123: Safe Enough: When Safety Doesn't Feel Safe with Jackie Flynn

123: Safe Enough: When Safety Doesn't Feel Safe with Jackie Flynn

May 11, 2026 · 31 min · Episode 123

About this episode

Jackie Flynn discusses the concept of 'safe enough' in therapy for trauma survivors, exploring how safety can feel unfamiliar and the role of the nervous system in healing.

Welcome to EMDR Playground, the podcast for therapists who want to integrate EMDR and play with confidence, clarity, and creativity. Hosted by Jackie Flynn, Registered Play Therapist, EMDRIA Trainer, and author of the EMDR with Kids Flipchart, this show explores how fidelity to the EMDR model, a deep understanding of the nervous system, and the language of play can transform therapy for children, teens, and adults. Each episode offers practical strategies, expert conversations, and insights you can use right away to help your clients heal more deeply. Whether you're EMDR-trained or just beginning to explore this powerful approach, EMDR Playground is your space to grow, connect, and bring more depth and effectiveness to your work. In this episode of the EMDR Playground Podcast, Jackie explores the concept of "safe enough" and why, for many trauma survivors, safety itself can feel unfamiliar, vulnerable, or even threatening. Drawing from Polyvagal Theory and the work of Stephen Porges, Jackie reflects on how the nervous system learns survival through adaptation and protection, and how healing often begins not with perfect safety, but with experiences that feel safe enough for…

People in this episode

Host: Jackie Flynn

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: EMDRIA, EMDR Playground

Products: EMDR with Kids Flipchart

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