Interior Integration for Catholics
Peter T. Malinoski, Ph.D.
The mission of this podcast is the formation of your heart in love and for love, Together, we shore up the natural, human foundation for your spiritual formation as a Catholic. St. Thomas Aquinas asserts that without this inner unity, without this interior integration, without ordered self-love, you cannot enter loving union with God, your Blessed Mother, or your neighbor. Informed by Internal Family Systems approaches and grounded firmly in a Catholic understanding of the human person, this podcast brings you the best information, the illuminating stories, and the experiential exercises you need to become more whole in the natural realm. This restored human formation then frees you to better live out the three loves in the two Great Commandments – loving God, your neighbor, and yourself. Check out the Resilient Catholics Community which grew up around this podcast at https://www.soulsandhearts.com/rcc.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 2, 2026 • 1h 31min
180 Right and Wrong: Conscience and Catholic Parts Work
Dr. Andrea Messineo, philosopher and therapist who works with parts and Catholic formation, and Fr. Thomas Berg, moral theologian and priest focused on pastoral healing, explore conscience, parts, and the inner self. They discuss how parts interact with intellect, will, impulses, addictions, and concupiscence. Practical topics include prudence, somatic signals, midday check-ins, and integrating self-leadership with parts for moral formation.
Feb 2, 2026 • 1h 29min
179 Parts, Subjectivity, Values, and Morals
Dr. Andrea Messineo, philosopher-turned-therapist blending IFS and MacIntyre-informed moral thought; Fr. Thomas Berg, priest and moral theologian with pastoral formation expertise. They explore moral reasoning through parts work, Thomistic virtue and community, values clarification versus objective goods, how trauma and blending distort choices, dependence and formation, and the proper use of penance and integration.
Jan 5, 2026 • 1h 28min
178 Q&A on Ordered Self-Love, your Body, Parts Work and Catholicism
Dr. Gerry Crete, licensed marriage and family therapist who integrates spirituality and therapy, and Dr. Peter Martin, psychologist and IFS therapist focused on faith-integrated recovery, discuss ordered self-love, governing passions while loving passionate parts, saints and blendedness on a continuum, Theology of the Body from women’s perspectives, mercy as central, and how parts work informs chastity and embodied spiritual formation.
24 snips
Dec 1, 2025 • 1h 23min
177 Christopher West on IFS and TOB – A Powerful Combo for Sexual Healing
In this enlightening discussion, Christopher West, a prominent Theology of the Body scholar, teams up with Dr. Gerry Crete, a licensed marriage and family therapist. The duo explores how Internal Family Systems (IFS) deepens the understanding of eros and integrates the teachings of St. John Paul II. They discuss the journey of healing from trauma, the significance of tenderness in marriage, and how chastity can unify fragmented selves. The conversation beautifully ties the concepts of love, liturgy, and internal growth, inviting listeners to embrace their wounded parts.
Nov 3, 2025 • 1h 32min
176 The Catholic Catechism Guides Our Parts Work
Dr. Jerry Crete is a licensed marriage and family therapist and co-founder of Souls and Hearts, while Elizabeth Galanti is a certified IFS therapist integrating therapy with Catholic formation. They discuss how the Catechism serves as a foundation for parts work, emphasizing inner unity and self-mastery. Topics include the impact of chastity on fragmentation, therapeutic compassion, and the journey of self-governance. The conversation also touches on the effects of trauma and the notion of 'no bad parts' from a Catholic perspective, offering hope and tools for personal growth.
Oct 6, 2025 • 1h 28min
175 IFS, Parts Work, Vatican II, and Your Conscience
Dr. Gerry Crete, a licensed marriage and family therapist, explores the intersection of Vatican II and inner psychological integration. He discusses the concept of conscience as a central, innate guide amidst life's fragmentation caused by sin. The conversation delves into how parts work can foster harmony within, likening it to a jazz band improvising for unity. Gerry shares insights on St. Maximilian Kolbe's profound embodiment of inner unity in the face of adversity and affirms the compatibility of psychology with Catholic teachings, emphasizing the importance of self-mastery and charity toward one's inner conflicts.
Sep 15, 2025 • 1h 26min
174 Richard Schwartz and IFS Meet St. Thomas Aquinas
Dr. Eric Goudin, a Catholic psychologist, and Dr. Anthony Flood, a Thomistic philosopher, delve into the fascinating interplay between Internal Family Systems (IFS) and St. Thomas Aquinas's philosophy. They tackle the complexities of the inmost self, roles of affections, and how self-love lays the foundation for healthy relationships. The discussion also covers the reality of parts in a person and the importance of integrating, rather than excluding, these components to achieve psychological wholeness. Their insights reveal a profound connection between modern therapy and medieval thought.
Sep 1, 2025 • 1h 44min
173 Aristotle and Aquinas on Proper Self-Love
How do we love with the three loves in the two Great Commandments? And what are the relationships among love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self? Join Catholic philosopher Anthony Flood and Catholic psychologist Eric Gudan as we explore love in Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas. We address flourishing, friendship, virtues, interior integration, inner unity, union with others, trauma, healing, selfishness, humility, magnanimity, where to find truth, and so much more, all through a Thomistic lens. Join us! For the full video experience with all our visuals, graphics, and for conversation and sharing in the comments section, check us out on our YouTube channel here: www.youtube.com/@InteriorIntegration4Catholics
Aug 18, 2025 • 1h 19min
172 Questions About Catholicism and Parts Work Answered
Join Dr. Peter Martin, an IFS-trained psychologist, Dr. Gerry Crete, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Dr. Christian Amalu, a scholar bridging research and clinical practice. They delve into the intersection of Internal Family Systems and Catholicism, addressing whether God is a safe figure for healing. The guests explore how different parts can hold varied images of God, discuss the complexities of self-love amidst internal conflicts, and tackle the implications of parts on morality. Insightful perspectives await!
Aug 4, 2025 • 1h 50min
171 Know Thyself, Love Thyself, Govern Thyself: Socrates and Plato Discuss Parts Work
Dr. Anthony T. Flood, a philosophy professor specializing in Thomistic love and self-governance, joins clinical psychologist Dr. Eric Goudin for an enlightening discussion. They explore Socrates' and Plato's insights on self-examination, the interplay of the soul's parts, and the five forms of governance that parallel aspects of personal identity. From understanding tyranny's impact on the soul to the virtues necessary for flourishing, the conversation weaves ancient wisdom with modern psychological insights, promoting a harmonious inner life.
