Going Inside: Healing Trauma from the Inside Out

John Clarke, LPCC
  • 4.5 (31)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Hosted by licensed trauma therapist John Clarke, LPCC, Going Inside is a podcast on a mission to help you heal from trauma and reconnect with your authentic Self. This show explores trauma healing through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy with detours into EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and more. Tune in for enlightening guest expert interviews, immersive solo deep dives, real-life therapy sessions, and soothing guided meditations. Learn more about and apply to work 1-1 with John at https://www.johnclarketherapy.com.

  1. 2D AGO

    Accessing Self Energy: A 6-Minute Reset for Therapists

    What if you could access clarity, compassion, and grounded leadership in just a few minutes? In this short guided meditation, John invites you to pause and take inventory of what you’re carrying — from your professional roles to your personal responsibilities — and reconnect with Self energy. This practice helps you shift from doing to being, from reacting to leading from the heart. Whether you’re between sessions or starting your day, this 6-minute reset is a simple way to return to your center. 3 Key Takeaways Discover what you are carrying right now that isn’t even yoursIdentify what would change if you led from your heart todayReveal where your Self Energy comes fromResources & 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 ➡️ Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast

    7 min

  2. FEB 9

    IFS or SE First? The Grounding Debate Therapists Face

    In this live Q&A episode of Going Inside, John Clarke dives deep into the intersection of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Somatic Experiencing (SE). Therapists asked real questions about how to ground clients with complex trauma, whether SE can bypass protectors, and how to handle burnout, fear of messing up, and imposter syndrome. John offers raw, nuanced insights—from co-regulation to clinical contracting—that will resonate with any trauma-informed therapist striving to do deeper, more relational work. 🔑 3 Key Takeaways Is SE bypassing your client’s protectors? Learn how to spot subtle protector bypassing even with gentle somatic work—and how IFS can help re-establish choice and agency.Why grounding may be overemphasized: John challenges the assumption that therapists must ground first, proposing self-energy and relational presence as grounding in itself.Burnout starts with belief systems: Discover how internal polarizations and unexamined fears silently drive overworking—and how IFS can unwind the deeper exile dynamics.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 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

    24 min

  3. JAN 26

    AI, Exiles & Ethics in IFS What Therapists Must Know

    In this episode of Going Inside Live, John Clarke unpacks some of the most pressing questions therapists are facing today. From the ethical risks of moving too fast with exiles in IFS therapy, to how AI is already being used by clients and therapists alike, this episode offers grounded insight and practical advice. Whether you're navigating parts work or exploring how AI tools fit into your practice, John’s perspective will help you deepen your skill and awareness as a therapist. 3 Key Takeaways: Why rushing toward exiles in IFS can backfire — and how to rebuild trust in the system when it happens.How therapists and clients are already using AI tools to process sessions — and the ethical gray areas to consider.A therapist's real role: Why "focusing, deepening, and relating" might be more important than fixing.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

    26 min

  4. JAN 19

    How IFS Changes Everything for Therapists

    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: Discover why a client “feeling nothing” may be the perfect place to begin, and how to access parts through thoughts, not just the body.Learn to notice when your own parts are activated and how “doing the U-turn” back to your system can shift the session entirely.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

    26 min

  5. JAN 12

    IFS + Somatic Tools: The Therapist's Guide to Real Healing

    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 Why trying to “regulate” might actually shut down the trailhead — and how going toward dysregulation creates deeper healing.The real reason clients overthink and “can’t feel” — and what to do instead of pushing them into embodiment.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

    39 min

  6. 12/09/2025

    What to Do When IFS Feels Stuck (Protectors, Direct Access & More)

    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 partHow to use Direct Access in a way that doesn’t feel clunky including exact scripts and therapist mindset shiftsParts mapping made simple John’s favorite iPad-based method for tracking systems across sessionsResources & Offerings Free IFS Training for Therapists: From Burnout to Balance: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-webinar-podcast1-Month Grace Period with Jane – Use code JOHN or visit: https://meet.jane.app/john-clarke-ambassador10% Off at Grounding Well – Use code GWJOHNCLARKE or visit: https://www.groundingwell.com/GWJOHNCLARKE10% Off at Dharma Dr. – Use code JOHN or visit: https://dharmadr.com/JOHNConnect with me https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/https://www.instagram.com/johnclarketherapyhttps://www.tiktok.com/@johnclarketherapyhttps://www.youtube.com/@johnclarketherapyGrab 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

    34 min

  7. 12/01/2025

    Transforming Shame with Parts Work: The Self-Love Triangle

    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 triangleHow to transform the inner critic into an inner coach and move toward self-led healingThe 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

    39 min

  8. 11/24/2025

    Can IFS Therapy Be Dangerous? What You Need to Know

    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

    36 min
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4.5
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

Hosted by licensed trauma therapist John Clarke, LPCC, Going Inside is a podcast on a mission to help you heal from trauma and reconnect with your authentic Self. This show explores trauma healing through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy with detours into EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and more. Tune in for enlightening guest expert interviews, immersive solo deep dives, real-life therapy sessions, and soothing guided meditations. Learn more about and apply to work 1-1 with John at https://www.johnclarketherapy.com.

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