Resistance and IFS with Virginia Jenkins

Going Inside: Healing Trauma from the Inside Out

In this episode of Going Inside: Healing Trauma From The Inside Out, I sit down with Virginia Jenkins, a mindfulness-based IFS therapist, to delve deep into the complexities of resistance and how it manifests in trauma healing. We explore the nuances of why clients might resist taking care of their own parts and the importance of honoring resistance rather than bypassing it. We also discuss practical tools for both therapists and clients to approach stuckness with compassion and curiosity, rather than frustration.

Key Takeaways:

1. Honoring Resistance: Resistance in IFS therapy often signals deeper pain and unmet needs. It’s crucial to approach it with respect and patience, recognizing that it often arises from a place of deep emotional wounds.
2. Sitting with Stuckness: Virginia introduces a powerful exercise called "Sitting at the Wall," which emphasizes the importance of not pushing past resistance too quickly. This approach allows for the underlying grief and pain to be fully acknowledged and worked through.
3. How Therapists Work with Resistance: As therapists, it’s important to recognize when our own parts might be getting activated by a client’s resistance. By doing a "U-turn" and connecting with our own self-energy, we can better support our clients in their healing journey.

Learn more about Virginia at https://virginiafcjenkins.com/

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