Episode 5: Why Trauma Repeats — The Brain’s Loyalty to Familiarity episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 11, 2026 · 9 MIN

Episode 5: Why Trauma Repeats — The Brain’s Loyalty to Familiarity

from The Relational Safety Podcast · host Stephanie Underwood, RSW

In Episode 5 of The Relational Safety Podcast, Stephanie explores why relational trauma tends to repeat itself across relationships. She explains how the brain prioritizes familiarity over happiness, how Early Maladaptive Schemas drive relational reenactments, and why people often find themselves drawn to dynamics that mirror early attachment environments. This episode introduces the concept of schema confirmation and examines how the nervous system reinforces familiar safety predictions even when they produce painful outcomes.

In Episode 5 of The Relational Safety Podcast, Stephanie explores why relational trauma tends to repeat itself across relationships. She explains how the brain prioritizes familiarity over happiness, how Early Maladaptive Schemas drive relational reenactments, and why people often find themselves drawn to dynamics that mirror early attachment environments. This episode introduces the concept of schema confirmation and examines how the nervous system reinforces familiar safety predictions even when they produce painful outcomes.

NOW PLAYING

Episode 5: Why Trauma Repeats — The Brain’s Loyalty to Familiarity

0:00 9:50

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Relational Safety Podcast?

This episode is 9 minutes long.

When was this The Relational Safety Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on March 11, 2026.

What is this episode about?

In Episode 5 of The Relational Safety Podcast, Stephanie explores why relational trauma tends to repeat itself across relationships. She explains how the brain prioritizes familiarity over happiness, how Early Maladaptive Schemas drive relational...

Can I download this The Relational Safety Podcast episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!