AFI Podcast: Dr. Nicholas Jenner on Codependency, Attachment, Nervous-System Regulation, and Self-Leadership

Dr. Nicholas Jenner is a counselling psychotherapist in private practice who works with individuals, couples, groups, and companies using integrative approaches, including Inner Child Therapy and Internal Family Systems Therapy. His work particularly emphasizes codependency, alongside anxiety, depression, PTSD, relationship difficulties, and other mental-health concerns. Through Safe Harbour Therapy and Coaching and The Online Therapist, Jenner provides online therapy, group programs, self-help resources, articles, and podcasts focused on recovery, autonomy, healthier relationships, and lasting resilience.

In this interview, Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Dr Nicholas Jenner discuss codependency as a nervous-system and relational pattern rather than simply problematic behaviour. Jenner explains how childhood inconsistency, attachment insecurity, hypervigilance, and learned strategies for maintaining connection can shape adult relationships. They examine boundaries, reassurance-seeking, attraction versus activation, emotionally unavailable partners, smartphone-driven monitoring, and the role of repeated behavioural practice in recovery. Jenner emphasizes tolerating discomfort, regulating physiological responses, and developing self-leadership through deliberate action.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the Lifestyle and Finance Writer and Editor for A Further Inquiry with more than 400 published articles in the outlet. He is the Founder and Publisher of In-Sight Publishing (ISBN: 978–1–0692343; 978–1–0673505) and Editor-in-Chief of In-Sight: Interviews (ISSN: 2369–6885). He writes for International Policy Digest (ISSN: 2332–9416), The Humanist (Print: ISSN, 0018–7399; Online: ISSN, 2163–3576), Basic Income Earth Network (UK Registered Charity 1177066), Humanist Perspectives (ISSN: 1719–6337), Vocal, Medium, The Good Men Project, The New Enlightenment Project, The Washington Outsider, rabble.ca, and other media. His bibliography index can be found via the Jacobsen Bank at In-Sight Publishing. He has served in national and international leadership roles within humanist and media organizations, held several academic fellowships, and currently serves on several boards. He is a member in good standing in numerous media organizations, including the Canadian Association of Journalists, PEN Canada (CRA: 88916 2541 RR0001), Reporters Without Borders (SIREN: 343 684 221/SIRET: 343 684 221 00041/EIN: 20–0708028), and others.

Photo by Scott Douglas Jacobsen

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