In this solo episode, John Clarke explores how Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy reshapes the way therapists understand their clients, their work, and themselves. He answers live questions from fellow practitioners about numbness, blending, unburdening fallout, and parts that resist the IFS model entirely. With raw honesty and grounded clinical insight, John also shares how grief, meaninglessness, and therapist rescuing energy show up in the room—and how to handle it all with curiosity and compassion.

If you're craving a deeper therapeutic experience—for your clients and yourself—this episode will guide you back to self-energy, presence, and purpose.

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Discover why a client “feeling nothing” may be the perfect place to begin, and how to access parts through thoughts, not just the body.
2. Learn to notice when your own parts are activated and how “doing the U-turn” back to your system can shift the session entirely.
3. What to do when clients’ systems resist change, unburdenings fall flat, or protectors don’t want to be seen as just “parts.”

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

What does it really mean to integrate IFS and somatic work in a way that’s effective — not just for your clients, but for you as the therapist?

In this live Q&A episode, John Clarke dives deep into the intersections of IFS, polyvagal theory, somatic therapy, and nervous system regulation. Whether you're navigating anxious clients, parts that over-intellectualize, or your own burnout, this episode offers grounded insights and powerful frameworks to help you heal and show up with more self-energy.

3 Key Takeaways

1. Why trying to “regulate” might actually shut down the trailhead — and how going toward dysregulation creates deeper healing.
2. The real reason clients overthink and “can’t feel” — and what to do instead of pushing them into embodiment.
3. Digital detox isn’t about willpower — it’s about meeting the parts that are addicted to distraction.

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

In this solo Going Inside Live episode, John Clarke dives deep into what to do when your IFS sessions hit a wall - when clients feel shut down, protectors won’t budge, and insight isn’t working. Whether you’re facing “I don’t know” responses, feeling stuck as a therapist, or unsure how to use direct access effectively, this episode gives you grounded, real-world strategies to move forward. Plus: John shares how he maps parts in-session, stays in Self, and supports clients (and himself) through stuckness.

Key Takeaways

• Why insight isn’t always enough and what to do when your client says “I don’t know” or can’t connect with a part
• How to use Direct Access in a way that doesn’t feel clunky including exact scripts and therapist mindset shifts
• Parts mapping made simple John’s favorite iPad-based method for tracking systems across sessions

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

What if your inner critic, your shame, and your perfectionism are all working together in secret? In this episode, John Clarke sits down with Jessica Fern and David Cooley, authors of Transforming the Shame Triangle: From Shame to Love Using Parts Work, to explore the unconscious internal system that keeps us stuck—and how to break free. Whether you're a therapist, coach, or someone doing deep inner work, this conversation introduces a powerful IFS-inspired framework for turning shame into compassion and healing from the inside out.

Key Takeaways:

• Why shame is rarely just one part—and how inner critics, shame, and escapers work in a triangle
• How to transform the inner critic into an inner coach and move toward self-led healing
• The hidden connection between shame and “success”—and why high-functioning clients often stay stuck

👤 Guests: Jessica Fern & David Cooley

Jessica Fern is a therapist, certified trauma professional, and trained IFS practitioner with 25+ years of experience across somatic, narrative, and psychospiritual healing modalities. She's the internationally recognized author of Polysecure, The Polysecure Workbook, and Polywise. Through her international private practice, she helps clients break free from trauma, insecure attachment, and reactive relational patterns.
🌐 Learn more: JessicaFern.com
📧 Contact: connect@jessicafern.com
📸 Instagram: @jessicafern411

David Cooley is a restorative justice facilitator, cultural broker, and creator of the Restorative Relationship Conversations model. He works with LGBTQ+ and non-monogamous partnerships through a trauma-informed, attachment-based lens—integrating narrative theory, somatic work, and mindfulness.
🌐 Learn more: RestorativeRelationship.com
📸 Instagram: @rrconversations
📖 Their new book: Transforming the Shame Triangle — available wherever books are sold.

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

In this episode of Going Inside Live, John Clarke tackles a wide range of real-time questions from therapists, including a provocative one: Can Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy actually be harmful? John explores the nuances of working with protectors, polarization, dissociation, DID, and the ethical concerns therapists face when practicing powerful modalities like IFS.

Whether you're an IFS practitioner or just curious about parts work, this episode is filled with candid insights and clinical gems to deepen your therapeutic presence.

3 Key Takeaways:

• Why IFS Might Be “Too Powerful” – Learn how bypassing protectors or diving too quickly into exile work can actually destabilize clients.
• Can IFS Work With DID and Severe Dissociation? – John explores how IFS adapts to extreme trauma, alters, and fractured systems — and what not to do.
• The Therapist’s Shadow – Why certification doesn’t guarantee safety, and how even well-trained therapists can unintentionally cause harm.

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

When clients say “I don’t know” in session, it can feel like hitting a wall. In this live Q&A episode, John Clarke breaks down what’s really happening when insight work stalls—and how Internal Family Systems (IFS) offers a radically different way forward. From hypoarousal and hopelessness to therapist parts that want to fix everything, this episode gives practical strategies for going deeper, staying in self, and navigating the complexity of parts work. Whether you're doing IFS solo or with clients, you'll walk away with tools, insights, and a deeper respect for the process.

Key Takeaways:

• Why “I don’t know” often signals a lack of self-energy—not resistance
• What to do when your therapist parts want to jump in and fix
• How IFS goes beyond insight and into direct internal transformation

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

In this episode of Going Inside, John Clarke sits down with the legendary Cece Sykes, IFS trainer, therapist, and pioneer in the field of addiction recovery, for a rich, open-ended conversation about the complex dance between trauma, addictive processes, and the healing power of choice.

Together, they break down a real client demo, the challenges therapists face when healing feels urgent, and how the IFS model bridges the gap between trauma treatment and addiction recovery.

3 Key Takeaways

• What if your inner critic isn’t you — but your parent’s energy?
• When speed becomes a symptom, not a solution.
• The 9th “C” of Self you’ve never heard of (but really need).

👤 Guest: Cece Sykes

Cece Sykes, LCSW, has over 40 years of clinical experience treating trauma and addiction. She is a senior lead trainer for the Internal Family Systems (IFS) Institute, and has trained therapists all over the world on how to use IFS to work with addictive processes and legacy burdens.

📧 Contact: cecesykes427@gmail.com

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

In this live Q&A episode, John Clarke dives deep into how to skillfully navigate protective parts in IFS therapy and why safety is the cornerstone of effective trauma work. You'll learn practical, real-world techniques to help clients unblend, access Self energy, and build trust with even the most entrenched protectors. Whether you're new to IFS or looking to refine your clinical skills, this episode is packed with insights, case examples, and therapist tools you can use right away.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• The First Sign You’re Blended (and What to Do About It): John shares how body tension is often the first cue that a part has taken over — and how therapists can respond in the moment.
• The Surprising Way to Introduce IFS in an Opening Session: Learn why guided experience often works better than explanation and how to help clients get curious about their own system.
• What Real Insight Work Feels Like (vs. Just Talking About It): Discover the texture of true internal dialogue and how to tell when a client is genuinely engaging with their parts.

🧰 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