As part of our Summer of Encores—revisiting standout episodes while host Shawna Rodrigues focuses on her breast cancer journey—we’re bringing back this powerful and fan-favorite conversation from January 2023.

In this re-release episode of The Grit Show, psychotherapist Will Halpin joins Shawna to unpack the transformative approach of Internal Family Systems (IFS). What if your mind isn’t a battlefield, but an orchestra—filled with anxious flutes, perfectionist violins, and maybe even a snarky drummer or two?

Together, they explore how understanding your “internal parts” can lead to greater self-awareness, emotional healing, and real change. Curious about concepts like protectors, exiles, or the 8 C’s of healing? You’ll hear relatable metaphors, real-life insights into anxiety and people-pleasing, and accessible mental health strategies you can start using right away.

Whether this is your first listen or a meaningful return visit, this encore episode is packed with practical wisdom and fresh perspective on how to bring more compassion and clarity into your inner world.

Will Halpin is a psychotherapist and public health social worker with over 22 years of experience working in community health center settings and in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts. Earlier in his career, he developed programs and a comprehensive curriculum with the Boston Public Health Commission to train providers on best practices in working with people struggling with crystal meth abuse and dependence. Most of his clinical experience has been working within the LGBTQAI+ population, and specifically complex/developmental trauma and substance abuse. He has trained in a variety of treatment modalities to offer a variety of options when working with survivors of trauma, including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). He also enjoys training new practitioners who are learning IFS as an assistant course instructor for over three years, working with providers from India, Canada and all over the US. When he is not at work, you can find him in the mountains, in a lake, or in the woods enjoying whatever outdoor recreation is available in that particular season.

Connect with Will - WillHalpin.com

Learn more about IFS - IFS-Institute.com

Books:

Self Therapy by Jay Earley

You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For - Dr. Richard Schwartz

Shawna Rodrigues left her award-winning career in the public sector in 2019 and after launching The Grit Show, soon learned the abysmal fact that women hosted only 27% of podcasts. This led to the founding of the Authentic Connections Podcast Network intent on raising that number by 10% in five years- 37 by 27. Because really, shouldn’t it be closer to 50%? She now focuses on helping purpose driven solopreneurs find their ideal clients through podcasting. She believes that the first step is guesting on podcasts - check out her tip sheet and once you've built your business and are ready for the full-service support for podcasting production and mentoring, she'll help you launch the podcast you were meant for. Diagnosed with breast cancer in early 2025, much of this year will be prioritizing her fight, victory, and healing. If you would like to follow that journey and be one of her warriors you can learn more via Being Honest, and the podcast episode on TGS where she shares more. Find her on Instagram- @ShawnaPodcasts and learn more about the network and other happenings at https://linktr.ee/37by27.

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