Making IFS Make Sense: Neurodivergence, EMDR, and Finding Self in the Real World with Kendhal Hart

This week I talk with IFS therapist and teacher, Kendhal Hart, about the real-world practice of IFS, how she integrates it with EMDR, and her view of IFS as a neurodivergent clinician.

Kendhal is the author of Treating Trauma with EMDR and IFS, a new book that offers clinicians a practical and compassionate guide to integrating the two models.

She shares openly about her recent autism diagnosis and how her neurodifferences shapes the way she understands, lives, and teaches Internal Family Systems. We explore what it looks like to practice IFS in real time, outside of demos, outside of formal training, and inside the small everyday moments where our parts and Self show up.

We discuss:

Practical IFS steps tailored for neurodivergent minds

What's missing in many IFS trainings

How EMDR complements the IFS healing steps

Befriending parts before moving to Phase 4 of EMDR

How to track our internal systems throughout the day

How to reflect parts and Self back to clients in simple terms

IFS as a lifestyle

I didn't want this conversation to end. If you love IFS and want a fresh take on living and embodying it every day, in the real world, this episode is for you.

Kendhal’s book: Treating Trauma with EMDR and IFS: A Clinician's Guide to Integrating Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy with Internal Family Systems

About Kendhal Dr. Kendhal Hart is a trainer, consultant, and trauma educator who helps therapists integrate IFS and EMDR. She is known for her nuanced, experiential approach to teaching and for supporting clinicians in developing confidence, clinical intuition, and sustainable practice.

About The One Inside I started this podcast to help spread IFS out into the world and make the model more accessible to everyone. Seven years later, that’s still at the heart of all we do.

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I co-create The One Inside with Jeff Schrum, a Level 2 IFS practitioner and coach.

Resources New to IFS? My book, The One Inside: Thirty Days to Your Authentic Self, is a great place to start.

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