Empowered Through Compassion: EMDR and IFS Informed Therapy

About Empowered Through Compassion: EMDR and IFS Informed Therapy

Empowered Through Compassion is a podcast exploring trauma healing and relational transformation. Through conversations with clinicians, researchers, and thought leaders, the show sits at the crossroads of therapeutic communities including Internal Family Systems, EMDR, and Motivational Interviewing. The podcast also explores emerging integrative approaches to trauma healing.

Publisher

David Polidi

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Nov 2023

Latest episode

15 May 2026

Latest episodes

113 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 May 2026

   The Circle of Connection: Essential Frameworks for Trauma Work

   In this special livestream episode of Empowered Through Compassion, David and Heather are joined by an extraordinary panel of contributors from the book IFS-Informed EMDR: Creative and Collaborative Approaches for an amazing conversation exploring foundational frameworks that shape trauma healing. Together, Bridger Falkenstien, David Archer, Michelli Simpson, Athena Phillips, and Laura Kosak discuss the relational and systemic dimensions of healing, including: intersubjectivity, anti-racist psychotherapy, dissociation and spirituality. We even bring up topics such as predictive processing, structural dissociation, and revolutionary joy! We look at the role that culture and identity plays in therapy. Throughout the conversation, a shared thread emerges: healing does not happen in isolation. Trauma exists within systems, relationships, histories, and bodies. As a result, healing often requires compassionate attunement within a relational space. This discussion explores how therapists can move beyond techniques and toward a deeper understanding of the therapeutic relationship itself as part of the healing process. The panel reflects on the importance of slowing down, listening to protective systems, cultivating consent and of course being mindful of co-regulation. We can honor spirituality by understanding how people make meaning of their surroundings and their inner world. This episode is for therapists, healers, and anyone interested in the evolving intersection of EMDR, IFS, attachment, dissociation, systems thinking, and relational trauma healing. THEMES DISCUSSED IFS-informed EMDR Dissociation and structural dissociation Predictive processing and memory reconsolidation Intersubjective and relational healing Trauma and systemic oppression Anti-racist psychotherapy Spirituality and meaning-making Co-regulation and consent Therapist parts and relational presence GUEST HIGHLIGHTS Bridger Falkenstein Bridger discusses Somatic Integration and Processing (SIP), intersubjectivity, and the importance of understanding therapy as a relational field rather than a one-person psychology. He explores the “window and mirror” metaphor and how therapists must remain aware of both the client’s experience and their own presence within the room. Website: https://beyondhealingcenter.com David Archer David Archer explores anti-racist psychotherapy, systems awareness, predictive processing, and the relationship between trauma, oppression, dissociation, and culture. He emphasizes the importance of understanding clients within broader systemic and historical contexts. Website: https://archertherapy.com/ Michelle Simpson Michelle highlights the importance of recognizing the systems surrounding both therapist and clients. She speaks about cultural identity, embodied dissociation, and how therapists can become allies to disempowered and subjugated people. Specifically, she shares importance of being a compassionate witnesses and advocating for clients who are threatened by the larger culture. Website: https://www.spirosperopllc.com/ Athena Phillips Athena shares powerful insights on structural dissociation, fragmentation, consent, pacing, and co-regulation. She explores how dissociation can be understood as an adaptive survival strategy and emphasizes the importance of slowing down and gaining permission within trauma work. Website: https://athenaphillips.com/ Laura Kakalec Laura discusses spirituality, meaning-making, transpersonal healing, and the importance of helping clients reconnect with a larger sense of belonging and connection. She also reflects on the emerging relationship between AI, emotional support, and the human longing for connection and meaning. Website: https://laurakosak.com/ ABOUT THE BOOK IFS-Informed EMDR: Creative and Collaborative Approaches explores the evolving integration of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Featuring a diverse group of contributors, the

2. 

   3 May 2026

   Understanding Trauma, Stress, and Healing with Bryan Post

   In this episode, I sit down with Bryan Post to explore a simple yet powerful idea: that all behavior arises from a state of stress, and beneath that stress is either fear or love. What stood out to me in this conversation is how Bryan’s work and model aligns with IFS, Motivational Interviewing and EMDR. There is an understanding through all of this work how healing does not happens just through technique, but through presence. As we process distress, we are able to bring more awareness and love to our inner systems. Bryan and I explore how trauma becomes interwoven with our personality and shapes the states of being we move through in our daily lives. These states influence how we perceive ourselves, others, and the world. How we react to a given situation is usually based more on past experiences than on the present moment. Bryan speaks of the importance of relationship and co-regulation in the healing process. Love is something that becomes the most powerful change agent. He defines this love as presence and breath. This conversation holds a beautiful invitation for us to slow down, and become more aware of how we can move from fear to love in our lives. Themes Trauma as a state of prolonged stress Fear and love as core organizing forces How trauma becomes embedded in personality and state of being The role of co-regulation and relationship in healing Breath and awareness as pathways to connection About Bryan Post Bryan Post is a clinician, author, and expert in trauma-informed care, known for his development of the Stress Model. His work focuses on helping children, adults, and families understand how stress and trauma shape behavior, and how healing can occur through relationship, awareness, and connection. Resources & Links Bryan Post’s website: bryanpost.com LEAF Wraparound program: leafwraparound.com Fear to Love program: feartolove.com Bondify AI (relational AI platform): bondify.ai Bryan Post’s books include From Fear to Love The Great Behavior Breakdown Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control (and many more) Empowered Through Compassion is a podcast exploring the integration of Internal Family Systems, EMDR, and Motivational Interviewing. Through these compassionate conversations, we aim to deepen our understanding of trauma and healing. We hope that information here can inspire connection and support to both clinicians and individuals.

3. 

   27 Apr 2026

   The Spirit of MI: A Way of Being

   In this episode of Empowered Through Compassion, I sit down with Sarah Cameron to explore the heart of Motivational Interviewing (MI) and how it comes alive not just as a technique, but as a way of being. Our conversation moves beyond skills and into something deeper, "the spirit", and how it parallels "Self-energy" in Internal Family Systems. We talk about Sarah’s work at Amiga and her passion for helping clinicians embody the spirit of PACE in real-world conversations. This is a feeling of Partnership, Acceptance, Compassion and Empowerment, which is foundational for MI. We discuss how these words are not just "check boxes" we have to fill out and "do", but rather, that are qualities that we continue to access and live throughout our lives. MI can be added to IFS-informed EMDR, not as a competing model, but as a complementary path that adds more dimensions of what can be possible through therapy. I share my own journey with MI, and how it provided me with a language which opened up space for me to really listen and reflect change as it was happening in the therapy space. Sarah and I connected around what it means to build bridges across models, and disrupt feelings of being in a community without integration might feel siloed. This conversation is about presence, about hope, and about what becomes possible when we begin to embody the spirit of the work we are doing. Themes of episode The spirit of Motivational Interviewing as reflected in P.A.C.E. MI as a way of being, not just a set of techniques Parallels between MI spirit and Self energy in IFS “Lending hope” becoming a “hope merchant” two ways of communicating something extremely valuable Integration of MI, IFS, and EMDR in clinical practice Moving toward collaborative frameworks Suggesting there are some discussions and spaces where the focus on change talk might not fit. About Sarah Sarah Cameron is a Motivational Interviewing trainer and leader within the MINT community. She is deeply involved in advancing MI as a developmental and relational practice, helping clinicians move beyond technique into embodiment of MI spirit. Through her work with Amiga, she focuses on cultivating real-world application of MI in a way that is sustainable, human, and transformative. Sarah's books Sarah has contributed to several important works in the field of Motivational Interviewing: Becoming MI introduces the MI Metamorphosis Map and reframes MI as a developmental journey, offering guidance for trainers, supervisors, and clinicians to meet people where they are and support growth over time. The Aspirational Spirit of Motivational Interviewing explores how the true depth of MI lies not just in mastering techniques, but in embodying its spirit as an ongoing, evolving process. Ask-Offer-Ask: Bringing Motivational Interviewing to Life in Child Welfare offers a practical framework for navigating difficult conversations, especially in high-pressure environments, using a simple and effective MI-informed structure. Resources Amiga: https://amigallc.com/ Sarah website: https://www.ignitingchangeco.com/ Empowered Through Compassion is a podcast exploring the integration of Internal Family Systems, EMDR, and Motivational Interviewing. Through these compassionate conversations, we aim to deepen our understanding of trauma and healing. We hope that information here can inspire connection and support to both clinicians and individuals.

Who has been a guest on Empowered Through Compassion: EMDR and IFS Informed Therapy

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Laura
• Sunni Brown
• Bob Falconer
• Larisa Garski

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.4 / 5

12 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

69

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

75

Contact Empowered Through Compassion: EMDR and IFS Informed Therapy

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.