IFS, Non-Duality, and Presence with Dr. Laura Patryas

On this week's episode I'm excited to chat with Dr. Laura Patryas, a psychologist, author, spiritual teacher, and 2026 IFS Annual Conference presenter. We discuss non-duality, presence, wholeness, and Cabbage Patch dolls.

Takeaways

• Honoring all of our parts while remembering the wholeness underneath them
• Every part has Self at its core. The burdens obscure it, but they don't change what's underneath
• Multiplicity and unity coexist--you can be a in part and be whole at the same time
• Tantra means to weave and to become whole--so does IFS
• Either-or thinking is often a burdened part, where Self offers perspective and choice
• My childhood Cabbage Patch doll burden is a lesson in non-duality
• Wholeness doesn't mean perfect
• Awakening is being present with whatever part is showing up right now
• Parts sometimes try to keep us safe from silence, stillness, and presence
• Presence is a birthright, and it's something you can practice and develop
• Three Fs: focus, flow, and feeling. It's a simple way to track how blended you are in any moment
• Therapeutic presence relies on something transpersonal
• Self leadership can be fierce and boundaried
• "You are loved. Every one of your parts is already loved."

Here's a link to the Easing Back In meditation I mentioned.

Find Laura
Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | LinkedIn | Substack | Books

About Laura

Laura Patryas is a psychologist, author, and spiritual teacher whose work brings together Internal Family Systems, nonduality, and embodied spirituality. She is the author of Awaken to Love, exploring how we can reclaim our wholeness and awaken to the love that is already here.

Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the IFS Institute.

This October, join the IFS Institute for the 2026 IFS Annual Conference, happening fully online October 15th and 16th. Over two days, you'll hear from over 45 voices from across the IFS community exploring the theme of Self in Relationship: From Inner Healing to Collective Repair. This year's workshops will cover topics from clinical practice and emerging research to Self-leadership, relationships, culture, and the challenges we're navigating in the world today. Because this year's conference is fully virtual, you can join the IFS community from wherever you are. Visit ifs-institute.com/conference to learn more and register.

About The One Inside

I started this podcast to help spread IFS out into the world and make the model more accessible to everyone. Eight 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 writer, producer, and IFS Level 2 practitioner who helps therapists, coaches, and teachers shape and share their story.

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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Sponsorship

Want to sponsor an episode of The One Inside? Email Tammy.