Welcome back to The Trauma Safe Lab! In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, host Jennifer Nanda sits down with Dr. Johanna Lynch - accomplished family physician, author, and trauma healing advocate, to explore the foundational concept of safety in trauma care. Jennifer opens up about her own unexpected struggles with dissociation during their initial conversation, highlighting just how profound and triggering the topic of safety can be, even for those familiar with trauma work.

Dr. Lynch, drawing from her unique experiences as a refugee and clinician, delves into the layers of sensing safety, from our environment and relationships to our inner emotional world. Together, they discuss why building a true sense of safety is not just about avoiding harm, but about fostering environments where agency, belonging, and growth can flourish. Expect to hear a rich exploration of what "safe enough to grieve, safe enough to grow" looks like, how our nervous system mediates our perception of safety, and why our voices and cultural histories matter.

Tune in for practical grounding tools, a reframe on trauma language, and compassionate advice for anyone journeying toward healing. Whether you’re a professional, a survivor, or someone supporting a loved one, this episode offers profound insights, and a gentle reminder that healing begins with finding the places and people where you truly feel safe.

Timestamps:

00:00 "Unexpected Recording Surprise"

10:00 "Non-Pathologizing Healing Approach"

12:27 Navigating Historical and Social Barriers

18:55 Redefining Trauma: Prioritizing Safety

24:35 Safety in Presence and Connection

28:48 "Building Safety Through Connection"

34:48 Integrating Psychological and Physical Health

40:31 Community Provides Safe Stillness

46:06 Internal Dialogue and Self-Healing

53:02 Healing Spiritual Relationships

55:29 Grounding Techniques for Emotional Safety

59:14 Kaleidoscope Learning for Growth

Show Website - https://traumasafelab.com/

Jennifer Nanda - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evansjen/

Media Partner - TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/