Silence, Stories, and Self: My intuitive path to parts work with Jessica Laurel Kane
The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
Release Date: 04/17/2025
The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
Britt Frank escaped a cult, rebuilt her life after addiction, and is one of the most grounded, funny, and inspiring IFS speakers and educators around. In this week’s episode, we talk about her new book , and how parts work helped her move from chaos to clarity. We get into all of it...motivation, procrastination, inner critics, cults, menopause, and what alignment looks like beyond the buzzwords. Britt shares how she uses parts language in her own life, how she reframes procrastination as protection, and why your most extreme parts might actually be your best coaches. She also opens up about...
info_outlineThe One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
In this week's episode I welcome three guests--Robin Barre, Ann-Katrin Bockmann, and Kasra Mirzaie--to talk about IFS and working with teenagers. We explore how IFS often skips over this phase of life, both in how we work with clients and how we relate to our own inner adolescent parts. We tend to romanticize childhood or focus on early wounding, yet there’s a lot of cringing and avoiding when it comes to the teenage years. Adolescence is where so much transformation happens. It’s where meaning gets made. It’s when parts start to emerge with passion, intensity, and voice. My guests are...
info_outlineThe One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
I’m so thrilled to welcome Dick Schwartz, the founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS), back to the podcast, as well as my friend Ocean, who brings her voice and lived experience to this important conversation. Today, we explore the intersection between IFS and the plural community--those living with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and OSDD (Other Specified Dissociative Disorders). What’s the difference between DI parts and the IFS parts many of us talk about? How can we bridge misunderstandings between the IFS community and those living with more distinct parts? This...
info_outlineThe One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
On today's episode I chat with Susan Stiffelman, a licensed marriage and family therapist, author, parenting coach, and host of the Parenting Without Power Struggles podcast. We talk about parts, of course. Parenting parts. Spiritual seeker parts. Inner children who hide behind locked doors. And how she gently helps people return to center. Susan shares stories from her work and from her own life, including how she stayed connected to herself (and her child) during a divorce, and why she believes parenting is one of life's most profound trailheads. Key takeaways from this episode: ...
info_outlineThe One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
On today’s episode I meet Jessica Laurel Kane, a writer, illustrator, and storyteller whose new book, , captures the spirit of Internal Family Systems in such an authentic and creative way. Jessica isn’t formally trained in IFS, but she lives it and teaches it through her stories, illusrations, and books. She discovered IFS organically during a slient retreat and got to know her inner world by interviewing her parts--like characters in a story. Her work shows how imagination can be a healing tool. She makes “being with your parts” feel accessible, visual, and real. This...
info_outlineThe One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
On today’s podcast, I chat with Dr. Irina Diyankova, certified IFS therapist, IFS clinical consultant, and Lead Trainer with the IFS Institute. We explore the fascinating intersection of IFS and neurodivergence, a topic she knows intimately from both her lived and professional experience. 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...
info_outlineThe One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
On today’s podcast, I chat with Ashley Booth, a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist, trainer, researcher—and former oceanographer! Ashley’s new book, , is beautifully written and illustrated, accessible, and deeply rooted in IFS. We talk about why she chose to create a picture book for adults, how parts mapping can be playful and powerful, and how IFS and psychedelics both point us toward connection with our parts, with the natural world, and with something larger than ourselves. Ashley shares her journey from marine science to healing work, the grief that led her there, and the awe and...
info_outlineThe One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
On today’s podcast, I chat with , a certified IFS therapist and longtime member of the IFS community. Tanis has been around since the earliest days of the model, and she just released a new book called The Self-Led IFS Workbook: Learn IFS Skills to Understand and Love All Your Parts published by Penguin Random House. We talk about her early experiences learning IFS in the ‘90s, her work with clients struggling with suicidality and eating disorders, and what it was like to write a book that makes the model accessible to everyone. Tanis shares insights on how to begin IFS on your own,...
info_outlineThe One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
On today’s podcast, I chat with two brilliant IFS lead trainers, Pam Krause and Crystal Jones. We learn about their journeys to becoming IFS lead trainers, the evolution of the model's cultural awareness and inclusivity, and what it’s been like to co-lead the newly updated IFS Online Circle together. We also dip our toes into a little controversy—should we skip the 6Fs? I loved hearing from them what it means to stay grounded in the core of the model while continuing to expand and evolve with care, community, and curiosity. Key Takeaways: “The core of the model has not changed at...
info_outlineThe One Inside: An Internal Family Systems (IFS) podcast
On today’s podcast we celebrate 200 episodes of The One Inside! I take the guest’s seat as my podcasting partner and co-producer, Jeff Schrum, leads the interview. We reflect on six seasons of guests, the show's impact on my life and work with clients, and why unblending is the real magic of IFS. We also dive into creative projects on the horizon, including my new mini-book on numbness and launching The One Inside Substack community. Key Takeaways: Jeff and I talk about the fun behind the scenes of finding guests, editing interviews, creating show notes and graphics, and releasing...
info_outlineOn today’s episode I meet Jessica Laurel Kane, a writer, illustrator, and storyteller whose new book, Once Upon an Upset: Illustrated Stories, Insights, and Reflections to Help Parent Our Children While Re-Parenting Ourselves, captures the spirit of Internal Family Systems in such an authentic and creative way.
Jessica isn’t formally trained in IFS, but she lives it and teaches it through her stories, illusrations, and books. She discovered IFS organically during a slient retreat and got to know her inner world by interviewing her parts--like characters in a story.
Her work shows how imagination can be a healing tool. She makes “being with your parts” feel accessible, visual, and real. This episode is about the power of healing through storytelling, and I think you’re going to love hearing Jessica tell hers.
Key Takeaways:
-
“I treated myself the way I was treated.” Jessica describes how growing up with neglect led to internal self-neglect and how getting to know her parts shifted that pattern.
-
How a 10-day silent retreat helped her meet the younger selves she’d been avoiding, and why she started interviewing them like characters in a story.
-
“Only you get to say when you’ll give birth to your creative self.” Jessica shares how parts of us often hold the key to our creativity and our stuckness.
-
Parenting as a mirror: how Jessica hears old internal voices while parenting her son, and how she learned to pause, check in, and choose a different path.
-
“The glue is compassion.” A conversation about looping thoughts, panic attacks, and what it takes to rewire old stories with new ones.
-
How her late mother planted the seeds for the parts work and self trust Jessica now uses to nurture herself and her son.
Favorite Quote:
"Sometimes I search desperately outside of myself for a place to rest and be still, forgetting that this place is inside of me."—Jessica Laurel Kane
About Jessica
Jessica Laurel Kane is the author of several books, most recently: Leaving Cleveland: A Memoir, The Boy with the Heavy Suitcase (a picture book) and Once Upon an Upset: Illustrated Stories, Insights and Reflections to Help Parent Our Children While Reparenting Ourselves. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and son.
Episode Sponsor:
Whether you’re IFS-trained and supporting clients in medicine work or a psychedelic facilitator looking to integrate IFS, Michelle Glass offers courses designed to build confidence in preparation, journey, and integration. Courses include: “Supporting Clients’ Psychedelic Journeys Utilizing IFS” or her 22-Hour “Comprehensive IFS Introduction for Psychedelic Facilitators.” Learn more at thelistenerllc.com
Upcoming Events:
The Science of Calm free online summit April 21 - May 4, 2025
Self-Led Parenting: How Internal Family Systems Can Transform Your Family's Life - a course I'm leading with Susan Stiffelman on May 1, 2025
About The One Inside:
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 Facebook at The One Inside with Tammy Sollenberger.
Jeff Schrum co-produces The One Inside. He’s a writer and IFS Level 2 practitioner who specializes in helping therapists create with clarity and confidence.
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
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]