In this week’s episode, I sit down with my friend Julie Honeycutt, a licensed professional counselor, certified IFS therapist, and approved clinical consultant. Julie has been integrating faith and counseling for over 20 years, and in this conversation, we explore how our attachment styles, parts, Enneagram, and developmental stages all shape our prayer life and spiritual connection.

Julie shares that our attachment patterns and spiritual experiences are deeply linked, and how IFS offers a pathway to spirituality and how our different parts, even those with doubts

We explore the idea that prayer doesn’t have to look a certain way. It can show up in movement, in gardening, in painting, or even in those “texting prayers” we send up throughout the day. As Julie says, “What would it be like if our prayer life could reflect the unique way that God made us?”

Julie also introduces the idea of the “levels of faith” and how parts of us may sit at different levels. Some of our parts may still hold early beliefs that we’ve outgrown, but they are still worthy of attention and care. 

We talk about:

• How our parts have different attachment styles in prayer

• Why anxious parts often get exiled in spirituality

• The connection between the Enneagram, personality, and prayer

• How our developmental stage impacts how we experience faith

• Why meeting ourselves in our prayer life without shame changes everything

• How gardening and movement can be a spiritual practice

Julie reminds us that all parts are welcome: “Even that part is welcome.”

About Julie: Julie Honeycutt is a licensed professional counselor, certified IFS therapist for over 15 years and an Approved Clinical Consultant for the IFS Institute. She's been practicing the integration of faith and counseling for over 20 years in her private practice as well as in workshops and retreats. Through stillness-of-mind exercises (what the early Christians called hesychasm), she guides her clients in learning how to discern God over the crowd of voices inside all our parts!  And, she has a myriad of free writings and resources on her website.

 

About The One Inside:

Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more. 

Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store

Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.

Jeff Schrum produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence.

Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start. 

Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website

Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. 

To learn more about sponsorship opportunties on The One Inside Podcast, email Tammy  

On this week's episode I'm thrilled to have my friend and colleague, Dave Adamusko, join me to demystify "direct access"—a powerful technique that allows IFS practitioners to speak directly to a client's parts.

Dave and I dive deep into why direct access is so essential, especially for clients with trauma histories or deeply blended parts who might struggle with more traditional "insight" methods. Dave leads me in a brief session to demonstrate explicit direct access, engaging with a part of me that was feeling annoyed and ignored, and we trace its origins back to a childhood experience. It was such a profound experience!

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What "direct access" truly means, both for clinicians and for those of us simply navigating our inner worlds.
• How direct access facilitates quick unblending, befriending, and the gathering of powerful insights.
• Why practicing direct access, even with "easier" clients, is crucial for mastery (and something I'm always working on myself!).
• The fascinating connection between direct access and other experiential techniques like Gestalt empty chair and psychodrama.
• The important distinction between explicit and implicit direct access.

And be sure to check out my extended interview with Dave exclusively on Substack.

 

About Dave Adamusko: Dave Adamusko, LMFT is a Certified Internal Family Systems Therapist, and approved IFS Consultant with a private practice in Mesa, AZ. He has been involved in the IFS community since 2015 and has had the privilege of being a Program Assistant for numerous Level 1 trainings as well as a frequent PA for Frank Anderson's L2 Trauma and Neuroscience training. In addition to his therapy private practice he also works as a Guide for Onsite Workshops where he combines his passion for IFS with experiential techniques to create dynamic personal growth workshops. Dave's variety of interests and ADHD have led him to create several passion projects that include (but not limited to): IFS leadership consulting, Experiential Couples Intensives, and recently added, IFS Based Post-Psychedelic Integration Groups.    

 

Episode Sponsor: Life Architect

✨ Get access to 3 IFS webinars organized by Life Architect (featuring Einat Bronstein, Kay Gardner & Robert Falconer, and Ann Sinko) and receive a 30% discount on selected IFS workshops: https://lifearchitect.com/tammy/ ✨

 

About The One Inside:

Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more. 

Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store

Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.

Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence.

Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start. 

Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website

Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. 

To learn more about sponsorship opportunties on The One Inside Podcast, email Tammy  

What if the magic in parenting doesn’t happen in the moment you get it right, but in the moment you come back and repair?

This week, I talk with educator, children’s book author, and Self-led parent Anna Purpero, and I just loved this conversation so much. Anna has two little boys and a big heart, and she shares so honestly about what happens when our protectors take over in parenting and how IFS helped her find a new way forward.

We talk about:

• What happens in our bodies when our kids fight (and why we feel like we're in danger)

• Why repair — not perfection — is the real magic

• The power of separating “who I am” from “what I do” in parenting and beyond

• How Anna uses playful language like “my volcano’s bubbling up” to talk to her kids about parts

• Why naming a part doesn’t mean avoiding responsibility...it helps kids (and grownups) take more

• Why real apologies only come after shame has lifted

• How her creative work flowed from her own healing

Anna’s book My Friends Inside is just beautiful. It’s one of those books that speaks to kids and to the little ones inside us. The language is simple, the illustrations are gorgeous, and the heart behind it? So, so good.

Anna recorded a special reading of her book just for our community and Jeff added page spreads to create a whole little experience out of it. You can find that for free exclusively on Substack.

Come meet your parts and maybe a few new friends inside.

About Anna:

Anna Purpero is an educator and children’s book author based in Columbus, OH, where she lives with her partner, Jordan, and their two sons (ages 4 and 6). She draws inspiration from her former high school Language Arts students and the teens she mentored through Paper City Mentoring Project, a nonprofit she co-founded and led as Executive Director. She is currently building on her education, including SEL coursework from Fresno Pacific University and training through the Self-Leadership Collaborative. She hopes to continue to use art to facilitate experiential learning and inspire children to hold tight to their dignity and spark. Her debut picture book, My Friends Inside, is available now! 

Episode Sponsor:

Inner World Collective

A supportive community can change everything when you're learning and applying the IFS model. The Collective is an online space for IFS therapists and practitioners to connect with like-minded professionals, build confidence, refine their skills, and feel truly supported as they bring IFS into their clinical work. Inside, you'll find expert consultation, supervised and peer-led practice groups, monthly guest speakers, recorded demos and demo groups, and Self-led workshops—all designed to help you flourish as an IFS practitioner.

About The One Inside:

Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more. 

Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store

Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.

Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence.

Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start. 

Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website

Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. 

To learn more about sponsorship opportunties on The One Inside Podcast, email Tammy  

Britt Frank escaped a cult, rebuilt her life after addiction, and is one of the most grounded, funny, and inspiring IFS speakers and educators around.

In this week’s episode, we talk about her new book Align Your Mind, and how parts work helped her move from chaos to clarity.

We get into all of it...motivation, procrastination, inner critics, cults, menopause, and what alignment looks like beyond the buzzwords.

Britt shares how she uses parts language in her own life, how she reframes procrastination as protection, and why your most extreme parts might actually be your best coaches.

She also opens up about what it’s like to come out of systems of control and begin to trust your own experience again. As Britt says, “Our parts don’t want us to feel better. They want us to feel safe.”

If you’ve ever felt stuck or like your parts are pulling you in opposite directions, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What alignment really means (hint: it’s not a vibe)

• How procrastination isn’t laziness; it’s a protective part trying to help

• Why “Self Energy is not codependency in a pretty dress”

• Reframing the inner critic as your best coach

• What it means to “coach your parts like a team”

• How parts work can reframe midlife and menopause as meaningful transitions

• Parts work as a way to “rewrite the script” with compassion and clarity

Favorite Quote:

“I want to talk to the parts of you that are doing weird things and say, ‘You're not crazy. You're a person with an activated nervous system, and there's a reason why this is happening.’” – Britt Frank

 

Be sure to catch my extended interview with Britt over on Substack, where she talks about her complicated relationship with "hope" -- and what she reaches for instead.

About Britt: Britt Frank, LCSWS, SEP, is an IFS Level 3 therapist, keynote speaker, and the author of The Science of Stuck and Align Your Mind. She’s trained in Internal Family Systems and Somatic Experiencing and is a contributing columnist to Psychology Today. Her work has been featured in Forbes, NPR, Fast Company, Psych Central, SELF, and Thrive Global.

.

Episode Sponsor: Life Architect

✨ Get access to 3 IFS webinars organized by Life Architect (featuring Einat Bronstein, Kay Gardner & Robert Falconer, and Ann Sinko) and receive a 30% discount on selected IFS workshops: https://lifearchitect.com/tammy/ ✨

 

About The One Inside:

Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more. 

Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store

Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.

Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence.

Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start. 

Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website

Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. 

To learn more about sponsorship opportunties on The One Inside Podcast, email Tammy  

In this week's episode I welcome three guests--Robin Barre, Ann-Katrin Bockmann, and Kasra Mirzaie--to talk about IFS and working with teenagers.

We explore how IFS often skips over this phase of life, both in how we work with clients and how we relate to our own inner adolescent parts. We tend to romanticize childhood or focus on early wounding, yet there’s a lot of cringing and avoiding when it comes to the teenage years. Adolescence is where so much transformation happens. It’s where meaning gets made. It’s when parts start to emerge with passion, intensity, and voice.

My guests are each doing beautiful work in the world to support teens. Our teens (and teen parts) need room to grow, roll their eyes, slam doors, and ask big existential questions. This episode makes space for and sense of it all.

We talk about normalizing rebellion, exploring identity, meaning making, and listening deeply to the parts of ourselves and our teens who are still figuring it all out. We also talk how IFS can overlook the developmental and cultural realities of adolescence.

This conversation left me feeling full of insight and hope. Speaking of hope, be sure to check out my extended interview with this trio over on The One Inside on Substack, where they each share what is giving them hope right now. 

In this episode, we explore:

• Why adolescence often gets skipped over in parts work

• What we miss when we pathologize normal adolescent development and behavior

• The meaning crisis and mental health crisis we are currently experiencing

• The difference between burdens and suffering that transforms

• Why validation is essential for connecting with teens

• How Self-Led parenting looks different during the teen years

Questions to carry with you:

• What would it be like to revisit your inner teenager with curiosity?

• Which of your parts “woke up” during adolescence?

• What did you need then, and how might you offer it now?

About my guests:

Ann-Katrin Bockmann, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and speech therapist, certified IFS and Somatic IFS therapist, IFS approved clinical consultant and Co Lead Trainer for the IFS Institute. She works at the Institute of Psychology at Hildesheim University (Germany) and in private practice.

Kasra Mirzaie is a licensed psychotherapist, research assistant, and teacher in Germany who works with people of all ages in diverse psychological, educational and medical contexts. 

Robin Barre is a Level 3 trained IFS psychotherapist and approved consultant. She also is a professional consultant for those who provide services for adolescents.

 

Episode Sponsors:

IFS Demoz 

Curious what Internal Family Systems looks like in action? Join IFS Demoz, a live demonstration series led by IFS pioneer Mike Elkin. Each week, Mike takes on real-world challenges through one-on-one role play, modeling IFS techniques in real time. Whether you're new to IFS or a seasoned practitioner, these sessions offer powerful insights into how the model truly works. Each demo includes an open, inclusive Q&A—so bring your curiosity. Live sessions happen weekly on Zoom, and recordings are available to all registrants.

Inner World Collective

A supportive community can change everything when you're learning and applying the IFS model. The Collective is an online space for IFS therapists and practitioners to connect with like-minded professionals, build confidence, refine their skills, and feel truly supported as they bring IFS into their clinical work. Inside, you'll find expert consultation, supervised and peer-led practice groups, monthly guest speakers, recorded demos and demo groups, and Self-led workshops—all designed to help you flourish as an IFS practitioner.

About The One Inside:

Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more. 

Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store

Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.

Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence.

Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start. 

Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website

Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. 

To learn more about sponsorship opportunties on The One Inside Podcast, email Tammy  

I’m so thrilled to welcome Dick Schwartz, the founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS), back to the podcast, as well as my friend Ocean, who brings her voice and lived experience to this important conversation.

Today, we explore the intersection between IFS and the plural community--those living with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and OSDD (Other Specified Dissociative Disorders). What’s the difference between DI parts and the IFS parts many of us talk about? How can we bridge misunderstandings between the IFS community and those living with more distinct parts? 

This conversation was deeply moving and healing. I’m so grateful to both Dick and Ocean for their honesty, wisdom, and compassion.

In this episode, we explore:

• The differences and overlap between DI parts and IFS parts

• Why the plural community has sometimes felt unseen and misunderstood by IFS

• The harm in labeling parts as managers, firefightes and exiles

• The complicated relationship many survivors have with Self Energy

• Strategies for working with systems shaped by deep trauma

• Why trust, patience, and honoring every part is a prerequisite to healing

 

Be sure to watch the extended video interview with Dick and Ocean over on our Substack. 

  Favorite Quotes: “IFS was never meant to pathologize people. It was meant to honor the fact that all of us are multiple, and that those parts aren’t what they seem.” — Dick Schwartz "There’s a huge difference between saying, 'Your parts are managers, firefighters, and exiles,' and saying, 'I’m noticing some of your parts seem to be taking on these roles to protect you.'" — Ocean 

 

About Tiffany "Ocean" Morgan

Tiffany Morgan (Ocean) is a Certified IFS therapist, consultant, and educator with lived experience of OSDD (Otherwise Specified Dissociative Disorder). She specializes in eating disorders, complex PTSD, and dissociative disorders, and brings over 30 years of experience to her work supporting deep healing and system-wide trust.

She is passionate about destigmatizing DID, neurodivergence, and the multiplicity of mind. She creates compassionate, inclusive spaces where all parts are welcome and seen. She also shares resources and reflections through her platform, tidesoftransformation.com, and co-sponsors the podcast A Couple of Multiples.

About Richard "Dick" Schwartz

Dr. Richard Schwartz is the founder of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model of therapy., He is the author of several books, including No Bad Parts and You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For, and continues to lead workshops and trainings worldwide through the IFS Institute.

Episode Sponsors: Pisgah Coaching Institute

Founded by IFS trained master coach Brian Jaudon, a pioneer in the integration of IFS and coaching for more than two decades. Brian and his faculty teach a blended methodology for clarifying and living into a vision of any kind. Enrollment is now open for his 2026 training. pisgahcoaching.com

Cape Cod Institute

This summer, deepen your practice with half-day CE courses at the Cape Cod Institute, offered in person on Cape Cod or live online from anywhere. Learn from IFS leaders Jeanne Catanzaro, Richard Schwartz, and Cece Sykes, or explore topics like mindfulness, couples therapy and leadership and many more with experts shaping the field. Celebrating 45 years, the 2025 season runs from June, 30 to August, 22. Start your day with interactive learning, then spend your afternoons applying new insights with clients, connecting with colleagues or exploring the cape. Learn more and register at www.cape.org Use Discount Code: theoneinside for $50 off.

 

About The One Inside:

Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more. 

Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store

Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.

Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence.

Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start. 

Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website

Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. 

To learn more about sponsorship opportunties on The One Inside Podcast, email Tammy  

On today's episode I chat with Susan Stiffelman, a licensed marriage and family therapist, author, parenting coach, and host of the Parenting Without Power Struggles podcast. We talk about parts, of course. Parenting parts. Spiritual seeker parts. Inner children who hide behind locked doors. And how she gently helps people return to center.

Susan shares stories from her work and from her own life, including how she stayed connected to herself (and her child) during a divorce, and why she believes parenting is one of life's most profound trailheads.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• What happens when we parent from our “hijacked” parts

• The power of staying tethered to ourselves, even when our kids are dysregulated

• How to move out of the “fixer” role and into the calm anchor our kids need

• What’s underneath those big reactions?

• Why she says: “We are a society of disembodied people”

• What parts of you get activated when your child is dysregulated or distressed?

• Can you be curious about the fear underneath your frustration?

• What would it mean to “sit in the fire” without jumping in to fix it?

 

Susan welcomed me on her podcast recently to talk all things parenting + IFS, which I hope you'll check out as well.  Register for our live Self-Led Parenting Masterclass  happening May 1, 2025 (replay available)

 

Favorite quote: “This isn’t about parenting, it’s about the journey of coming home to our true nature.” -- Susan Stiffelman

 

About Susan Stiffelman

Susan Stiffelman is a licensed Marriage, Family, and Child Therapist and the author of Parenting Without Power Strugglesand Parenting With Presence (an Eckhart Tolle Edition). She helps parents become the calm, confident “Captain of the ship”. Susan hosts a popular podcast with over 1.5 million downloads and offers online classes and memberships with guest experts like Dan Siegel, Byron Katie, and Gabor Maté.

 

Episode Sponsor: Life Architect

✨ Get access to 3 IFS webinars organized by Life Architect (featuring Einat Bronstein, Kay Gardner & Robert Falconer, and Ann Sinko) and receive a 30% discount on selected IFS workshops: https://lifearchitect.com/tammy/ ✨

 

About The One Inside:

Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more. 

Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store

Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.

Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence.

Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start. 

Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website

Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. 

To learn more about sponsorship opportunties on The One Inside Podcast, email Tammy  

On today’s episode I meet Jessica Laurel Kane, a writer, illustrator, and storyteller whose new book, Once Upon an Upset: Illustrated Stories, Insights, and Reflections to Help Parent Our Children While Re-Parenting Ourselves, captures the spirit of Internal Family Systems in such an authentic and creative way. 

Jessica isn’t formally trained in IFS, but she lives it and teaches it through her stories, illusrations, and books. She discovered IFS organically during a slient retreat and got to know her inner world by interviewing her parts--like characters in a story. 

Her work shows how imagination can be a healing tool. She makes “being with your parts” feel accessible, visual, and real. This episode is about the power of healing through storytelling, and I think you’re going to love hearing Jessica tell hers.

 

Key Takeaways:

• “I treated myself the way I was treated.” Jessica describes how growing up with neglect led to internal self-neglect and how getting to know her parts shifted that pattern.

• How a 10-day silent retreat helped her meet the younger selves she’d been avoiding, and why she started interviewing them like characters in a story.

• “Only you get to say when you’ll give birth to your creative self.” Jessica shares how parts of us often hold the key to our creativity and our stuckness.

• Parenting as a mirror: how Jessica hears old internal voices while parenting her son, and how she learned to pause, check in, and choose a different path.

• “The glue is compassion.” A conversation about looping thoughts, panic attacks, and what it takes to rewire old stories with new ones.

• How her late mother planted the seeds for the parts work and self trust Jessica now uses to nurture herself and her son.

Favorite Quote:

"Sometimes I search desperately outside of myself for a place to rest and be still, forgetting that this place is inside of me."—Jessica Laurel Kane

About Jessica

Jessica Laurel Kane is the author of several books, most recently: Leaving Cleveland: A Memoir, The Boy with the Heavy Suitcase (a picture book) and Once Upon an Upset: Illustrated Stories, Insights and Reflections to Help Parent Our Children While Reparenting Ourselves. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and son. 

Episode Sponsor:

Michelle Glass

Whether you’re IFS-trained and supporting clients in medicine work or a psychedelic facilitator looking to integrate IFS, Michelle Glass offers courses designed to build confidence in preparation, journey, and integration. Courses include:  “Supporting Clients’ Psychedelic Journeys Utilizing IFS” or her 22-Hour “Comprehensive IFS Introduction for Psychedelic Facilitators.” Learn more at thelistenerllc.com

 

Upcoming Events:

The Science of Calm free online summit April 21 - May 4, 2025

Self-Led Parenting: How Internal Family Systems Can Transform Your Family's Life - a course I'm leading with Susan Stiffelman on May 1, 2025 

 

About The One Inside:

Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more. 

Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store

Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.

Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence.

Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start. 

Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website

Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. Jack is a graduate of Derek Scott’s IFS Stepping Stones Program.  

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or two of The One Inside Podcast please contact Tammy at [email protected]

On today’s podcast, I chat with Dr. Irina Diyankova, certified IFS therapist, IFS clinical consultant, and Lead Trainer with the IFS Institute. We explore the fascinating intersection of IFS and neurodivergence, a topic she knows intimately from both her lived and professional experience.

We talk about time blindness, sensory sensitivities, what gets mistaken for trauma but might be hardwiring, and how IFS therapists can differentiate. We also get into self-accommodation, the limits of coping skills, and why healing through IFS is a lifelong journey.

I loved my conversation with Irina and felt uplifted and inspired by her beautiful Self Energy. I’m excited to bring this episode to you. 

✨ Don’t miss my extended video interview with Irina on The One Inside Substack. You’ll also find a gentle, creative meditation Irina led designed especially for neurodiverse folks to connect with parts of their nervous system. Bring crayons and curiosity.

 

Key Takeaways:

• “Healing doesn't always bring rainbows and butterflies.” Irina talks about the moment she realized her nervous system challenges weren’t just about unhealed trauma.

• How do you tell the difference between parts and hardwiring? Irina walks us through how she listens for what’s left after unburdening and what that might mean.

• “Coping skills that work for others might not work for you—and that’s not a failure.”

• Why traditional therapeutic approaches (like exposure therapy) can be harmful for neurodivergent clients—and what to do instead.

• “I have to accommodate myself.” Irina shares how self-acceptance and sensory regulation opened up a whole new window of tolerance.

• We also talk about Irina’s upcoming book, Becoming an IFS Therapist: A Journey to One’s Self, which offers practices and reflections for IFS therapists.

  Mentioned In This Episode:

The Science of Calm free online summit April 21 - May 4, 2025

“Applying IFS with autistic and ADHD adults through neurodiversity affirming lens” two-day workshop, May 30-31, 2025.

Irina's book: Becoming an IFS Therapist: A Journey to One's Self

 

About Dr. Irina Diyankova

Dr. Irina Diyankova is a licensed psychologist, certified IFS therapist, and Lead Trainer with the IFS Institute. She specializes in the treatment of psychological trauma and related conditions, including PTSD, Dissociative Disorders, and Anxiety and Mood Disorders. Based in Tennessee, Irina offers professional consultations, workshops, and trainings for mental health professionals interested in learning the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. She is also an IFS Approved Clinical Consultant, known for her thoughtful, neurodiversity-affirming approach to teaching and therapy.

  Episode Sponsors:

IFS Demoz 

Curious what Internal Family Systems looks like in action? Join IFS Demoz, a live demonstration series led by IFS pioneer Mike Elkin. Each week, Mike takes on real-world challenges through one-on-one role play, modeling IFS techniques in real time. Whether you're new to IFS or a seasoned practitioner, these sessions offer powerful insights into how the model truly works. Each demo includes an open, inclusive Q&A—so bring your curiosity. Live sessions happen weekly on Zoom, and recordings are available to all registrants.

Inner World Collective

A supportive community can change everything when you're learning and applying the IFS model. The Collective is an online space for IFS therapists and practitioners to connect with like-minded professionals, build confidence, refine their skills, and feel truly supported as they bring IFS into their clinical work. Inside, you'll find expert consultation, supervised and peer-led practice groups, monthly guest speakers, recorded demos and demo groups, and Self-led workshops—all designed to help you flourish as an IFS practitioner.

  About The One Inside:

Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more. 

Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store

Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.

Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence.

Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start. 

Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website

Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. Jack is a graduate of Derek Scott’s IFS Stepping Stones Program.  

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or two of The One Inside Podcast please contact Tammy at [email protected]

On today’s podcast, I chat with Ashley Booth, a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist, trainer, researcher—and former oceanographer! Ashley’s new book, Quieting the Storm Within: A Simple, Intuitive Guide to Your Inner World, is beautifully written and illustrated, accessible, and deeply rooted in IFS.

We talk about why she chose to create a picture book for adults, how parts mapping can be playful and powerful, and how IFS and psychedelics both point us toward connection with our parts, with the natural world, and with something larger than ourselves.

Ashley shares her journey from marine science to healing work, the grief that led her there, and the awe and Self Energy that keep her grounded in the work today.

Key Takeaways:

• “IFS is such a visual model.” Ashley talks about why she chose to make a picture book for adults and how dyslexia, digital art, and parts mapping all played a role.

• What is the “parts unstack” exercise and how can it help externalize what’s happening inside?

• “All parts are either the steward of a need or trying to get that need met.” Ashley walks us through her reframing of protectors as helpers and the importance of naming needs with compassion.

• How her own psychedelic experiences influenced the metaphors in the book, and how IFS supports integration and meaning-making.

• “Self is the conduit.” Ashley shares how visual reminders, art, and little moments of awe can help us reconnect to Self Energy in everyday life.

Favorite Quote:

"We all need to be able to connect with the love and the compassion that's available to all of us that doesn't judge. And our parts need to be held by that, right? And our Self is the conduit for that to happen." – Ashley Booth

About Ashley Booth

Ashley Booth, LCSW, is a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist, IFS practitioner, researcher, and educator. She’s the author of Quieting the Storm Within: A Simple, Intuitive Guide to Your Inner World, releasing in March 2025. Ashley is also the founder of IFS and Beyond, where she offers consultation, integration, and teaching at the intersection of Internal Family Systems and psychedelic therapy.

A former oceanographer, Ashley brings deep curiosity and reverence for nature into her work, helping people reconnect with their inner and outer worlds. Learn more at ifsandbeyond.com or ashleybooth.net.

Episode Sponsors:

IFS Demoz 

Curious what Internal Family Systems looks like in action? Join IFS Demoz, a live demonstration series led by IFS pioneer Mike Elkin. Each week, Mike takes on real-world challenges through one-on-one role play, modeling IFS techniques in real time. Whether you're new to IFS or a seasoned practitioner, these sessions offer powerful insights into how the model truly works. Each demo includes an open, inclusive Q&A—so bring your curiosity. Live sessions happen weekly on Zoom, and recordings are available to all registrants.

Inner World Collective

A supportive community can change everything when you're learning and applying the IFS model. The Collective is an online space for IFS therapists and practitioners to connect with like-minded professionals, build confidence, refine their skills, and feel truly supported as they bring IFS into their clinical work. Inside, you'll find expert consultation, supervised and peer-led practice groups, monthly guest speakers, recorded demos and demo groups, and Self-led workshops—all designed to help you flourish as an IFS practitioner.

  About The One Inside:

Check out The One Inside Substack community to access all episodes, exclusive extended interviews, meditations and exercises, and more. 

Find The One Inside Self-Led merch at The One Inside store

Watch video clips from select episodes on  The One Inside on YouTube

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.

Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence.

Are you new to IFS or want a simple way to get to know yourself? Tammy's book, "The One Inside: Thirty Days to your Authentic Self" is a PERFECT place to start. 

Sign up for Tammy's email list and get a free "Get to know a Should part of you" meditation on her website

Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. Jack is a graduate of Derek Scott’s IFS Stepping Stones Program.  

If you are interested in sponsoring an episode or two of The One Inside Podcast please contact Tammy at [email protected]