Turn Towards Your Anxiety: A Conversation with John Clarke

Is anxiety something to overcome—or could it be inviting us into a deeper relationship with ourselves?

In this episode of The Intuitive Self Podcast, I sit down with trauma therapist John Clarke to explore anxiety through the lenses of Internal Family Systems (IFS), nervous system awareness, and trauma healing. Together, we discuss why anxiety is unique to each person, the burdens it often carries, and how approaching it with curiosity and compassion can lead to profound healing. We also explore perfectionism, shame, masking, supporting others with anxiety, and how to discern the difference between fear and intuition.

In This Episode We Explore:

Why anxiety is different for everyone

The nervous system's role in anxiety

Common burdens such as "I'm not enough"

Perfectionism, shame, and masking

Why anxiety isn't something to eliminate

How to support someone experiencing anxiety

The connection between anxiety, intuition, and Self-energy

Practical steps for turning toward anxiety with compassion

About John Clarke