EFT Trauma Response Wheel: Feelings & Emotions Chart, Therapist Poster (Digital Download)

EFT Trauma Response Wheel | Feelings Wheel | Emotions Wheel | Trauma Response Chart
This trauma-informed therapy aid is designed to help clients and clinicians explore emotional and stress responses with greater clarity and compassion. Rooted in principles of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), polyvagal theory, complex trauma, and self-regulation, this printable tool expands on the classic fight, flight, freeze model to include relational responses often seen in attachment injuries—like pursuing and withdrawing, patterns often misunderstood in relationships.

Whether you're navigating trauma triggers, supporting coping skills, or fostering insight in therapy, this psychology tool helps to validate and normalize these survival reactions as protective trauma responses, not intentional harm. Ideal for therapist offices, counseling sessions, and self-reflection, it’s a powerful visual for promoting trauma-informed care, deepening emotional awareness.
This tool empowers clients (and therapists) to see relational behavior through a lens of compassion. Whether you're working with couples, individuals, or doing your own healing, this wheel offers insight, clarity, and a pathway to deeper understanding. Add it to your box of tools today.

This trauma response wheel incorporates polyvagal theory by depicting that the top three trauma responses of fight, flight and flail happen when we are in a state of mobilization or hyperarousal caused by activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
The bottom three trauma responses of freeze, fawn, flop occur when we are in a state of shutdown or hypoarousal caused by the activation of the dorsal vagal parasympathetic nervous system.

6 Trauma Responses:

FIGHT, FLIGHT, FLAIL (EFT Pursuer)
(Mobilization)
Results of hyperarousal
Originate from sympathetic nervous system

FREEZE, FLOP, FALL BACK (EFT Withdrawer)
(Shutdown)
Results of hypoarousal
Originate from dorsal vagal parasympathetic nervous system

This wheel can be used by psychologists, therapists, social workers, counselors, school counselors or teachers to bolster emotional intelligence and normalize trauma responses.

Use this poster with your clients to:
1. Normalize trauma responses by naming both classic and relational survival strategies (e.g., fight, flight, freeze, pursue, withdraw).
2. Support self-awareness by helping clients identify their typical patterns during moments of stress, conflict, or disconnection.
3. Foster compassion by reframing reactive behaviors as protective—not intentional harm.
4. Enhance emotional regulation by mapping responses back to underlying needs and feelings.
5. Facilitate deeper conversations in individual, couples, or group therapy about attachment, triggers, and healing.


The Trauma Response Wheel can be used as a tool with modalities such as:
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Psychodynamic Therapy
Humanistic Therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP)
and many others!


🚫 Please Note: This is not a sticker or physical item. You’ll receive downloadable files only.

BUNDLE:
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https://www.etsy.com/listing/1870389776/eft-trauma-response-wheel-therapy-chart


USE:
Please note: This product is for personal use only.
If you’d like to use this resource with clients or for commercial purposes, a license is available here:
etsy.com/listing/4301347754/commercial-license-permission-to-re

© All designs are copyrighted and owned by MinimalistCounselor. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, or resale of this design may result in legal action.

Purchase of this item does not transfer copyright ownership. Commercial use, duplication, or resale is strictly prohibited. This download is intended for personal use only.



SIZES:
Your download is 18 files. 9 high quality PDF & JPG files in 9 ratios (2x3, 3x4, 4x5, 5x7, 11x14, US Letter (8.5x11inch) and A4 that will then allow you to print in 41+ additional sizes.

Files include Bonus black and white editions in 8.5x11 inches and A4 size in PDF and JPEG.

Each Ratio file is made in the largest size. This means you can print out the largest size or scale it down to any of the other sizes in that ratio and not compromise the resolution and quality of your image.

2x3 Ratio
Inch : 4x6, 6x9, 8x12, 10x15, 12x18, 16x24, 20x30, 24x36
Cm : 10x15, 20x30, 30x45, 40x60, 60x90

3x4 Ratio
Inch : 6x8, 9x12, 12x16, 15x20, 18x24, 27x36
Cm : 15x20, 30x40, 45x60, 60x80

4x5 Ratio
Inch : 8x10, 12x15, 16x20, 24x30
Cm : 8x10, 12x15, 40x50, 72x90

5x7 Ratio
Inch: 5x7
ISO: A4, A3, A2, A1
Cm : 50x70

11x14 Ratio
Inch : 11x14, 22x28
Cm : 11x14, 22x28, 44x56

US Letter (8.5x11 inches)


📃FILE FORMAT:
9 Files: Excellent high-quality Print PDF.
9 Files: Excellent high definition 300 DPI JPG (JPEG) files for rich illustrations and high-resolution printing.

⬇️DOWNLOAD FORMAT:
Your download will be a simple PDF with a Google Drive link. All sizes will be included in the folder. No sign in to Google Drive required!

⬇️HOW TO ACCESS YOUR DOWNLOAD:
Sign into your Etsy account
Go to “Purchases and Reviews”
Next to your order, click “Download File”
Click on the file you want to download

HOW TO USE:
1. Digitally on your phone, tablet, iPad, computer, TV etc.
2. Print and use as a poster, a picture on a desk, in a binder etc.


PRINTING NOTES:
1. Choose matte and/or heavy weight paper for printing – this will help your poster to look very high quality.
2. The colors on your screen may differ from the printed image colors.
3. Recommended print size is at least 8x10 inches to keep font legible.


⚠️ DISCLAIMERS
1. This product is digital-only, with no physical shipping or customization provided.
2. All purchases are final. According to Etsy’s policy, due to the digital nature of this product, refunds are not available for any reason.
3. Engaging in unauthorized activities, such as reselling, sharing, duplicating, transmitting, or monetizing this design in any way, is strictly forbidden. Your purchase confirms your acceptance of these conditions. However, you can print them as many times as you need for your personal use.
4. Elements like stock images, frames, display objects, and non-embedded text shown are purely illustrative and are not included in the purchase.
5. This design is protected by copyright and belongs to Minimalist Counselor.
6. If you wish to print and give copies to others, please purchase additional copies.


NOT A THERAPY SUBSTITUTE:
1. This tool is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a replacement for professional therapy, counseling, or a personalized assessment by a licensed healthcare or mental health provider.
2. This resource does not provide diagnosis or treatment for any mental, emotional, or medical condition. It should not be interpreted as medical, psychological, or behavioral health advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified provider before making decisions related to your physical or emotional well-being.
3. Your purchase of this product does not create a therapeutic relationship with Minimalist Counselor. It is the responsibility of any practitioner using this tool to assess its appropriateness for their client and to ensure its use falls within their professional scope.
4. By completing your purchase, you acknowledge and agree to the terms of this disclaimer. If you do not accept these terms, please refrain from using this tool.

Created with permission from Marie Trevisan, LLC of SomaStoryOT whose original trauma response wheel inspired the development of this revised version.


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