Episode 110: I Am the Shell

In this episode, I share a personal moment from the Violet Solomon Oaklander Foundation (VSOF) conference...an experience that stayed with me long after I came home.

During a Sandtray demonstration with Dr. Peter Mortola, I was invited to choose a figure that stood out in the tray. I thought it would be the woman reading a book. But it wasn’t. It was the shell.

Through the Oaklander Model’s projective process, I stepped into the voice of that weathered shell and something inside me shifted. What came out surprised me. Moved me. Reminded me of who I am beneath the roles and rhythms of daily life.

In this episode, I reflect on

• What it felt like to be part of this international community rooted in Violet’s legacy
• How Dr. Karen Fried’s work and mentorship have shaped my clinical path
• Why I believe I’ll be a forever student of this model
• How the Oaklander approach integrates naturally with EMDR
• What the shell revealed about identity, belonging, and becoming

This story isn’t polished. It wasn’t scripted or recorded in the moment. It’s something I’ve been holding, returning to, and slowly integrating over time. Like so much of this work, it’s lived.

If you’ve ever felt the quiet recognition of seeing yourself in something small and symbolic, or if you’re curious about the deeper layers of play therapy and Gestalt, this episode is for you.

Thank you for being here. I’m so glad to share this with you.

Additional Resources:

• Play Therapy Community® Facebook Group: Join Here

• Neuroscience of Play Therapy Course: Learn More

• EMDR Consultation with Jackie Flynn: Schedule Here

• Business Coaching with Jackie Flynn: Schedule Here

• Self-Paced Trainings & Symposium Library: Explore Here

• Live EMDR with Kids Training: Details Here

• EMDR with Kids Flip Chart: Purchase on Amazon

• Book Jackie for Training/Speaking Events: Email: jackie@jackieflynnconsulting.com

• Polyvagal Theory: Watch on YouTube

• Synergetic Play Therapy: Learn More

• Oaklander Model: Explore Here

• Marshall's Workshop: Discover More

• Adlerian Play Therapy: Visit Here

• EMDRIA (EMDR International Association): Find Out More