Friends of the Collective Spotlight: Tammy Sollenburger, LCMHC (she/her)
We're excited to introduce Tammy Sollenberger as our featured IFS Friend of the Month! Tammy's journey with the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model began a decade ago at a workshop with Dick in Cape Cod, where she discovered a profound part of herself that was grieving a childhood loss. This experience sparked her passion for IFS and eventually led to the development of her podcast, "The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems Podcast," and her book, "The One Inside: 30 Days to your Authentic Self," which offer accessible insights into IFS for both clinicians and individuals seeking personal growth.
Tammy's work is driven by her belief in the transformative power of IFS to heal and deepen understanding of oneself and others, and we’re proud to call her this month’s friend of the collective.
Tell us briefly about yourself and how you discovered the IFS model.
I fell in love with IFS 10 years ago when I attended a week-long workshop with Dick in Cape Cod. I discovered a part of me who was grieving the felt sense of loss when her single mom married her stepdad when she was 10 years old. It was profound, and I immediately got into therapy with an IFS therapist. From there I was part of a group that brought an IFS Level one training to Maine.
Please describe your work as an IFS therapist/practitioner and how long you have been working in the Model.
I started working with the model in 2014 after the experience in Cape Cod. I took all the one-day trainings I could while I waited for level one. I then took level two and PA'd at several level one and level two trainings. I presented at the IFS conference a workshop for beginners entitled “What (the) F am I doing?” I started a podcast, and I wrote a book because I wanted to make IFS accessible to everyone. IFS changed my life professionally and personally.
Is there something in particular about working with the IFS Model that excited you?
Multiplicity of the mind changed the way I see people and I see myself. I have parts that have completely different ways of perceiving the world, that are different ages, and who have ideas of what will help me. This idea brought calmness and a way of understanding myself that I did not have before. And, that I, my authentic Self, could be curious about these different parts and help them heal.
Tell us about the IFS-inspired resource you've created.
I wrote a book called The One Inside: 30 Days to your Authentic Self, and I host and produce a podcast called The One Inside: An Internal Family Systems Podcast.
The book is written for the everyday person, the one walking around a bookstore seeking personal development. It is a simple, self-guided way of learning about IFS while learning about your system.
The podcast is in its 5th season. I interview all kinds of people in the IFS world who are doing creative things with the model (Including IFS-TC’s co-founder and executive director, Marcella Cox). It was a way to bring IFS to the world. (There was a statistic about podcasts and their reach based on how many people in the world can understand English when they can't read—or have access—to books.)
What inspired you to create your products/services?
Access- Let's get IFS out of the therapy room—into the hands and ears of people who are searching for healing.
Who would benefit most from your IFS resources and how can people access your product/service?
All the things are at my website tammysollenberger.com
IFS clinicians enjoy the podcast because it deepens their understanding of the model and how to work with people. People curious about IFS enjoy the podcast because it deepens their own work with their own system.
My book is for everyone wanting to get to know themselves a bit more. It is written to be simple and clear and self guided.
Please describe any future plans or next steps for your service/product that you would like to share.
Joan Ryan and I have presented at the IFS conference twice on the Enneagram and IFS. We have led workshops and courses on how we are integrating the two models. Currently, in February 2024, we are working on an online course. This course will share basic information on the enneagram and how the protocols in IFS help us get to know our Parts we find within our Type.
We'd love to hear a success story or positive feedback you've received from someone who has experienced your IFS resource.
I love when I get messages about how the book and podcast has impacted the way people work with their system and helped them with their IFS journey. The idea that they have been supportive, encouraging, and helpful as someone bravely goes inside and gets to know who is there makes my heart so happy.
What is your favorite IFS aligned quote, poem, song, book, TV show or movie? Why?
From the song 'Drive':
Sometimes I feel the fear of uncertainty stinging clear....
I can't help but ask myself how much I'll let the fear take the wheel and steer....
But lately, I'm beginning to find that
I should be the One behind the wheel.
Anything else you want readers to know?
I have grateful to Dick and the IFS community for being supportive of me and the work I do. I get inspired and energized to keep going when I get positive feedback about the book and podcast's impact.
How can people learn more about your offerings and stay in touch?
My website tammysollenberger.com has all the links to book, podcast, instagram and facebook.
We’re so pleased to be able to offer this resource and see our IFS community connected in a new way. Visit the Friends of the Collective page to browse the current profiles or submit your own! For the full step-by-step guide to creating your entry & advertising on our site, start by downloading this PDF.
