning when their bodies no longer cooperate as expected. 

Throughout the conversation, Nancy shares her personal journey with psoriatic arthritis, offering a unique perspective that blends professional expertise with lived experience. The discussion delves into the deep connection between physical pain and emotional suffering, noting that both activate the same regions of the brain. 

Key topics covered in this episode include: 

Befriending the Body: Shifting from a mindset of "fighting" an illness to one of curiosity and validation, specifically learning to befriend the fear that naturally arises with medical uncertainty. 

The Concept of Well-being vs. Cure: Understanding that well-being is always possible and is found through an internal relationship of self-compassion, even when a medical cure is not available. 

Navigating Identity and Shame: Addressing how illness can alter one's sense of self and why many people experience unexpected feelings of shame following a diagnosis. 

Practical Wisdom for Caregivers: How families and colleagues can support loved ones by asking rather than assuming what is needed, and how caregivers can avoid depletion by listening to their own needs. 

Finding Balance: The importance of internal "parts work," setting boundaries by learning to say "no," and engaging in practices like nature, art, or yoga to restore a sense of equilibrium. 

This episode serves as a guide for anyone living with illness, caring for a loved one, or seeking to understand the internal wisdom and resilience available within the mind-body system. 

Support this podcast. Your donation supports production, outreach, and the continuation of meaningful conversations on Facing the Moment. ⁠www.foundationIFS.org/support⁠ 

Share your feedback with us: https://forms.gle/z8v6pB2XXkzZj9DDA

In this episode of Facing the Moment, we explore the fundamental human need to be seen, respected, and treated with dignity, a right too often denied throughout history due to race and identity 

Toufic Hakim, PhD sat in conversation with Requina Barnes, MSW, an IFS-trained social worker, legacy healing coach, and former board member of the Foundation for Self-Leadership 

Together, they dive deep into the complexities of racial tension in 2026, discussing how to preserve our humanity and pursue justice without surrendering compassion 

Requina shares personal insights on navigating systemic racism in the workplace and legal system, and how the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) can help individuals differentiate between "young parts" driven by childhood programming and "adult parts" capable of courageous advocacy 

Whether you are looking for practices to stay grounded in emotionally charged moments or seeking to become a more trustworthy ally, this conversation offers a roadmap for cultivating resilience and hope for future generations 

Support this podcast. Your donation supports production, outreach, and the continuation of meaningful conversations on Facing the Moment. ⁠www.foundationIFS.org/support⁠ 

Share your feedback with us: https://forms.gle/z8v6pB2XXkzZj9DDA 

In this episode of "Facing the Moment," we dive into the misunderstood world of autism, moving beyond the framework of "deficit" or "disorder" to explore it as a unique neurological architecture for feeling. 

Host Toufic Hakim, PhD, engages in a conversation with Sarah Bergenfield, MACAS, an IFS-trained consultant, somatic awareness expert, and co-author of Wired to Feel. Together, they discuss the science of predictive processing, the crucial distinction between nervous system arousal and anxiety, and how the autistic brain navigates a world of overwhelming sensory "noise" and "signals" 

Sarah shares her lived experience as a diagnosed autistic individual and a parent, offering a deeply personal look at the importance of routine, the power of sensory reduction over "fixing," and the profound wisdom found in the autistic body's natural methods of self-regulation. 

The episode offers insights into fostering compassionate understanding and highlights the importance of honoring human dignity by creating safe, welcoming spaces that prioritize authentic connection over the pressure to conform. 

Join us for this moving and highly informative discussion on how to listen to the innate wisdom of the autistic brain and body with curiosity, hope, and humanity. 

Support this podcast. Your donation supports production, outreach, and the continuation of meaningful conversations on Facing the Moment. ⁠www.foundationIFS.org/support⁠ 

Share your feedback with us: https://forms.gle/z8v6pB2XXkzZj9DDA 

For many military veterans, the war does not end when they come home. The survival instincts, suppressed pain, and invisible wounds of combat follow them into civilian life, reshaping relationships, identity, and hope. In this powerful conversation, we speak with Beau Laviolette, LCSW and former U.S. Marine, about what it truly takes to heal after combat. Drawing on Internal Family Systems therapy, EMDR, and the restorative power of nature, Beau shares how veterans can reconnect with their inner compass, confront their deepest fears, and find that wholeness, however hard to imagine, is possible. 

Support this podcast. Your donation supports production, outreach, and the continuation of meaningful conversations on Facing the Moment. ⁠⁠⁠www.foundationIFS.org/support⁠⁠⁠     

Over the past year, the Facing the Moment podcast has engaged in actionable conversations about leading through crisis with integrity. This video brings together a curation of segments that listeners found most impactful, challenging, and inspiring In this video, you will explore: The Power of Moral Courage: Why we must stand for universal values without shaming others, following the examples of leaders like Gandhi, King, and Mandela The Three Traits for Navigating Stress: Understanding the vital roles of courage, coping skills, and humanity The Loneliness Epidemic: How loneliness manifests as a loss of motivation or social withdrawal and its deep roots in our current culture The Future of Care: A look at the limitations and biases of generative AI in clinical psychiatry and mental health Support Our Mission: If this message inspired you, please consider supporting the Foundation for Self-Leadership. Your donations help us continue sharing stories that impact lives globally. 👉 Donate here: foundationifs.org Don’t forget to LIKE, SHARE, and SUBSCRIBE for more deep-thinking content!

In this video, we dive into the "inner physics" of the human mind using Internal Family Systems (IFS). In this episode, you’ll learn: The Internal Family: Why our minds are broken into parts with different ages and experiences. The Role of Parts: How anxious parts or inner critics often have good intentions to protect us from deep wounds, even if their behaviors are problematic. The Power of Self: Why your Core Self is indestructible and how it can heal the wounds of your parts. Overcoming "Blending": How to gain space from overwhelming emotions like grief to provide those parts with the attention they need. If these insights resonate with you, please like, share, and subscribe to help grow our community. To support our mission of navigating crises with moral courage and hope, consider a donation at foundationIFS.org/support

In this video, you will hear from diverse voices on the key role of connection in everything from climate psychology to local community safety Key topics covered in this compilation: The Power of Community: How local initiatives like community gardens and networks in North America are creating "mind-blowing" mental health support Healing the Fabric of Connection: Addressing the fear, polarization, and "blame" that sever our social ties, and how to create safety for the next generation Actionable Hope: Real-world examples of "Upstander Training," survivors’ walks, and neighbors showing up for immigrants and refugees in Minnesota Doing Your Part: A reminder that whether you are protesting at a legislative level or simply standing on a corner with a sign, the goal is to "do you and do it deeply" Support Our Mission: If these insights resonate with you, please consider supporting our work. Your donations help us continue sharing stories that impact lives worldwide Visit: FoundationIFS.org/Support and hit the Donate button We would love to hear from you. Complete this quick survey to help influence our next set of episodes: https://forms.gle/EDJ2pv2nwPrJbrhw9Don't forget to Like, Share, and Subscribe!

Facing the Moment: A One-Year Anniversary Special Compilation Over the past year and across 16 episodes, Facing the Moment has engaged with deep-thinking guests to find actionable ways to lead with fortitude and hope. In this special video compilation, we revisit the most impactful segments that challenged perspectives and inspired action. In this video, you’ll hear insights on: The Root of Violence: How evaluating others instead of hearing them breaks our connection. The Human Cost of War: A heart-wrenching look at the reality of loss and the fragility of life. Transcending the Ego: Moving past religious superiority to find a universal sense of truth and morals. Resolving Conflict: Understanding how clinging to ideas—whether internally within our "parts" or externally with others—creates grueling conflict. Support Our Mission: If these stories resonate with you, please consider supporting the Foundation for Self-Leadership. Your donations help us continue sharing meaningful stories that impact lives worldwide. Donate here: FoundationIFS.org/Support We want to hear from you, fill out the survey to shape the next episodes: https://forms.gle/8jCzFZJ7iKaafvCB7Subscribe for more conversations on moral courage and connection.

In this video, you will hear from diverse voices on the key role of connection in everything from climate psychology to local community safety Key topics covered in this compilation: The Power of Community: How local initiatives like community gardens and networks in North America are creating "mind-blowing" mental health support Healing the Fabric of Connection: Addressing the fear, polarization, and "blame" that sever our social ties, and how to create safety for the next generation Actionable Hope: Real-world examples of "Upstander Training," survivors’ walks, and neighbors showing up for immigrants and refugees in Minnesota Doing Your Part: A reminder that whether you are protesting at a legislative level or simply standing on a corner with a sign, the goal is to "do you and do it deeply" Support Our Mission: If these insights resonate with you, please consider supporting our work. Your donations help us continue sharing stories that impact lives worldwide Visit: FoundationIFS.org/Support and hit the Donate button We would love to hear from you. Complete this quick survey to help influence our next set of episodes: https://forms.gle/EDJ2pv2nwPrJbrhw9