The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast

On today's episode I chat with Cheryl Field, a nurse, author, and speaker who has worked in healthcare for over 35 years. She cared for seniors needing rehabilitation after hospitalization, and later applied that passion to clinical technology companies. International Best-selling author of Prepared! A Healthcare Guide for Aging Adults, Cheryl spends her empty nesting time speaking at grand rounds for clinical teams, local libraries, 55+ communities, and senior centers on a variety of topics related to senior care.

• How she uses IFS in her nursing work to help heal trauma in healthcare professionals and promote self-care
• Befriending parts with self-doubt and fear of embarrassment while training for a half marathon
• Noticing and getting to know parts
• Small, intentional acts of joy and self-care for caregivers' resilience
• Prioritizing self-care to prevent burnout
• Caregivers should identify what recharges them and prioritize it, even if it means saying no to other requests
• Recognizing and addressing trauma in nursing
• The importance of having a plan for managing health transitions, especially for those over 50

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Watch video Clips from select episodes on The One Inside's YouTube channel: The One Inside Podcast - YouTube

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy: Tammy Sollenberger (@ifs.tammy) • Instagram photos and videos and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger: The One Inside: Internal Family Systems with Tammy Sollenberger | Facebook.

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Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside Podcast. He is currently enrolled in an IFS Level 1 training.

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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. You can purchase it here: The One Inside: 30 Days To Your Authentic Self: Sollenberger, Tammy: 9780967688756: Amazon.com: Books or wherever books are sold.

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

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Tammy is grateful for Jack Reardon who created music for the podcast. Jack is a graduate of Derek Scott’s IFS Stepping Stones Progra m. You can follow Jack at bonzemusic on Instagram.

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

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We discuss:

• How tenacious parts like grief and anger hold on, often because they feel they are protecting something important, like legacy or family loyalty. What can we learn by befriending these tenacious parts rather than fighting them?
• How your cultural background can influence your emotional experience, and how you can work with legacy burdens in your healing process
• Grief as a multi-dimensional experience – it's not just about sadness, but can include anger, regret, or even relief
• Religious Grief and Trauma – how religious trauma can exile parts of ourselves, such as those feeling grief or anger, and the need for compassionate acknowledgment of them
• All parts grieve differently and how to welcome all parts into the grieving process. How can understanding the different ways we grieve help us heal?
• Honoring angry parts – befriend anger by understanding its role in protecting something important
• IFS and Grief – how IFS uniquely holds space for grief

Favorite Quotes:

• “It's not just that everybody grieves differently, but every part of you grieves differently as well.”
• "Angry parts are there because they are protecting something valuable.”

About Audrey Davidheiser: Audrey Davenheiser is a licensed psychologist, certified IFS therapist, and the author of the forthcoming book, Wholehearted Grieving. She specializes in working with trauma survivors, with a focus on grief and spiritual abuse.

Audrey is leading a session at the 2024 IFS Annual Conference, October 24-25, 2024, called Working With Grieving Parts.

• Audrey’s website: AimForBreakthrough.com
• Follow Audrey on Instagram: @DrAudreyD

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

Follow Tammy on Instagram @ifstammy: Tammy Sollenberger (@ifs.tammy) • Instagram photos and videos and on Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.

Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside Podcast. He is a writer, counselor, and IFS Level 1 practitioner.

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

Do you want to befriend the parts of you who impede your meditation practice? Check out Loch Kelly's FREE workshop.

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]

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.

• “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.

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

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.

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.

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 Fac...

I encourage you to listen and observe your own parts' reactions. Use these as trailheads to do your own work and meet the younger parts of you who hold pain.

We talk about this book a lot-- check out this article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-author-speaks/201709/my-grandmother-s-hands

They share their own personal stories and their experiences working with their racist parts.

What is said over and over is the power of the model to heal, and the importance of following the trailheads of our own racism to get to our exiles and our own ancestors and legacy burdens.

We talk about so much- indigenous peoples, polyvagal theory, classism, capitalism, grief and shame. And, we laugh... I promise.

Read about The Dakota 38 here

Ingrid has an ebook/workbook that uses IFS and Polyvagel theory to help people with chronic worry. It is found at www.calmyourworries.com

She also will be offering a mastermind membership in 2021 to help people move from worry and self-doubt to calm self-confidence. For more information, sign up for her newsletter at Ingrid's website

Dorothea is available to work with you around Unburdening our Racists Parts or Parts Affected by Racism.

She also offers workshops on Working with Anxiety to Release Unconscious Limiting Thoughts, Working with Anger or Angry Parts as a Powerful Tool, Setting your Internal GPS... Your I-GPS, and Healing Parts around Boundaries. Find out more about Dorothea and her offerings at her website here

We talk about several handouts which you can get by contacting her. Email her to receive "The Concrete Work of Eliminating Your Racism" which is a list of trailheads at [email protected].

And, as always, come say Hi to me @ifstammy on Instagram and Twitter or at The One Inside Facebook page. I love hearing from you.

Enjoy.