Mel’s Corner:
Thoughts, Musings, Podcasts & More
This is a space to pause.
To read, listen, and reflect. To find something that names what you’ve been feeling, or that opens a door you hadn’t noticed before.
Whether you’re a seeker finding your way inward, or a practitioner deepening your understanding of the model — you’re welcome here.
Take a seat. Stay as long as you need.
Mel on the podcast.
Unblending and Direct Access with Mel Galbraith | Internal Family Systems Therapy
Going Inside Podcast with John Clarke
A conversation on what to do when clients struggle to drop in, when protectors are reluctant to step back, and how to navigate these moments with curiosity and flexibility. Mel explores the role of Self-energy in creating safety, and the balance between staying true to the model and meeting clients where they are.
Ep. 189: Leadership, Legacy, and Loss
The One Inside Podcast with Tammy Sollenberger
Mel opens up about grief, leadership, and transformation following the passing of Derek Scott, founder of IFSCA. A deeply personal conversation about what it means to step into leadership through loss — and how IFS has been central to that journey.
Self-Like Parts & IFS with Mel Galbraith
Going Inside Podcast with John Clarke
A conversation about what it truly means to be Self-led in the therapy room — how therapist parts show up, why that doesn’t make us bad therapists, and how tending to our own parts expands our ability to hold space for clients.
Mel’s notes from Within
The Search for Belonging and the Journey Home to Myself
A journey toward outrageous, radical self love.
After 37 years inside the grind, following the endless stream of “shoulds” and “have to’s,” Mel stepped outside the system she had built her life around — or maybe it spat her out. She’s still figuring that out.
Grief, Parts, and the Stories We Carry
Grief shows up in countless ways, yet many of our parts have been taught to turn away from it
Grief touches every corner of our lives—shifting, returning, reshaping itself as we move through the countless losses that come with being human. This reflection explores how loss shows up in big and small ways, and how our system learns to carry it.
The Importance of Self-Led Attunement with Clients
Becoming an IFS therapist isn’t just about learning the model—it’s about doing your own inner work.
To guide clients effectively, we must be willing to go deeper within ourselves. As we work with more complex systems, the need for attuned and expansive Self-energy becomes even greater.
Roots, Roads, and Reflections: A Glimpse Into My World
My Story Begins…
Nestled in the quiet countryside of Dundalk, Ontario — where gravel roads meet inner exploration, where IFS became both a professional path and a personal transformation.
Can We Be Blended With a Part and Still Be Self-Led?
The greater the presence of Self-led parts within us, the more Self-energy we can bring to our wounded parts.
You know those times when you are just moving through life and you hear, 'Better do that first; it’s easier when I do it that way,' and you respond by saying, 'Good idea, part.' Okay, I know not everyone reading this will be able to relate, but I know some will...
In the Firelight: A Journey of Trust, Loss, and Becoming
A deeply personal reflection on grief, growth, and choosing to trust herself.
I’ve been sitting with how to put words to this part of my journey and honestly, it still feels like I’m living it. But it’s important that I share this, because it’s been one of the most tender, raw, and transformative times in my life.
Parts and the Power of Connection (Internally and Externally)
How do we stay Self-led when our parts are activated? How do we hold space for ourselves while still showing up for others?
The weight of the world can feel unbearable at times. Whether it’s personal hardships, collective grief, or the echoes of past trauma stirred up by current events; many of us are carrying heavy burdens.
2024 Reflections - Holding Space for our parts…
An Invitation TO BE WITH Your Parts
Hold space for both the hard and the tender. Let your parts know they are not alone, and that they have your loving attention.
IFS in action
What does Self-led therapy actually look like? Here, Mel demonstrates IFS in two real sessions — one with Bob, one with Rick — showing what it means to stay regulated, attuned, and present with a client’s parts.
Navigating Hard Times with Compassion and Grace by Mel Galbraith
Mel and Bob
Mel and Rick