Welcome to The Mindfulness Within Podcast, hosted by Gilbert Romero-Mewharter, a space for exploring the inner landscape of healing, awareness, and compassionate connection. In this episode, Gilbert sits down with Dr. Dan Sneider, LCSW, Ed.D. and founder of The Intimacy Shift, a framework designed to help couples move from conflict to connection.

Together, they explore what really happens when closeness fades—when conversations feel distant, when tenderness turns to tension, and when our emotional safety begins to erode. Drawing from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS), Dr. Sneider shares how our “hurt spots” often collide with our desire to connect, creating patterns of protection and pain. Healing begins when we can recognize those patterns, speak from an “I” place, and gently re-open the space for intimacy.

Throughout their conversation, Gilbert and Dan discuss practical ways to rebuild trust and regulate together—through grounding, mindful communication, and curiosity toward our protective parts. The episode closes with two guided mindfulness practices to help you reconnect: one for awareness in the moment of distance, and another for repair after conflict.

Remember: closeness isn’t a one-time achievement—it’s a daily practice of returning to yourself and to one another with compassion.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/Nk_vZeqWl68

Learn more about Dr. Dan Sneider’s work at https://intimacyshift.com

#MindfulnessWithin #IntimacyShift #EmotionallyFocusedTherapy #InternalFamilySystems #SelfAwareness #RelationshipHealing #MindfulConnection #SelfCompassion

00:00 Introduction to Intimacy Shifts

03:22 Understanding Relationship Dynamics

07:13 Emotionally Focused Therapy Explained

12:41 Communicating with Vulnerability

16:44 Navigating Conflict and Regulation

20:32 The Impact of Relationships on Children

25:04 Co-Parenting Strategies

28:55 Closing Conversations Mindfully

30:23 Mindful Practices for Connection

Conflict doesn’t just happen out there—it stirs something inside. In this newest episode of The Mindfulness Within Podcast, host Gilbert Romero-Mewharter explores how moments of tension—whether with a partner, a coworker, or within ourselves—activate protective parts of our internal system. Using the powerful blend of mindfulness and Internal Family Systems (IFS), Gilbert invites us to meet conflict not with judgment, but with curiosity, self-awareness, and healing intention.

Through grounded reflection and practical examples, Gilbert reveals how manager and firefighter parts try to shield us from deeper emotional wounds during conflict. Whether it’s the inner critic reacting to a boss’s comment, or a caretaker trying to defuse relationship tension too quickly, these parts are not the enemy—they’re over-functioning in the absence of trust in the Self. Mindfulness helps us pause, recognize who’s speaking inside, and begin to lead with clarity and compassion.

This episode also includes two guided mindfulness practices—one for use during conflict, and another for after conflict—to help you reconnect with your internal system and build trust with the parts that work so hard to protect you. With practice, conflict can become a doorway to deeper self-connection and healthier relationships.

🧘 Listen now to The Mindfulness Within Podcast and begin building more peace—even in the fire of tension. Full episode here: https://youtu.be/zy-_VwKO31k

#TheMindfulnessWithinPodcast #GilbertRomeroMewharter #Mindfulness #IFS #ConflictResolution #EmotionalHealing #PartsWork #SelfLeadership #InternalFamilySystems #CompassionateLiving #HealingFromWithin #YouAreNotBroken #YouAreEnough

00:00 Introduction to Mindfulness and Conflict

02:58 Understanding Internal Conflict and Protectors

05:54 Mindfulness Practices for Conflict Resolution

08:57 Post-Conflict Reflection and Building Trust

12:02 Transforming Conflict into Connection

14:00 Conclusion and Invitation to Practice

Join Gilbert Romero-Mewharter and special guest Forrest Benedict in this deeply personal episode exploring the healing of sexual shame and the reclaiming of desire through Internal Family Systems. Together, they discuss how culture, religion, and trauma often disconnect us from our authentic sexuality, creating parts that judge, suppress, or dissociate from our true selves. Forrest emphasizes that healing begins with understanding and loving these parts, seeing them as heroic protectors rather than problems.

This conversation highlights that sexuality is a vital, natural part of being human—and that shame surrounding it is often rooted in fear and judgment. Gilbert and Forrest explore how to create safe spaces, both internally and therapeutically, for parts to be seen, heard, and integrated. They guide mindful exercises on connecting with shame and desire, reminding us that our desires are pathways to wholeness, not dangers.

Whether you’re a therapist or someone on your own healing journey, this episode encourages gentle curiosity, patience, and compassion as tools for liberation. Forrest shares practical insights on building trust with parts, unfreezing past wounds, and honoring the full spectrum of human desire. Remember: healing isn’t about fixing who you are, but about welcoming all parts of yourself with love and acceptance.

Check out the full episode here: https://youtu.be/WSlm6hZ13tY

#InnerHealing #SexualShame #DesireReclaimed #IFS #TraumaHealing #SelfCompassion #AuthenticSelf #HealingJourney

00:00 Healing Shame and Embracing Authenticity

02:47 Understanding Sexuality and Shame

05:45 Navigating Trauma and Protectors

08:56 Building Trust with Protectors

11:54 The Importance of Witnessing and Compassion

14:48 Integrating Parts and Healing Sexuality

17:50 Unfreezing Parts and Reparenting

20:47 The Complexity of Sexuality and Healing

23:56 Addressing Self-Judgment and Shame

26:50 Therapist's Role in Sexuality Conversations

29:46 Connecting to Self and Sexuality

33:14 Mindfulness and Inner Connection