121: Co-Regulation, EMDR, and a Mama Turtle Story with Lisa Dion

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, we explore co-regulation through a powerful story shared by Lisa Dion, founder of Synergetic Play Therapy. Lisa shares a moving experience of grief and unexpected connection, describing a moment with a mama turtle laying her eggs. In that space, something shifts. Not because the pain disappears, but because she is no longer alone inside it. This conversation highlights an essential truth for EMDR therapists. What shapes an experience is not only what happened, but whether there was enough support, attunement, and connection in the midst of it. Co-regulation plays a central role in how overwhelming experiences are carried and integrated. It is not separate from EMDR therapy. It lives within the relationship, the pacing, and the therapist's ability to stay present when clients move toward something difficult. In this episode, we explore: The role of co-regulation in trauma and healing How connection influences the way experiences are held and processed Why the therapist's presence matters in every phase of EMDR A story that brings the clinical importance of co-regulation to life As you listen, notice what stands out for you in your own clinical work and how co-regulation shows up in your sessions. Learn more about Lisa Dion and Synergetic Play Therapy Synergeticplaytherapy Homepage - Synergetic Play Therapy Institute Explore more resources and trainings with Jackie Flynn ackieflynnconsulting.com You can Find us at jackieflynnconsulting.com emdrplayground.com facebook.com/groups/emdrwithkidscommunity facebook.com/groups/1130971706932394 instagram.com/playtherapycommunity tiktok.com/@jackieflynnconsulting youtube.com/@EMDRPlayground

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121: Co-Regulation, EMDR, and a Mama Turtle Story with Lisa Dion is an episode from Play Therapy Community by Jackie Flynn.

This episode is 45:13 long.

This episode was published on Mar 30, 2026.

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