Going Inside: Healing Trauma from the Inside Out

Have a question or takeaway? Send us a message, we read every one.

In this episode of Going Inside, John Clarke answers live questions about the nuances of practicing Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, from distinguishing parts with shifting emotions to working with clients who experience limited interoception or sudden activation. He explores why IFS and trauma therapy require slowing down, following the client’s system, building a clear working agreement, and protecting client agency rather than rushing into techniques or trauma processing.

🌿 Key takeaways:

1. Why a part can hold many different emotions and why you don’t need to force parts into fixed categories.
2. What to do when clients experience their parts differently, including limited access to bodily sensations.
3. Why slowing down, following the client’s lead, and creating safety may matter more than rushing into IFS techniques.

Resources & Offerings:

📚 Watch my free IFS training for clinicians - 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/@johnclarketherapy

➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

Have a question or takeaway? Send us a message, we read every one.

In this episode, John Clarke is joined by Mark Wolynn, leading expert in inherited family trauma and author of It Didn’t Start With You, to explore how trauma can be passed through generations and show up as anxiety, depression, compulsive behaviors, and unexplained fears. We dive into Mark’s approach to identifying trauma language, distinguishing attachment wounds from generational trauma, and using body awareness, healing sentences, and ritual to uncover and work with what may not have started with us.

🌿 Key takeaways:

1. How inherited trauma can show up through symptoms, sensations, and behaviors.
2. How “trauma language” can reveal hidden attachment and generational wounds.
3. Why therapists may need to look beyond childhood when a symptom doesn’t seem to fit.

Guest Info:

Mark Wolynn (accent on “lynn”) is a leading expert in the field of inherited family trauma. He’s the director of The Family Constellation Institute in the US and is renowned for his work that bridges epigenetics, neuroscience, and somatic healing, and shows how the traumas of our parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents, can live in our bodies as unexplained depression, anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and chronic health conditions. 

His book It Didn't Start with You is an international bestseller, which has sold more than three million copies worldwide. It won the Silver Nautilus Book Award for
Psychology and has been translated into 42 languages. Mark has just released the 2025 revised edition of It Didn't Start with You and The Official It Didn’t Start with You Workbook.

Connect with Mark: 

• www.markwolynn.com
• @markwolynn on Instagram

Resources & Offerings:

📚 Watch my free IFS training for clinicians - 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/@johnclarketherapy

Grab 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

Have a question or takeaway? Send us a message, we read every one.

In this Q&A episode, trauma therapist John Clarke answers some of the most common questions therapists have about practicing Internal Family Systems (IFS), from working with grief and couples to avoiding over-intellectualization in sessions. Whether you're new to IFS or learning how to integrate it into your existing therapeutic approach, this episode offers practical guidance on staying grounded in self, trusting the process, and helping clients move beyond insight into genuine healing.

🌿 Key takeaways:

1. Why IFS sessions should feel natural, not exhausting, and what fatigue may be telling you.

2. How to help clients shift from analyzing their parts to truly being with them.

3. Practical ways to integrate IFS into CBT, somatic therapy, and other therapeutic approaches without losing the heart of the model.

Resources & Offerings:

📚 Watch my free IFS training for clinicians - 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/@johnclarketherapy

➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

Have a question or takeaway? Send us a message, we read every one.

In this episode, John Clarke answers therapists' questions about applying Internal Family Systems (IFS) in real clinical practice. Learn how to begin an IFS session, recognize when your own therapist parts are activated, work skillfully with client triggers, and approach even highly protective parts with curiosity, compassion, and confidence. 

🌿 Key takeaways:

1. How to naturally introduce IFS in a client's very first session.
2. Learn to tell the difference between therapist parts and Self-energy during sessions.
3. Why every protector, from scrolling to eating disorders, deserves the same compassionate approach.

Resources & Offerings:

📚 Watch my free IFS training for clinicians - 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/@johnclarketherapy

➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

Have a question or takeaway? Send us a message, we read every one.

This episode of Going Inside examines the narcissistic abuse cycle, trauma bonding, and why leaving isn't as simple as it looks - through both a clinical and IFS lens.

Key takeaways

🌿 The 4-stage cycle that keeps people trapped in narcissistic relationships
🌿 Why trauma bonding can feel like an addiction
🌿 What IFS reveals about the parts behind narcissistic behavior
🌿 How to meet clients where they are, even mid-cycle
🌿 What it really takes to rebuild identity after abuse

About Our Guest

Emily is the founder of Emily Jane Guidance. Emily works with people who are rebuilding their lives after trauma, difficult relationships, and major life challenges, combining her counselling training, psychology studies, and personal experience to offer practical and compassionate support. Her mission is simple: to help people feel seen, regain their confidence, and create a future that feels truly their own. Connect with Emily here: 
https://www.emilyjaneguidance.com/
Instagram, TikTok & Facebook: @emilyjaneguidance

Resources & Offerings
 📚 Watch my free IFS training for clinicians - 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/@johnclarketherapy

Grab 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

Have a question or takeaway? Send us a message, we read every one.

In this episode of Going Inside Live, John Clarke answers therapist questions about some of the most common challenges in Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, including working with protectors, accessing exiles, recognizing self-like parts, and navigating storytelling in sessions. John explores why rushing toward exiles can undermine safety, how therapists can deepen client work without forcing the process, and what it truly means to practice from self-energy. 

🌿 Key takeaways:

1. Why "getting to the exile" is often the wrong goal and how protector bypass can create risks in IFS therapy

2. How to recognize when clients are talking about parts versus genuinely being with their parts.

3. Practical guidance for interrupting stories, deepening internal focus, and helping clients move toward meaningful healing work.

Resources & Offerings:

📚 Watch my free IFS training for clinicians - 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/@johnclarketherapy

➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

Have a question or takeaway? Send us a message, we read every one.

In this live Q&A episode of Going Inside, John Clarke answers some of the most common questions therapists have about Internal Family Systems, including how to recognize true Self-energy, work with protectors, and navigate diagnoses like ADHD from an IFS perspective. Along the way, he shares why slowing down, honoring hesitation, and building trust with the system are often the keys to deeper healing. 

Inside this Conversation:

• How can you tell the difference between a protector that needs more time and one that's simply blocking the work? 
• What does true Self-energy actually look and feel like? 
• How does IFS make sense of diagnoses like ADHD? 

Resources & Offerings:

➡️ 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/JOHN

Connect 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

Have a question or takeaway? Send us a message, we read every one.

In this vulnerable IFS demo, Deliane explores the emotional weight she carries in relationships and the protective parts behind her defensiveness and exhaustion. Together, John and Deliane uncover how sensitivity, longing for connection, and emotional protection become deeply intertwined - and how healing begins when protective parts finally feel seen. 

3 Key Takeaways

1. Why emotional exhaustion can actually be a form of protection
2. The hidden reason some relationships leave us constantly on guard
3. What changes when you can help your clients access a deeper sense of safety and connection

Guest, Deliane Couturier

Deliane lives and has a private practice in Redondo Beach. She has been in practice for 35 years helping adults navigate relationships, trauma, anxiety, and life transitions. She recently completed Level One training with Ralph Cohen, finished a one-year course in Compassionate Inquiry, and is certified as an IMAGO therapist, applying mindfulness meditation and practices and using a variety of trauma-informed approaches, ranging from expressive arts to cognitive therapy.  

Resources & Offerings:

➡️ 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/JOHN

Connect with me:

https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/
https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/
https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapy
https://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapy

Grab 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

Have a question or takeaway? Send us a message, we read every one.

In this live Q&A episode, John Clarke answers listener questions about IFS therapy, shame, addiction, protectors, and self-energy. He explores why therapists often burn themselves out by working harder than their clients, why slowing down is essential for healing, and what it really means to trust the client’s system in the therapeutic process. 

Key Takeaways

1. Why “don’t work harder than your clients” may completely change the way you approach therapy, relationships, and helping others.
2. How protectors learn to trust the healing process — and what actually creates safety for vulnerable exiles to emerge.
3. The surprising reason good therapy often feels slower, more tedious, and less linear than we expect.

Resources & Offerings:

➡️ 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/JOHN

Connect 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

Have a question or takeaway? Send us a message, we read every one.

In this episode, I’m joined by Teddy Knebel, an IFS therapist and long-time Program Assistant for IFS trainings, to explore what it really looks like to grow into your voice as a therapist. We talk about the anxiety that shows up when learning IFS, how to relate to parts that want to “get it right,” and why trusting your own unique style is essential to effective therapy. If you’re new to IFS or looking to deepen your practice, this conversation will help you feel more grounded, confident, and connected in your work.

🌿 Key takeaways:

1. Most therapists think they need to “get IFS right”… but what if that pressure is the very thing getting in the way? 
2. You’ve been taught to follow the model—but what happens when your own style starts to emerge? 
3. Anxiety in the therapy room isn’t a mistake… it might be pointing you toward something essential.

Guest Info:

Teddy Knebel is an Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist working with individuals and couples in the DMV area. He has served as a Program Assistant (PA) for over 20 IFS Level 1 and Level 2 trainings through the IFS Institute, supporting therapists as they learn and embody the model. Teddy is passionate about helping both clinicians and clients navigate personal, cultural, and systemic trauma, and brings a grounded, human, and often humorous approach to the work.

Connect with Teddy: https://ifs-institute.com/practitioners/all/112124

More about the Virtual Blue Star: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xQa7dxpWYA

Resources & Offerings:

📚 Watch my free IFS training for clinicians - 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/@johnclarketherapy

Grab 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