Going Inside: Healing Trauma from the Inside Out

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

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts

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 Ferguson

Emmy 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:
➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts
➡️ 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:

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

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts

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.com
Instagram: @debra.wesselmann.EMDR
LinkedIn: Debra Wesselmann
Facebook: Debra Wesselmann, MS, LIMHP

Resources & Offerings:

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts
➡️ 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:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapy
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Transcript

Debra Wesselman: [00:00:00] And the other, the other piece I think that's really critical is. These kids with this complex trauma, just like the adults, they have littler parts inside.

They may be five, but they may have a 2-year-old part that is. Is traumatized that they care. They carry those old hurt feelings.

John Clarke: Going Inside is a podcast on a mission to help people heal from trauma and reconnect with their authentic self. Join me trauma therapist John Clarke for guest interviews, real life therapy sessions and soothing guided medi

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/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

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

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts

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:

1. What if education isn't about becoming someone, but honoring who you already are?
2. Why removing threats isn’t enough—true safety in classrooms comes from connection.
3. The secret power of allowing students to be exactly who they are—without agenda.

Guest: 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:

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts
➡️ 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
➡️ Free IFS Training for Therapists: From Burnout to Balance: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

Connect with me:
https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/
https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapy/
https://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapy
https://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapy

Transcript

Tim Amaral: [00:00:00] Now there, there are plenty of kids who will, who will achieve in that system. But it doesn't mean that they are thriving, and it certainly does not mean that they are, um, nourished. Absolutely not. 

John Clarke: Going Inside is a podcast on a mission to help people heal from trauma and reconnect with their authentic self. Join me trauma therapist John Clarke for guest interviews, real life therapy sessions, and soothing guided meditations. I. Whether you're navigating your own trauma, helping others heal from trauma, or simply yearning for a deeper understanding of yourself, going inside is your companion on the path to healing and self-discovery.

Download free guided meditations and apply to work with me one-on-one at johnclarketherapy.com. Thanks for being here. Let's dive in.

All right, we are back for a second time with, uh, my guest, Timothy [00:01:00] Amaral. He's an award-winning adult educator and teacher trainer from Salinas, California. 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's the creator of the self-led learning model. You can find out more at selfledclassroom.com. Tim, th

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

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts

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:

1. What happens when healing moves beyond the clinical — And why staying curious might unlock more than you expect.
2. The invisible weight you might be carrying — How ancestral legacies and cultural patterns live in your body until you learn to let them go.
3. You’re not imagining it — The energetic connection between practitioner and client is real, and it’s changing how we do therapy.

👤 Guest: Seth Kopald

Seth 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:
 📧 [email protected]
 🌐 sethkopald.com
📸 Instagram: @selfled_by_seth
📘 Facebook: @seth.kopald.ifs

📚 Resources & Offerings:

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts
➡️ 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

Transcript

[00:00:00] Seth Kopald: And what I think, the way I've thought about it recently is IFS is tapping into things that humans have been using for healing for thousands, maybe millions of years. 

[00:00:15] John Clarke: Going Inside is a podcast on a mission to help people heal from trauma and reconnect with their authentic self. Join me trauma therapist John Clarke for guest interviews, real life therapy sessions, and soothing guided meditations. Whether you're navigating your own trauma, helping others heal from trauma, or simply yearning for a deeper understanding of yourself, going inside is your companion on the path to healing and self-discovery.

[00:00:39] John Clarke: Download free guided meditations and apply to work with me one-on-one at johnclarketherapy.com. Thanks for being h

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

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts

In this episode of Going Inside, I share my real-time reflections and therapeutic insights while reviewing an IFS demo session with a volunteer 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 therapy

Guest: Ace

Ace is an anonymous volunteer client who agreed to participate in this IFS demo session. Her willingness to be vulnerable provides a valuable teaching opportunity for therapists and clients alike.

Resources & Offerings:

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts
➡️ 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

Transcript:

John Clarke: [00:00:00] Going Inside is a podcast on a mission to help people heal from trauma and reconnect with their authentic self. Join me trauma therapist John Clarke for guest interviews, real life therapy sessions and soothing guided meditations. Whether you're navigating your own trauma, helping others heal from trauma, or simply yearning for a deeper understanding of yourself, going inside is your companion on the path to healing and self-discovery.

Download free guided meditations and apply to work with me one-on-one at johnclarketherapy.com. Thanks for being here. Let's dive in.

Hey everyone. Thanks for tuning in. In this, episode, I'm gonna be reacting to an IFS demo that I did, so a real therapy session that I did as part of this show and this, YouTube channel. And so we're just gonna jump right into it. I'm gonna play a bit and then I'm gonna react to it and I'm gonna try to break down, , my decision points, what I was thinking in that moment, what I'm thinking now , things I may do.

May have done differently, which is always humbling to, to do this, , and [00:01:00] see my own opportunities for growth. You could call them my own growth edges. , But I do this because I. I hope it's helpful to some, whether you're a client wondering how does IFS therapy work and what is the therapist, what is the role of the therapist?

What are they trying to do in session? Or if you're a practitioner wanting to , yeah, improve your own work and deepen your own work with clients. That's, that's why I do this. So that here goes nothing. But before I hit record here, but um, just, yeah, let me know anything that , you wanna start with. 

Ace: Um, I want to start with, um, a feeling of helpless helplessness in my body.

It happens to me very often and holding

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

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts

In 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:

1. A surprising reason why many trauma survivors don’t fully heal—and what might be missing.
2. The two types of curiosity—and why only one leads to transformation.
3. What Bob means when he says “the mind isn’t just multiple... it’s porous.”

👤 Guest: Robert Falconer

Robert 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:

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts
➡️ 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

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

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 Takeaways

• What 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 Rosa

Learn more about Ralph and his work:
 🌐 Website: ralphdelarosa.com
📚 Outshining Trauma on Amazon
📱 Instagram: @ralphdelarosa108

Resources & Offerings:

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts
➡️ 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

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

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts

In 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 most
• How love, belonging, and attachment show up (or don’t) in classrooms
• Is 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:

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts

➡️ 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

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

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts

In this conversation, John Clarke interviews Brad Mosell, founder and CEO of Dharma Doctor, about Brad’s journey into the mental health field, the development of accessible mental health interventions, and the evolution of their product, which integrates EMDR and bilateral stimulation. They discuss the importance of addressing trauma in educational settings, the role of teachers in mental health, and the future of therapy technology, including the integration of biometrics and AI in therapeutic practices.

Key takeaways:

• Discover how bilateral stimulation is being woven into everyday tools to make trauma-informed care more approachable—even outside the therapy room.
• Explore how Brad Mosell turned his own healing journey with EMDR into a mission to bring these powerful tools into schools, homes, and underserved communities.
• Learn why bilateral stimulation works and how it mimics the brain’s natural processing patterns to unlock stuck trauma.
• Peek into the innovative ways tactile tech is helping clients feel grounded, present, and open to doing deep inner work.
• Hear how a tech entrepreneur left Silicon Valley to create a company focused on mental health, and why therapists should be paying attention to what's coming next.

Stay in touch with our guest below: 

🗣️ Brad Mosell

Brad Mosell is the founder and CEO of Dharma Dr., a company dedicated to improving access to EMDR and bilateral stimulation. A veteran and educator, Mosell combines his technical expertise with a passion for healing, aiming to address the mental health challenges faced by today's youth and adults alike.

Instagram: @mydharmadr

 Resources & Offerings:

➡️ Free parts work handouts for your clients → https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/handouts

➡️ 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