Fawn Response

Everything Willow Labs has written about Fawn Response, drawn from CBT, ACT, IFS and other evidence-based approaches. Practical, no fluff, with the techniques therapists actually use.

2 articles

Trauma · 8 min

Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn: The Four Trauma Responses Explained

The four trauma responses are fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. Here is what each one feels like in the body and how to spot your default.

Jun 30, 2026

CBT · 8 min

The Fawn Response: When “Too Nice” Is Self-Protection

When “being nice” feels compulsory, you’re not just polite—you’re protecting yourself. Here’s how the fawn response works and how to retrain it.

May 12, 2026