Advertise on podcast: Intuitive Self: IFS + Intuition + Spirituality with Natalie Deering

What is trauma, really? How does it impact our brains, bodies, and nervous systems? And how can Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) work together to support healing? In this episode I welcome Crystal Whitlow, licensed clinical social worker, Certified IFS Therapist, IFS Institute Approved Clinical Consultant, and EMDR trainer, for a thoughtful and insightful conversation about trauma and the many pathways to healing. Crystal shares pieces of her own trauma history and healing journey, offering a personal perspective on the importance of doing our own inner work, especially as therapists and healers. Together, we explore what trauma actually is, why it's more than simply experiencing discomfort, and why the distinction between "Big T" and "little t" trauma can be both helpful and limiting. We discuss why some people develop PTSD while others don't, what happens in the brain and body following traumatic experiences, and how IFS and EMDR can support the healing process. Crystal also introduces IFS-informed EMDR, exploring how these two powerful approaches complement one another. We discuss the role of resourcing, the benefits of bilateral stimulation, and how bilateral stimulation can be thoughtfully integrated into IFS parts work. Throughout the conversation, one important theme emerges: trauma healing happens in relationship. Whether through the therapeutic relationship, our relationships with our parts, or our connection with others in our lives, healing doesn't have to happen alone.   In this episode, we explore: What trauma is and why it's more than discomfort Trauma as a spectrum and the complexities of "Big T" versus "little t" trauma Why some individuals develop PTSD while others don't How trauma impacts the brain, body, and nervous system Crystal's personal experiences with trauma and healing Why therapists need their own therapists and ongoing inner work How IFS and EMDR support trauma healing What IFS-informed EMDR looks like in practice The question of resourcing: when is it helpful, and when might it not be necessary? The benefits of bilateral stimulation and how it can be integrated with IFS Why relationship and connection are essential to trauma healing   About Crystal Whitlow Crystal Whitlow is a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Open Mind, LLC, a private practice in South Bend, Indiana. Since 2015, she has been a trainer with EMDR Consulting, LLC, teaching EMDR to clinicians and offering advanced workshops and consultation. Crystal is a Certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist and IFS Institute Approved Clinical Consultant. Through the Syzygy Institute, she teaches clinicians how to integrate IFS and EMDR. She is also a contributing author to IFS-Informed EMDR: Creative and Collaborative Approaches, edited by David Polidi, with a chapter titled "Integrating Knipe's EMDR Toolbox Skills to Enrich Your IFS Practice." Additionally, Crystal is certified in Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy.   Connect with Crystal: www.crystalwhitlow.com _________________________ ✨ IFS + Intuition + Spirituality Consultation Group Interested in exploring the intersection of IFS, intuition, and spirituality alongside other IFS-trained providers?  This consultation group is an intimate, ongoing consultation group limited to just four participants. The group is currently full, but I’m creating a waitlist for anyone interested in joining when a space becomes available. We explore topics such as intuition and the clairs, guides and ancestors, spirituality, transpersonal experiences, discernment, and bringing these experiences into IFS work with curiosity and care. If you’ve completed IFS Level 1 and would like to be added to the waitlist, please reach out to me at my website. I’ll contact those on the waitlist as openings become available!   ________________________________   Want to work with Natalie for Intuitive Parts-IFS Therapy or Spiritual-IFS Consultation? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here!    You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!

What if your Human Design chart could offer a map to both your authentic Self and the parts of you that have learned to adapt and protect? In this episode of Intuitive Self, I’m joined by Caitlan Siegenthaler, an IFS-trained therapist and Human Design Guide, to explore the intersection of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Human Design. We discuss how Human Design can deepen self-understanding and serve as a powerful tool for identifying parts, accessing Self-energy, and cultivating greater compassion for ourselves and others.   In this episode, we explore: Caitlan’s journey to Human Design and how it became part of her work What Human Design is and how Caitlan understands it as a blueprint for our authentic Self The five different Human Design energy types Human Design as a guide to understanding our energy and life purpose How Human Design can offer a map to our parts Using Human Design alongside IFS for part-finding The relationship between the Human Design body map and Self-energy How understanding our design can cultivate self-validation and self-compassion Using Human Design to develop greater compassion and understanding for other people How IFS and Human Design together can help us become curious about the difference between our authentic nature and protective patterns   About Caitlan Siegenthaler Caitlan Siegenthaler is an IFS-trained therapist, Human Design Guide, and host of The Expansive Therapist podcast. Her work explores what becomes possible when therapists and healers move beyond traditional healing models and learn to trust their own intuition, inner authority, and unique ways of working. Through the intersection of IFS, Human Design, and business mentorship, Caitlan helps therapists expand both themselves and their work—creatively, financially, spiritually, and soulfully.   Connect with Caitlan Caitlan Siegenthaler’s website The Expansive Therapist podcast Caitlan on Instagram Caitlan on Substack   ____________________________________ ✨ IFS + Intuition + Spirituality Consultation Group Interested in exploring the intersection of IFS, intuition, and spirituality alongside other IFS-trained providers? My IFS & Intuition Consultation Group: A Spiritual Lens for IFS Providers is an intimate, ongoing consultation group limited to just four participants. The group is currently full, but I’m creating a waitlist for anyone interested in joining when a space becomes available. We explore topics such as intuition and the clairs, guides and ancestors, spirituality, transpersonal experiences, discernment, and bringing these experiences into IFS work with curiosity and care. If you’ve completed IFS Level 1 and would like to be added to the waitlist, please reach out to me at my website. I’ll contact those on the waitlist as openings become available.   ________________________________   Want to work with Natalie for Intuitive Parts-IFS Therapy or Spiritual-IFS Consultation? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here!    You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!

What happens when shame becomes part of how we see ourselves—and what changes when we begin meeting it with compassion? In this episode I am joined by Executive Coach and certified IFS Practitioner Trevor Bird for an honest conversation about shame, masculinity, vulnerability, and IFS. Trevor shares his own story of shame, including how it fueled the managing parts that helped him find success in the restaurant industry. He also opens up about his strained relationship with his father, the shame his father carried, and how it impacted their relationship.   Together We Explore: • Common ways shame shows up for men • Toxic masculinity and the cultural burdens of masculinity • Healthy shame vs. toxic shame • Why we are not our mistakes—and how we can move through shame • The power of compassion for shame-carrying parts • The myth of male vulnerability   About Trevor Bird Trevor Bird is an Executive Coach, certified IFS Practitioner, and founder of Making Sense of Inner Conflict. He helps people understand experiences like freezing up, shutting down, and blowing up—not as character flaws, but as parts of ourselves we can learn about and build relationships with. Through 1:1 coaching, courses, men’s groups, and his work as co-founder of the Inner World Collective, Trevor helps people move from inner conflict toward greater groundedness, connection, and Self-leadership.   Learn more about Trevor: www.trevorbird.com   _______________________________ Want to work with Natalie for Intuitive Parts-IFS Therapy or Spiritual-IFS Consultation? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here!    You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!

In this episode, I sit down with Kay Gardner, one of the original “mothers” of Internal Family Systems (IFS), to discuss her new book, Calling Ourselves Back Home: The Spiritual and Energetic Lens of IFS. Kay shares her journey with IFS and what it has been like to finally take the “lid” off the spiritual and intuitive aspects of her work. We explore legacy and cultural burdens, the historical oppression of the divine feminine, and how these burdens can impact our ability to trust and express our intuition. We also talk about the power of imagination, reconnecting with our innate intuitive nature, and what it means to remember the spirituality that has always been within us. Kay and I dive into guides—what they are, how we might notice them, and how they can support our journey. And in a fun and unexpected moment, we discover that Kay and I share a guide!   In This Episode: Kay’s origin story with IFS Legacy and cultural burdens The divine feminine, intuition, and imagination Reclaiming our intuitive and spiritual nature The cultural fear of speaking our intuitive knowing aloud Connecting with guides and noticing their presence Kay’s new book, Calling Ourselves Back Home   Connect with Kay: Website Book: Calling Ourselves Back Home: The Spiritual and Energetic Lens of IFS   ________________________________ ✨ NEW THIS FALL: IFS + INTUITION + SPIRITUALITY CONSULTATION GROUP ✨ I’m offering a monthly consultation group for IFS providers who are curious about exploring the spiritual and intuitive dimensions of IFS work—both within our own inner work and with our clients. Topics May Include: ✨ Intuition & the 6 Clairs ✨ Connecting with Spirit, guides & guardian angels ✨ Ancestors ✨ Past lives ✨ Unattached burdens ✨ Spiritual experiences that arise through parts work ✨ How intuition may weave into our work with clients ✨ How we discern intuitive information from parts, projections, or other experiences My hope is that this becomes a space where we can be curious, open, grounded, and discerning—without feeling like we have to have all the answers. Details: 🌙 For IFS providers who have completed Level 1 training. Does NOT count towards IFS certification.  🌙 Meets once a month on Thursdays via Zoom 🌙 1:00–2:30 PM EST 🌙 $125 per person/per session 🌙 Limited to 4 participants Potential start date is September 24th or October 8th! Interested or ready to sign up? Use this link to contact me!   ___________________________________   Want to work with Natalie for Intuitive Parts/IFS Therapy or Spiritual/IFS Consultation? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here!    You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!

What happens when your body forces you to slow down? In this episode, I sit down with therapist Hannah Smith for a deeply honest conversation about her unexpected experience with three strokes—and the profound personal and professional lessons that emerged from her healing journey. Hannah shares what the experience taught her about the costs of striving and productivity culture, the importance of listening to our bodies, accepting help, and allowing ourselves to rest. We also talk about the incredible support she received from her physical therapist and how community became an essential part of her healing. As an EMDR- and IFS-informed therapist specializing in women's mental health, Hannah also shares how volunteering during an EMDR training unexpectedly shifted the trajectory of her healing and how integrating EMDR and IFS supported her recovery. Together, we explore what it means for therapists to do their own inner work, recognize when we're overriding our needs, and create more space for rest, connection, and nervous-system regulation. In This Episode We Explore: Hannah's experience of having three strokes and the unexpected impact on her life The silver lining of being forced to slow down Productivity and striving culture—and the pressure to always be doing more Learning to listen to the body and recognize our needs The importance of rest and downtime for the nervous system Letting go of the belief that we have to do everything ourselves The healing power of accepting help and community The unexpected role of an EMDR training in Hannah's healing How EMDR and IFS worked together in her recovery Why therapists need to prioritize their own inner work Lessons Hannah learned personally and professionally through her experience Creating a life that allows for more rest, support, and authenticity About Hannah Smith Hannah Smith is a Cincinnati-area therapist specializing in women's mental health. She is an EMDR- and IFS-informed therapist who offers weekly and intensive EMDR therapy, helping clients reconnect with themselves and become more authentic and joyful versions of themselves. Hannah is also the co-host of Hysterical Women, a podcast exploring women's mental health crises and how they are portrayed and treated in the media.   Ways to Connect Website: https://hannahsmithcounseling.net/ Instagram: @hannahsmith.counseling Podcast: Hysterical Women   ____________________________________ Want to work with Natalie for Intuitive Parts/IFS Therapy or Spiritual/IFS Consultation? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here!    You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!

Is anxiety something to overcome—or could it be inviting us into a deeper relationship with ourselves? In this episode of The Intuitive Self Podcast, I sit down with trauma therapist John Clarke to explore anxiety through the lenses of Internal Family Systems (IFS), nervous system awareness, and trauma healing. Together, we discuss why anxiety is unique to each person, the burdens it often carries, and how approaching it with curiosity and compassion can lead to profound healing. We also explore perfectionism, shame, masking, supporting others with anxiety, and how to discern the difference between fear and intuition. In This Episode We Explore: Why anxiety is different for everyone The nervous system's role in anxiety Common burdens such as "I'm not enough" Perfectionism, shame, and masking Why anxiety isn't something to eliminate How to support someone experiencing anxiety The connection between anxiety, intuition, and Self-energy Practical steps for turning toward anxiety with compassion About John Clarke John Clarke is a trauma therapist, Clinical Director of Calm Again Counseling in San Francisco, host of the Going Inside podcast, and founder of Pathways to Self, a clinical consultation community for trauma therapists. With more than 13 years of experience and advanced training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR, and Somatic Experiencing, John is passionate about making trauma therapy more accessible while helping therapists build sustainable practices that support both their clients and themselves. Connect with John Website: https://www.johnclarketherapy.com/ Instagram: @johnclarketherapy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@John-Clarke-Therapy   If this conversation resonates with you, share it with someone who may be struggling with anxiety or searching for a more compassionate way to understand it. As always, thank you for listening and for continuing the courageous journey of turning toward all parts of yourself with curiosity, compassion, and Self-leadership!  _____________________________ Want to work with Natalie for Intuitive Parts/IFS Therapy or Spiritual/IFS Consultation? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here!    You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!

What if your relationship with food isn’t about willpower… but about the parts of you that have learned to use food as protection, comfort, control, or survival? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kim Daniels, Clinical Psychologist, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, and author of Heal Your Love-Hate Relationship with Food: An Intuitive Eating and Internal Family Systems Workbook, for a powerful conversation about healing our relationship with food by understanding the inner system driving our eating behaviors. Together, we explore how diet culture and societal messaging deeply shape our beliefs around food, body image, and worthiness — often creating polarized parts that keep us stuck in cycles of shame, restriction, emotional eating, and disconnection from our bodies. Dr. Kim shares what inspired her to write her new workbook and how combining IFS with intuitive eating offers a compassionate path toward true healing. We also dive into the critical role of Self-energy in helping us build trust with eating parts, why traditional approaches to food often overlook the emotional and protective functions behind our behaviors, and how parts work can help us move from a love-hate relationship with food into greater freedom, connection, and self-compassion. In This Episode We Explore: • Dr. Kim’s inspiration behind writing Heal Your Love-Hate Relationship with Food • The impact of diet culture and societal messaging around food and body image • Understanding eating disorders through the lens of Internal Family Systems • How protective parts influence our eating behaviors and relationship with food • The role of Self-energy in healing food-related struggles • Why intuitive eating and parts work are powerful when integrated together • Moving beyond shame and toward healing your relationship with food About Dr. Kim Daniels Dr. Kim Daniels is a Clinical Psychologist with a private practice in Hartford, Connecticut. She is a Certified, Level 2 trained Internal Family Systems therapist, an approved clinical consultant, and a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. Dr. Daniels is the author of Heal Your Love-Hate Relationship with Food: An Intuitive Eating and Internal Family Systems Workbook and host of the Emotional Eating (and Everything Else) Podcast. She specializes in working with clients struggling with food and body concerns and especially enjoys supporting fellow IFS therapists in their own personal and professional growth. Connect with Dr. Kim Daniels Website: https://www.drkimdaniels.com/ Book: https://www.newharbinger.com/9781648487286/heal-your-love-hate-relationship-with-food/ Podcast: https://www.drkimdaniels.com/podcast __________________________ Want to work with Natalie for Intuitive Parts Therapy or Spiritual Consultation? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here!    You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!

In this episode, I’m joined by J. Ashley T. Booth for a fascinating conversation about her unconventional journey from studying oceanography to becoming deeply immersed in the worlds of Internal Family Systems, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and consciousness exploration. We also explore her beautiful book, Quieting the Storm Within — a visually engaging and accessible introduction to IFS for both teens and adults. Together, we discuss the power of visual learning in healing, why curiosity and compassion are central to inner work, and how Ashley is helping make parts work more approachable through creativity, metaphor, and a fresh language for understanding our internal system.   In this episode, we discuss: • Ashley’s life transition from oceanography to the healing world of IFS and psychedelics • How Burning Man catalyzed a profound shift in her personal and spiritual path • Psychedelics as a bridge from the material world into the mystical • Quieting the Storm Within as an illustrated guide to understanding IFS for teens and adults • The metaphor of Self as the sun and parts as the clouds passing by • Why visual learning can be transformative, especially for individuals with dyslexia • Interactive activities woven throughout the book to deepen self-exploration • Helping readers cultivate curiosity and compassion toward their internal world • How principles of Nonviolent Communication are integrated throughout the book • Ashley’s decision to reframe protector parts as helpers, including proactive helpers and reactive helpers   About Ashley Booth J. Ashley T. Booth, LCSW, MS, MA is an IFS therapist, educator, and former MAPS therapist specializing in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. With a background in mental health, integration work, and self-inquiry practices, she brings a unique and compassionate perspective to parts work. Ashley’s mission is to make IFS approachable and engaging through visual storytelling, playful metaphors, and practical tools.   Connect with Ashley Website: ashleybooth.net Book Website: ifsandbeyond.com Instagram: @ifsandbeyond TikTok: @ifsandbeyond   ________________________________ Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here!    You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!

What if your sensitivity was never the problem? In this podcast episode I sit down with Dr. Steve Chee to explore sensitivity, intuition, Internal Family Systems, and what becomes possible when we stop pathologizing the parts of ourselves we’ve been taught are “too much.” Together, we unpack the experience of being a highly sensitive person and the power of finally naming it. Dr. Steve shares insights on how sensitivity often develops within the relational field—how we learn to sense, adapt, perform, protect, and belong in response to the emotional environments around us. We explore the important distinction between sensitivity and intuition, and how many people bury the gift of sensitivity because of family systems, cultural beliefs, or experiences of being misunderstood. In this episode, we discuss: - What it means to be a highly sensitive person—and the relief of naming it - Sensitivity and the relational field - The difference between sensitivity and intuition - How family and cultural messages can bury sensitivity as a gift - Feeling like you are “too much” for others - Masking, performing, and adapting to belong - Protective parts that temper emotion (including my own “Ice Queen” part) - The gifts hidden beneath burdens and survival strategies - What happens when your “too muchness” isn’t actually too much - Field awareness and relational sensitivity - Dr. Steve’s upcoming book, The Field-Aware Soul Dr. Steve offers such a compassionate and paradigm-shifting perspective for sensitives, mystics, helpers, and anyone whose gifts bent toward survival before they had the chance to fully emerge. This conversation is an invitation to wonder: What if your sensitivity isn’t something to fix—but something to understand, honor, and reclaim? About Dr. Steve Chee Dr. Steve Chee is an Integrative East–West Physician and Certified IFS Therapist, most recently the creator of the IFS Institute’s Continuity Program, The Sacred Nervous System, and originator of The Field-Aware Soul Ecology—a relational framework for people whose sensitivity arrived early and became recruited into caretaking, performing, and belonging at a cost. His work centers around a powerful question: What if field sensitivity isn’t a wound to heal, but a relational capacity waiting to be met? He works with sensitives, mystics, and those who were told they were “too much”—helping people reclaim gifts that once bent toward survival and transform them into deeper connection, authenticity, and belonging. Learn more: https://drstevechee.com/   ________________________ Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here!    You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!

In this conversation I’m joined by Andrea Tessier—self-trust coach, IFS practitioner, and author—for a rich discussion on what it truly means to trust yourself from the inside out. We explore how self-trust is an inward-facing relationship, while confidence is often the outward expression of that trust. Andrea shares how intuition can become a practical daily guide, including her practice of asking, “What should I do today?” and learning to trust what naturally arises. Together, we talk about the internal barriers to self-trust—the protective parts that carry fear, doubt, or hesitation—and how these “gatekeepers” can actually become allies when approached with compassion through an Internal Family Systems lens. We also discuss: The difference between self-trust and confidence How protective parts can block or guard self-trust Ways to nurture and cultivate trust in yourself over time Practicing openness to receive intuitive guidance How to discern between protective parts and intuitive knowing Recognizing the unique ways intuition speaks to each of us Why IFS can be seen as a practice of intuition Nature as a powerful pathway back to inner knowing The first step to strengthening your intuition Andrea’s new book, The Self-Trust Journal Andrea’s work is rooted in The Self-Trust Blueprint™, an IFS-informed framework that supports ambitious non-conformists standing at the threshold of something new—guiding them from self-doubt into genuine self-led living. If you’ve been craving deeper trust in yourself, your path, or your inner voice, this episode is for you.   Connect with Andrea Tessier Instagram: @andreatessiercoaching Free Self-Trust Discovery Session: https://andreatessiercoaching.as.me/Discovery   The Self-Trust Journal (Amazon): https://a.co/d/0gZgwb9f   The Audio Experience: Nothing Is Wrong With You: For the woman at a threshold and wants to trust herself in it https://www.andreatessier.com/nothing-is-wrong-with-you   ____________________________________ Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Help Support the Podcast by Donating Here!    You can also support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review!

In this episode I’m joined by Tracey Soghrati—Psychotherapist, Yoga Therapist, and Registered Nurse—to explore breath as a pathway to healing, regulation, and connection. We begin with a simple truth: everybody breathes—but not everyone feels safe in their breath. I share my personal history with respiratory illness, including TB, pneumonia, and asthma, and how these experiences activated vulnerable parts within me. Together, we explore how breath is not just physical—it’s emotional, protective, and deeply relational. Through an Internal Family Systems (IFS) lens, we unpack the parts of us connected to breathing, including those that brace, restrict, or fear being heard. We also explore how breath impacts the nervous system and how intentional breathwork can support regulation and healing. This episode includes three guided breathing practices, led by Tracey, so you can experience this work firsthand.    In This Episode, We Explore: The universal yet complex nature of breathing How illness and trauma can impact our relationship with breath The connection between breath and the nervous system Protective parts that brace, restrict, or control breathing The impact of chronic body bracing on emotional and physical health Fear around vocalizing breath and being heard Building safety and relationship with the breath Three guided breathing practices you can return to anytime   About Tracey Soghrati Tracey Soghrati is a Psychotherapist, Yoga Therapist, and Registered Nurse with over 20 years of clinical experience. She specializes in the intersection of mind, body, and mindfulness, translating complex research into practical tools that integrate psychology, movement, and breath. A monthly guest on the Tonic Talk Show, Tracey also teaches mindfulness to physicians across Canada and shares free meditations on Insight Timer. Her work supports individuals in cultivating clarity, balance, and a deeper connection to themselves.   Connect with Tracey - Instagram: @traceysoghrati - Email: [email protected] - Insight Timer: https://insighttimer.com/traceysoghrati   ________________________________   Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Donate to the podcast Here!    Interested in sponsoring an episode of the podcast? Upgrade your business and let more people know about your amazing services or products by reaching hundreds to thousands of people by sponsoring an episode for only $100!  Please email [email protected] for more information.  Thank you for the support!    *Please support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review*

Have you ever considered that you might already be in a trance? In this episode, I sit down with Zarina Tariq, Integrated Clinical Hypnotherapist and Empowerment Coach based in Cincinnati, to explore hypnotherapy as a powerful bridge to healing, self-trust, and inner knowing. We talk about how many of us walk through life in unconscious “trance states” shaped by limiting beliefs, emotional wounds, and protective patterns — and how hypnotherapy can gently help us wake up. Zarina shares the history of hypnotherapy, what it actually is (and isn’t), and clears up common misconceptions about hypnosis. We explore the difference between everyday trance states and intentionally entering trance “at will” for healing and transformation. You’ll also hear: What a typical hypnotherapy session looks like How hypnotherapy helps access the subconscious mind How it supports breaking self-sabotaging patterns The similarities and differences between hypnotherapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS) The connection between hypnotherapy and chakras My personal experience working with Zarina   About Zarina Tariq: Zarina Tariq is an Integrated Clinical Hypnotherapist and Empowerment Coach based in Cincinnati. She helps individuals break free from limiting beliefs, emotional blocks, and self-sabotaging patterns by addressing root causes rather than surface-level symptoms. Blending hypnotherapy, energy work, and coaching, Zarina empowers her clients to unlock the vast potential of their subconscious minds, cultivate self-confidence, and step into their personal power with clarity and confidence. Connect with Zarina: Website: https://zarinatk11.wixsite.com/zarina Instagram: @zarinatariq11 Email: [email protected]     ___________________________   Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Donate to the podcast Here!    Interested in sponsoring an episode of the podcast? Upgrade your business and let more people know about your amazing services or products by reaching hundreds to thousands of people by sponsoring an episode for only $100!  Please email [email protected] for more information.  Thank you for the support!    *Please support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review*

In this powerful and deeply validating conversation, I sit down with Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT, Level 3 Certified IFS Therapist and creator of the Mom Parts Method, to talk about something so many mothers silently carry: Mom parts. The anxious ones. The angry ones. The overwhelmed ones. The “I should be better at this” ones. And the truth that often feels radical: There are no bad mom parts. Jessica brings her expertise in Internal Family Systems and perinatal mental health to help us understand how motherhood activates powerful manager and firefighter parts—and how IFS offers a compassionate path forward. We Discuss: What “mom parts” are and why they make so much sense Common manager mom parts  Common firefighter mom parts  Why guilt and shame keep moms blended with their parts How IFS helps mothers unblend and move toward compassion instead of self-criticism The cultural burdens of motherhood and the impossible expectations placed on women How vulnerable parts can re-emerge as our children reach different developmental stages The concerning decline in maternal mental health—and why this isn’t about individual failure The “selfish vs. selfless” burden so many mothers carry internally Jessica’s Mom Part Cards for self-reflection and how to use them in daily life Her groundbreaking new book, When Good Moms Feel Bad About Jessica Tomich Sorci: Jessica Tomich Sorci, LMFT, is a Level 3 Certified IFS Therapist, IFSI Approved Clinical Consultant, Certified Perinatal Mental Health therapist, and creator of the Mom Parts Method. She has spent over 15 years helping mothers understand and befriend their parts through compassionate, accessible IFS language. Jessica trains clinicians through her Mothercentered certification program and supports moms through her membership community. Her new book When Good Moms Feel Bad: An Empowering Guide for Transforming Guilt, Anxiety and Anger into Compassion, Confidence and Connectedness is a transformative resource for mothers navigating guilt, anxiety, and anger. Connect with Jessica: Learn more: www.momparts.com Website: jessicasorci.com Instagram: @jessicatomichsorci Email: https://www.jessicatomichsorci.com/when-good-moms-feel-bad For Listeners: If you are a mother who has ever thought: “Why am I reacting like this?” “Why do I feel so much guilt?” “What’s wrong with me?” This episode is for you. And for therapists supporting mothers, this conversation offers language, compassion, and tools that can profoundly shift your work. __________________________________ Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Donate to the podcast Here!    Interested in sponsoring an episode of the podcast? Upgrade your business and let more people know about your amazing services or products by reaching hundreds to thousands of people by sponsoring an episode for only $100!  Please email [email protected] for more information.  Thank you for the support!    *Please support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review*

In this episode, I’m joined by IFS therapist, consultant, and author Max Littman, LCSW, for a deeply meaningful conversation about his groundbreaking new book: Internal Family Systems Therapy for Gay and Queer Men: A Companion for After Coming Out Max’s work centers the lived experiences of gay and queer men through an Internal Family Systems lens, offering a compassionate, culturally attuned resource for healing after the coming out process—when many parts, burdens, and relational dynamics can become activated in new ways. This episode is filled with tenderness, truth, and the powerful reminder that taking up space creates space—and that vulnerability can become an invitation for collective healing.   We Discuss: Why Max wrote a companion for AFTER coming out, rather than before The emotional and relational layers that can emerge in the years following coming out How cultural burdens within gay and queer communities can shape internal parts and protective strategies The importance of representation, visibility, and storytelling as a form of collective unburdening Max’s personal experience navigating identity, attachment, and healing after coming out The powerful role of media and relational narratives, including reflections on Heated Rivalry and the impact of seeing queer struggle and love portrayed honestly An IFS-informed practice "The Pool Party" for meeting and understanding different parts Max’s heartfelt message to gay and queer men seeking deeper connection, healing, and wholeness Max reminds us that healing doesn’t stop once someone comes out. In many ways, it’s only the beginning of a deeper internal journey—one that includes meeting the parts shaped by shame, longing, belonging, protection, and cultural expectation. This conversation offers a supportive and empowering path toward Self-leadership, authenticity, and relational healing.   About Max Littman: Max Littman, LCSW, is an IFS therapist, consultant, and writer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. His work focuses on attunement, attachment, cultural burdens, and relational and neurobiological understandings of trauma. He specializes in working with gay and queer men and provides mentorship to therapists in private practice. Max has served as a Program Assistant for IFS Level 1 and Somatic IFS Step 2 trainings. He is also the author of a widely read IFS blog exploring themes such as the weaponization of Self, the practice of attunement, and the importance of normalizing therapeutic missteps. His new book is the first IFS book to center gay and queer men: Internal Family Systems Therapy for Gay and Queer Men: A Companion for After Coming Out   Links & Resources: Max’s Website: https://maxlittman.com/ Order the Book: https://a.co/d/6WA6iIO   Final Message: If you are a gay or queer man navigating identity, relationships, belonging, or the inner world that unfolds after coming out—this episode and Max’s book offer a compassionate companion for the journey. And for therapists, allies, and loved ones who want to better understand and support the gay and queer experience, this conversation is a powerful reminder of the importance of culturally attuned, representation-centered healing spaces.   _____________________________________ Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Donate to the podcast Here!    Interested in sponsoring an episode of the podcast? Upgrade your business and let more people know about your amazing services or products by reaching hundreds to thousands of people by sponsoring an episode for only $100!  Please email [email protected] for more information.  Thank you for the support!    *Please support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review*

In today’s intuitive conversation, I sit down with my friend and fellow IFS therapist Catherine Cope, a clinician and clairvoyant who beautifully bridges Internal Family Systems, somatic awareness, intuitive development, and spiritual presence. Catherine and I first met while serving as program assistants in an IFS Level 1 training, where a moment of vulnerability opened a doorway between us: I shared with the group that I’m clairvoyant… and Catherine shared that she is too. From there, an entire inner world of resonance opened. Together, we explore our early experiences with intuition and the spiritual realms, the parts of us that feared being seen—and being seen seeing—and how both of us gradually learned to trust our inner vision. Catherine also shares about her four years at the Berkeley Psychic Institute, where she trained in clairvoyance, grounding practices, energetic boundaries, and the art of inhabiting the human body as a conscious, intuitive being. This episode moves through the ways intuition naturally supports IFS therapy, how to fine-tune your inner instrument, and how to invite guidance—internal and spiritual—into the healing process. We also talk about the courage it takes to let intuitive gifts come forward, especially when parts hold fear, skepticism, or concern. This is a grounded, expansive conversation about intuition, psychic development, parts work, and learning to trust the deeper knowing inside each of us.   Topics We Cover Early life experiences sensing the spiritual realm and intuitive information Parts that feared being seen and being seen seeing Catherine’s four years of clairvoyant training at the Berkeley Psychic Institute Grounding cords, visualization, and why the body believes the pictures we see Tools for living fully in the human body and claiming it as your own Closing the eyes during IFS sessions to deepen connection, centering, and clarity What clairvoyance is—and a discussion of the other clairs Why everyone has intuitive access (and which clairs you naturally tune into) Understanding intuition as an instrument each of us tunes differently How to strengthen intuition through IFS, meditation, grounding, and embodiment Using intuitive information ethically and skillfully in IFS work Discerning what belongs to the client vs. what belongs to you Asking internal and external guides for support in session Addressing Protector Parts who fear intuition or visibility   About Catherine Cope, LCMHC Catherine Cope is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in New York and North Carolina with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals on their healing journeys. She is a Certified Internal Family Systems Therapist, an IFS Approved Clinical Consultant, a Certified EMDR Therapist, and Hakomi-trained, integrating somatic, trauma-informed, and mindfulness-based approaches into her work. Catherine’s clinical training is complemented by decades of contemplative and intuitive study. She spent four years at the Berkeley Psychic Institute and has worked for more than 30 years with intuitive counselor Christen McCormack, whose teachings continue to shape her meditative and intuitive practices. She is also married and the mother of two rapidly growing children, whose presence brings both unpredictability and deep love into her daily life—further enriching her understanding of human complexity and connection. Catherine is a grounded, attuned, and deeply intuitive therapist and guide.   Connect with Catherine Website: www.catherinecope.com IFS Institute: https://ifs-institute.com/about-us Hakomi Institute: https://hakomiinstitute.com/ Berkeley Psychic Institute: https://www.berkeleypsychic.com/ Christen McCormack: https://www.christenmccormack.com/   ______________________________ Want to work with Natalie? Contact her below Website: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/ Contact: https://www.ndwellnessservices.com/contact  Instagram: @nataliedeering _____________________________   Donate to the podcast Here!    Interested in sponsoring an episode of the podcast? Upgrade your business and let more people know about your amazing services or products by reaching hundreds to thousands of people by sponsoring an episode for only $100!  Please email [email protected] for more information.  Thank you for the support!    *Please support the podcast by following, rating, and leaving a review*