Trauma Rewired

The Inner Critic of Complex Post Traumatic Stress

We’ve all experienced the inner critic to some extent. You know, that voice inside of your head saying you’re not good enough, or that you’re a bad person. Where does this voice come from and why is it so vicious? Well, for people dealing with CPTS, this voice is even louder, and even more critical. The volume gets turned up ten notches, and turning it off feels like a game of tug of war. Understanding where this voice comes from and how it manifests is a crucial part to replacing the inn...

The Emotional Flashbacks of Complex Post Traumatic Stress

What is C-PTSD?

  We first explored this question in Season 2 and felt it was necessary to revisit; with more altitude, updated research and further along in our healing journeys.  In this episode, hosts Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace dive deep into the realm of Complex Post Traumatic Stress, or CPTS, exploring the complexities of trauma and the impact on our nervous systems. We offer a comprehensive understanding of its five key components. The hosts share practical tools and emphasize the impo...

Relationships and Your Nervous System; Closing the Season and Looking Ahead

Elisabeth Kristof and Jennifer Wallace close season three of Trauma Rewired by reflecting on the interconnectedness of trauma, the nervous systems and our relationships explored throughout the season. They delve into the season’s most powerful conversations and insightful concepts, including relational patterns like emotional neglect, the neurology of narcissism, the importance of community healing, and more. Listeners were engaged more than ever, so you’ll hear stories of how the season i...

Transforming Trauma in Youths Through Athletics and Neuro-Somatic Intelligence

It's no secret that wellness programs like neurosomatic intelligence coaching often lack accessibility in marginalized communities, where populations most in need of such services are usually underserved and underprivileged. Unfortunately, these programs are often not tailored to meet the specific needs of these communities. Hence, there's a pressing need to rethink our approach and become more innovative in how we deliver them. Today, we're joined by Martin Simms, one of our NSI coaches,...

Navigating Neurodivergence and Chronic Pain with Neuro-Somatics

Neurosomatic intelligence can be the key to healing not just trauma, but in the management of chronic pain. Joining us on this episode of Trauma Rewired is Lindsey Wall, a neurosomatic intelligence practitioner, movement practitioner, and Brain-Based Wellness coach. Her personal journey with chronic pain, hypermobility, and neurodiversity highlights the versatility of NSI in healing unique nervous systems. Lindsey shares how NSI has allowed her to navigate these challenges with a deeper un...

Healing Relational Patterns

Have you ever wondered why you always end up in the same type of relationships? Or why so many of the people in your life cause you stress? This episode looks at relational patterns through the lens of neurosomatic intelligence, exploring how childhood experiences shape our relationships and, often subconsciously, guide us towards familiar dynamics that are harmful to our health and happiness. Hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth unpack the power of neuroplasticity and its role in rewiring the bra...

Reshaping Trauma Recovery Through Affirmation Music and Nervous System Health with Toni Jones

No person exemplifies the healing power of music more than today’s guest, Toni Jones. A former life coach, Toni wanted to create a tool for clients to improve well-being, leading to the birth of affirmation music. True growth often comes after a period of breaking down, and this was true for Toni during her healing journey through music. In this episode, she shares the profound transformation she underwent after periods of vulnerability and self-discovery. She delves into the cycles of dea...

Neuro-Somatics of Expressive Liberation: Honoring Personal Authenticity

As a neurosomatic relationship and intimacy coach, safety and nervous system regulation are at the heart of Piper Rose's work. They bridge the gap between individual trauma and collective healing in the LGBTQ+, Poly, and Kink communities, emphasizing the crucial role safety plays in self-expression, identity, and overall health. In this episode, Piper delves into this concept of collective healing, distinguishing between individuality versus individuation and highlighting the transformativ...

Empower Your Voice: Transforming Boundaries and Communication Through Neuro-Somatic Intelligence

Voice and Visibility Season 03, Episode 35 Voice is a profound tool for self-expression, embodiment, and navigating the world around us. In this episode with Elise Bessler, NSI-certified practitioner and voice coach, hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth dive into the power of finding our voice and using it safely through the work of nervous system regulation. Their conversation opens with a discussion of how trauma impacts voice, exploring the connection between trauma responses like freeze an...

Rewiring Success: The Relationship Between Your Brand, Your Business, And Your Nervous System

“These tools and drills create the results that we're actually looking for, and that allows us to show up more empowered, to show up more embodied, to take risks.” This quote by today’s guest, Carrie Montgomery, perfectly sums up the transformative power of neurosomatic intelligence for both personal growth and professional success. As a transformational leadership coach, Carrie has embraced these tools to help others align their nervous system health and career development. Now an NSI edu...

Neuro-Somatics For Self-Compassion, Brain Injury Rehabilitation, and Holistic Healing

Exploring the intersection of neurosomatic intelligence and self-compassion, this insightful conversation with applied neuro practitioner Amanda Smith sheds light on the profound impact of language and embodiment in reshaping our nervous system to promote true, transformative healing. In this episode, we delve into the critical role our internal language plays in the healing process and embodiment as the key to unlocking self-compassion, offering a refuge from the harsh voices of our inner...

Stress Response In Relationship

This week on Trauma Rewired, hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth welcome back Matt Bush of Next Level Neuro to explore the physiology of stress and the transformative power of neurosomatic intelligence. We know that connection is crucial to our survival as humans, but for those with complex trauma, even the healthiest relationships can trigger a stress response and lead to maladaptive behaviors. This episode provides a comprehensive look at how stress impacts our relationships and physical health...

The Pelvic Floor and It's Relationship to Healing Freeze, Dissociation, and Shame

The pelvic bowl is the center of our somatic experience, but the majority of women are disconnected from this crucial part of the body. So today, hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth are joined by Veronica Rottman of Waking Womb to address the importance of pelvic floor health. In this episode, Veronica and our hosts take a deep dive into the relationship to the pelvic floor, exploring the intricate connection the womb space has with our nervous system, emotional regulation, and pleasure. They del...

Healing the Relationship With Our Bodies

Our bodies are always speaking to us, but often we’re not able to understand or listen to what they’re trying to communicate. In this episode, hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth unpack the complexities of our relationship to the body, including how our perceptions, emotions and beliefs about our bodies significantly impact our overall well-being. They dive deep into the impact the interoceptive system has on the nervous system, emotions and behaviors, especially in relation to disordered eating ...

Healing the Relationship to Our Bodies

Our bodies are always speaking to us, but often we’re not able to understand or listen to what they’re trying to communicate. In this episode, hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth unpack the complexities of our relationship to the body, including how our perceptions, emotions and beliefs about our bodies significantly impact our overall well-being. They dive deep into the impact the interoceptive system has on the nervous system, emotions and behaviors, especially in relation to disordered eating ...

Complex Trauma Impacts Brain Development

“Impaired integration is such a hallmark of the traumatized brain. It disrupts our ability to balance our nervous system. Neurobiologist Dan Siegel says that at its very essence, the purpose of trauma therapy is to restore brain integration.”   On today’s episode, co-hosts Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristoff of Brain-Based Wellness discuss the neurological impacts of trauma, specifically how disassociation and fragmentation affect our brain integration. They’re joined by Matt Bush of...

Presence

How do you show up in the world, in relationships, at work? Even just sitting in a sauna. Can you safely say you are fully present in these situations? If you feel you aren’t present most of the time, you’re not alone. Most people aren’t, especially if you’ve experienced complex trauma. On the bright side, presence can be learned by using the right tools to get you there. Presence is a topic that is near and dear to our hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth’s hearts, precisely because of how they ...

Attachment Styles Can Change and Are a Lens That Filters Relationships

When a child’s needs aren’t being met by their caregiver, by not being fed or feeling safe, they develop a distorted view of relationships. This attachment schema is the lens through which they examine the behavior of others, impacting their ability to form relationships and lead a healthy, happy life. In past episodes, hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth have talked about connection being one of our survival needs, but an insecure attachment directly challenges this need. Being close to others, ...

Attachment is the Root of Complex Trauma

Our last episode introduced the brain as a social organ, and how this topic relates to the neurobiology of relationships. Today, we dive deeper into how the brain develops through social interactions, why social connection is a survival need, and what happens in the body when we experience connection with other people.   Matt Bush is joining Jennifer and Elisabeth to discuss the impact of trauma on the brain’s functioning, and therefore, our relationships, expression, sense of safety, an...

Holidays Attachment

The holidays can be a magical time full of celebrations and connection, but they can also evoke feelings of loneliness and overwhelm — especially for those with a history of trauma. This duality of emotions can be hard to navigate, so this episode of Trauma Rewired explores the complex emotions that many experience during this time and strategies to manage them without falling back to harmful behaviors. The conversation begins by revisiting the concept of neurotags to illustrate how simple...

Secure Attachments & Nervous System Health

Do you intellectualize all the concepts and theories heard on this podcast or the ones you read on The Holistic Psychologist’s social media, but can’t seem to get past the awareness stage of healing and put what you know into practice? In this episode with Dr. Nicole LePera, aka “The Holistic Psychologist,” we discuss the power of embodiment and its role in healing trauma and rewiring the brain to support a healthy nervous system. We do a deep dive into the profound impact our childhood ha...

Emotional Neglect

When we think about adverse childhood experiences, emotional neglect is often seen as less significant compared to other forms of trauma. Its subtleties make it easy to overlook, but the truth is that emotional neglect has a profound effect on our relationships and health as adults, from the detrimental effects on the brain and immune system. In this episode, hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth define emotional neglect and go over the signs and behaviors of those who’ve experienced it in childhoo...

Trauma Informed Police Care

Is it possible to work through trauma and improve nervous system health when your job requires you to disconnect from your body in order to survive? In this episode, you’ll learn how trauma-informed training can transform the lives of police officers and their communities by addressing issues of trauma and chronic stress within and outside of the organization. Host Elisabeth Kristoff, along with NSI practitioners Victor Jones and Janine Harris Elisabeth, recently trained police officers an...

Historical Trauma and Attachment

What role does our ancestral history play in our attachment styles, and mental health as a whole? Joining us on the show to help answer this question is Dr. Jennifer Mullen, a psychologist, educator, and author of “Decolonizing Therapy!” Traditional therapy focuses on the individual, but decolonizing therapy puts forth the concept that understanding one's historical trauma and the current socio-political context can lead to deeper healing. And without a safe place to explore these traumas,...

Shame

Shame Season 03, Episode 19 If you listened to our episode on toxic shame last season, then you know that shame is a debilitating emotional response that keeps us from full self-expression. It represses other emotions and inhibits our verbal and non-verbal communication, becoming a barrier to our connection with others. In this episode, hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth dive even deeper into the neurology of shame and how it impacts our health and relationships. They cover the link between ...

Birthing and Medical Trauma

Earlier this season in episode 3, Trauma Rewired explored the impact of a mother’s nervous system on their child even before birth. But let’s take a step back and focus on the overwhelming experience of birth to discuss the layers of trauma in the birth process and the importance of trauma-informed care. Mandy Irby, founder of The Birth Nurse, is on the show today to share her own traumatic birth experience that transformed her approach to the birth process as a labor and delivery nurse. S...

Chronic Pain & Emotions

As we dive deeper into applied neurology and the immune system, we’re joined by the founder of Stop Chasing Pain, Dr. Bruce Perry. He helps us explore the link between emotion, pain and its impact on the immune system. In this episode, Dr. Perry shares his personal experience with polyautoimmunity as he discusses his experience treating his own shame surrounding his body image. With his expertise, we explore the subconscious and conscious role of emotions, as well as the body’s natural res...

Misattunement & Co-regulation

One thing you’ve probably heard over and over again on this season of Trauma Rewired is that nervous systems affect one another. In fact, our nervous systems are continuously responding and adapting to each other’s signals — a process called coregulation. Coregulation is important for maintaining safe, healthy relationships but can have a negative impact on the nervous system when someone is dysregulated or experiencing misattunement. A lack of connection through coregulation also impacts ...

Empathy and the Nervous System

Last week, Trauma Rewired explored the neurology of narcissism, so this week we’re focusing on empathy. Matt Bush, co-lead educator of the Neuro Somatic Intelligence Training, is back on the show to help us dive deeper into why some people are highly empathic and how they can protect themselves from its overwhelming effects. Believe it or not, empaths and narcissists have foundational similarities. Not only does the brain chemistry look the same, but empaths and narcissists both struggle w...

Narcissism

What’s the difference between possessing narcissistic traits and being a narcissist? Can we say narcissistic personality disorder is real when we don’t believe in personalities? How does narcissism develop, and what does it look like in the brain? Tune in as your hosts answer all these questions and more with Matt Bush of Neuro-Somatic Intelligence.  This episode explores the neurology of narcissism, the spectrum of narcissism, and how narcissism can evolve as a survival response when it s...

Fawn & Sexual Fawn

The four trauma responses are the brain’s way of protecting us from threat, real or perceived. They are noncognitive, reflexive outputs that are deeply ingrained in those that have experienced trauma, which makes them incredibly difficult responses to rewire. In this episode, we explore the most dangerous F: fawn and sexual fawn response. To help us dive deeper into fawn response, we’re joined by Luis Mojica, somatics practitioner and the founder of Holistic Life Navigation. Hosts Jennifer...

Codependency

If you have a pattern of staying in unbalanced, chaotic relationships, this episode is for you. If it’s hard for you to set boundaries with friends, family or romantic partners, this episode is for you. If you fixate on the emotions of others rather than your own, this episode is for you. These are all signs of codependency, which is the topic of this episode. Hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth discuss its negative effects on your emotional and physical health, the behaviors associated with code...

The Fluidity of Attachment Styles and the Capacity to create more security

When a child’s needs aren’t being met by their caregiver, by not being fed or feeling safe, they develop a distorted view of relationships. This attachment schema is the lens through which they examine the behavior of others, impacting their ability to form relationships and lead a healthy, happy life. In past episodes, hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth have talked about connection being one of our survival needs, but an insecure attachment directly challenges this need. Being close to others, ...

Our Relationship to Society Impacts Our Relationship To Self

Trauma Rewired has talked a lot about threat, including its neurobiology, what happens in the body when we don’t feel safe, and how a history of trauma affects what we perceive as a threat. In this episode with Victor Jones, a resilience educator and neurosomatic intelligence coach, we dive deeper into threat, focusing on our relationship with others and society as a whole, as well as how trauma impacts our ability to regulate our nervous system. For example, connection is a survival need ...

Astrology, Cosmology, and Divinity; Connecting Deeper Through Regulation

Spiritual practices, like meditation or spending time outdoors, have the ability to expand our consciousness and cultivate connection with ourselves and the universe. But today’s guest, NSI practitioner and educator Melanie Weller, is sharing something important for you to remember: “Any evolution that we aspire to experience for ourselves starts with nervous system regulation.” To get the most out of your spiritual practices, for them to truly impact behavior and change your perspective...

Overcoming Dissociation and Emotional Repression to Create Presence

How do you show up in the world, in relationships, at work? Even just sitting in a sauna. Can you safely say you are fully present in these situations? If you feel you aren’t present most of the time, you’re not alone. Most people aren’t, especially if you’ve experienced complex trauma. On the bright side, presence can be learned by using the right tools to get you there. Presence is a topic that is near and dear to our hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth’s hearts, precisely because of how they ...

Continuity of Parts

Following our episode on embodiment, we’re diving into the topics of parts of self, sex and pleasure because without presence, we are cheating ourselves out of healthy relationships and empowered sexual experiences. Hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth have brought back Dr. Joli Hamilton, relationship coach and sex educator, to help them further examine how the relationship with our parts of self impact the way we behave towards ourselves and others.   A disconnection between our parts of self...

Embodiment is Scary AF

Embodiment has many different meanings, but to be embodied from a neurosomatic intelligence perspective relates to the integration of the body, mind and spirit. It means you are aware of the connection between your body and its internal sensations, your emotions, and your behaviors.   Sharing her journey to embodiment and how she uses it in her work as a mindset coach is Tracy Litt, speaker and founder of The Litt Factor. Tracy is also a bestselling author and her new book, “Expander: Fo...

Setting & Receiving Boundaries

In order to talk about boundaries, we must first understand what they are and why they’re important. That’s why we start off this episode with a definition by somatic practitioner, Prentis Hemphill: “Boundaries are the distance at which I can love you and me simultaneously.” Joining hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth for a second time is Margy Feldhuhn, CEO of Interview Connections and neurosomatic intelligence coach. They’ll explore the role of boundaries in our lives, including how they open t...

Relationships to Cultural Beliefs

Believe it or not, the brain and nervous system process social threat and physical threat the same way, making them equally as harmful to our health. That means that the cultural beliefs that shape our society are causing real trauma and dysregulating our nervous systems.   Today, Jennifer and Elisabeth are talking to Christy Chung, a certified NSI practitioner, advocate and healer, on this episode centered around culture, community, and the nervous system. They discuss how social stress...

CPTSD is an Attachment Wound

  Our last episode introduced the brain as a social organ, and how this topic relates to the neurobiology of relationships. Today, we dive deeper into how the brain develops through social interactions, why social connection is a survival need, and what happens in the body when we experience connection with other people.   Matt Bush of Next Level Neuro is joining Jennifer and Elisabeth to discuss the impact of trauma on the brain’s functioning, and therefore, our relationships, express...

Social Connection, Survival, and the Neurobiology of Relationships

Hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth jump right into this season’s theme of attachment by discussing the neurobiology of relationships, covering our development from the womb to forming attachments throughout our life.   Using the work of Louis Cozolino in his book, The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment and the Developing Social Brain, this episode explores the concepts of the social synapse and our brains as social organs. You’ll learn how the brain and nervous system evolved to h...

Trailer: Relationships & Your Nervous System

We’re excited to be back for our third season of Trauma Rewired! In this short episode, Jennifer and Elisabeth give a quick overview of what you can expect from this new season that’s centered around attachment and relationships.   Last season focused on the individual nervous system, laying the groundwork for this season’s exploration of how our nervous systems exist together. This season breaks down issues of attachment in our development and relationships, as well as how the experienc...

Relationships, Complex Trauma, and your Nervous System

Do you have trouble getting out of your head and into your body? Does your trauma affect your ability to make deep connections with others? For today’s guest, following a neurosomatic intelligence framework allowed her and her partner to build a stronger relationship, while learning more about themselves in the process.   Sharing her NSI experience with hosts Jennifer Wallace and Elisbeth Kristoff is Dr. Jolie Hamilton, a relationship expert who now brings neurosomatic intelligence into ...

Entrepreneurship, Emotions, and Healthy Work Spaces

Leadership, especially leadership as an entrepreneur, comes with unavoidable stress. Even those without a history of past trauma can struggle to manage the dysregulation that comes with this kind of consistent stress. Imagine if leaders added nervous system work to their leadership toolkit. Companies and organizations would look and function a lot different, that is for sure!  Sharing her unique perspective on the show today is Margy Feldhuhn, CEO of Interview Connections and executive coa...

Leadership, Visibility, and Boundaries and your Nervous System

We’re back for another episode on the nervous system and leadership, talking to Jessica Rhodes, the founder of podcast booking agency Interview Connections. They help clients grow their business through visibility, supporting them to use their voice and embrace authenticity. Jessica’s business partner and the CEO of Interview Connections, Margy Feldhoun, helped us discuss the dysregulation many entrepreneurs experience and the benefits of nervous system regulation in business last week. I...

Perfectionism is a Trauma Response

Our society rewards those who work hard, appear to never make mistakes, and seem to have everything under control. We’ve collectively decided on what perfect looks like and attributed perfectionism with the ideal person. What if we told you that perfectionism is actually a protective measure used to prevent oneself from feelings of rejection, abandonment, and worthlessness? These words don’t quite scream “perfect” do they?   Trauma Rewired hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth have touched upo...

Dissociation

Disassociation is one way that our brain keeps us safe from things that may cause us stress or harm. Whether it’s a simple moment of daydreaming or constant state of dissociation in an abusive relationship, being cognitively and physically disconnected is not conducive to healing.  During this episode of Trauma Rewired, Jennifer and Elisabeth discuss the spectrum of dissociation and how it can affect the interoceptive system, or how we process and send information to the brain. They go ove...

Feeling Emotions like Joy and Connection Can Be As Scary As Grief and Shame

In our first episode on emotional repression, we discussed how trauma can cause repressive behaviors and why emotional expression is necessary to living a healthy life. Today, we’re concluding the conversation by addressing two emotions that impedes the healing process: grief and shame.  Matt Bush of Next Level Neuro is back to continue the discussion with hosts Jennifer Wallace and Elisabeth Kristoff. To showcase the effects of grief on the nervous system, they all give examples of client...