What if healing trauma didn’t have to happen in an office—or even through traditional “talk therapy”? In this episode of Going Inside, John Clarke sits down with therapist Emmy Ferguson to explore how IFS (Internal Family Systems), nonviolent communication, and extended wilderness experiences can create profound healing and growth. Emmy shares her journey from leading month-long outdoor expeditions to becoming a therapist, and how she helps people unlock their emotional resilience by stepping into discomfort, conflict, and connection.

Whether you’re a therapist, a healer, or someone on your own growth journey, this episode invites you to rethink what therapy looks like—and where true transformation happens.

3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Why Facing Real-Life Challenges Can Unlock Emotional Healing
Discover how stepping into discomfort—whether in therapy or the wilderness—helps people reconnect with their strength and capacity for change.

2️⃣ The Healing Power of Conflict (When Done Right)
Learn how nonviolent communication and group dynamics can transform conflict into connection and growth.

3️⃣ IFS as a Way of Life, Not Just a Therapy Tool
Emmy shares how IFS interweaves with practices like embracing mortality, restorative circles, and outdoor leadership to create holistic healing.

Guest: Emmy Ferguson

Emmy Ferguson is a therapist who sees IFS as more than a therapeutic modality—it’s a daily practice of awakening to interconnection, healing, and aliveness. Her work is deeply informed by years of facilitating transformative wilderness expeditions, guiding restorative processes, and helping people embrace personal growth through challenge. Emmy helps clients access their inner healing capacity by integrating IFS with experiential learning and mindfulness around life’s impermanence.

Resources & Offerings:

➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library
➡️ 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

In this episode of Going Inside, trauma therapist John Clarke sits down with Debra Wesselmann, MS, LIMHP, to explore her decades of work with attachment trauma in children. Debra shares the evolution of her integrative model combining EMDR and family therapy, explains how to work effectively with kids carrying "little parts" of trauma inside, and highlights the critical role of parents in the healing process. Whether you're a clinician or a curious listener, this conversation offers valuable insights into the art and science of trauma therapy.

3 Key Takeaways:

🌱 Discover why traditional EMDR protocols often need adapting when working with children who have complex trauma.

🌱 Learn how involving parents and building a secure emotional environment is foundational before trauma reprocessing can even begin.

🌱 Hear how "little parts" work and therapeutic storytelling can unlock healing for kids long before adulthood.

🗣️ Guest: Debra Wesselmann, MS, LIMHP

Debra co-founded The Attachment and Trauma Center of Nebraska where she has specialized in treating attachment trauma for 35 years. She's an EMDR trainer with the EMDR Institute and has authored numerous articles, chapters, and books including two co-authored with Francine Shapiro, Ph.D. Her latest book, EMDR and Family Therapy: Integrative Treatment for Attachment Trauma in Children (2nd Edition), is available through W.W. Norton, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.

Website: DebraWesselmann.com
Instagram: @debra.wesselmann.EMDR
LinkedIn: Debra Wesselmann
Facebook: Debra Wesselmann, MS, LIMHP

Resources & Offerings:

➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library
➡️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

In this powerful follow-up episode, trauma therapist John Clarke welcomes back Tim Amaral, an award-winning adult educator and creator of the Self-Led Learning model. Together, they explore how traditional education systems often undermine a student's sense of worth—and what it looks like to build classrooms rooted in connection, self-worth, and authentic community. Tim shares profound insights on how trauma-informed education can transform lives, why belonging is the foundation of learning, and what happens when students are finally seen and valued for who they are, not just what they achieve.

3 Key Takeaways:

What if education isn't about becoming someone, but honoring who you already are?

Why removing threats isn’t enough—true safety in classrooms comes from connection.

The secret power of allowing students to be exactly who they are—without agenda.

Guest: Timothy Amaral

Timothy Amaral is an award-winning adult educator and teacher trainer from Salinas, CA. He specializes in the teaching and application of trauma-informed practices, social-emotional skills, and needs-based responsiveness for use in the classroom, in the workplace, and in the home. He is the creator of the SELf-Led Learning model.
🌐 selfledclassroom.com

Resources & Offerings:

➡️ Download my FREE IFS Resource Library - Get access here: https://go.johnclarketherapy.com/ifs-resource-library

➡️Free Training - Learn how to integrate the principles of IFS into your therapy practice: 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