In Part 2 of our Vagus Nerve Series, we’re joined by the brilliant Dr. Arielle Schwartz, clinical psychologist, trauma expert, and author of The Complex PTSD Workbook and The Polyvagal Theory Workbook for Trauma. In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., hosts Susan Robbins and Kate King dive deep into the science and soul of polyvagal theory, trauma recovery, and nervous system healing.
What is Polyvagal Theory?
Polyvagal theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges and brought to life in practice by experts like Dr. Schwartz, explains how our autonomic nervous system continuously scans for safety, danger, or threat through a process called neuroception. This theory highlights three core states:
- Ventral vagal (safety, connection)
- Sympathetic (fight or flight)
- Dorsal vagal (shutdown, freeze)
Understanding these states helps us recognize when we’re dysregulated and gives us a roadmap to return to balance.
Trauma and the Nervous System
Dr. Schwartz explains how early life experiences, especially trauma and attachment wounds, can leave long-lasting imprints on the nervous system. These patterns often show up in adulthood as anxiety, shutdown, people-pleasing, or over-functioning.
But here’s the empowering part: your nervous system can change.
With the right tools and consistent support, you can rewire your stress response, regulate emotions, and build deep resilience.
Tools for Healing: Breath, Movement, and Connection
Dr. Schwartz shares simple but powerful ways to support vagal tone and nervous system health, including:
- Breathwork and coherent breathing
- Therapeutic yoga and mindful movement
- Safe touch, self-compassion, and inner child work
- Co-regulation through safe relationships and community
These practices aren’t just calming, they actually shift your physiology, allowing you to heal from the inside out.
Final Takeaway: Your Body Is Trying to Protect You
Your body’s responses are not failures—they’re protective strategies. And with curiosity, compassion, and the right guidance, you can move from survival to thriving.
🎧 Listen to Episode 72 now to learn how to work with your nervous system, not against it.
RESOURCES:
Connect with Dr. Arielle Schwartz:
Website: www.drarielleschwartz.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arielleschwartzboulder
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5LUxnXbReV7I5cEzvb46sQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drarielleschwartz/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielle-schwartz-0756b62a/
X: https://twitter.com/DrAschwartz
Learn More about Dr. Arielle’s Books:
https://drarielleschwartz.com/books-by-dr-schwartz
Find all of Kate and Susan’s Resources and links in the show notes: https://healthyawakening.co/2025/08/25/episode72
Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/
Connect with Kate: https://theradiantlifeproject.com/
Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcast
Find listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/links
Learn more about our guest Dr. Arielle Schwartz:
Dr. Arielle Schwartz is a clinical psychologist, internationally sought-out teacher, and leading voice in the healing of trauma. She is an internationally sought-out teacher, leading voice in the field of trauma recovery, and author of seven books including The Complex PTSD Workbook, The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook, and Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga. As the founder of the Center for Resilience Informed Therapy, she offers a mind-body approach to therapy for trauma and informational mental health and wellness updates through her writing, public speaking, social media presence, and blog. She believes that the journey of trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart.
Learn More about Kate King:
Kate brings nearly two decades of experience as a licensed psychotherapist and board certified art therapist, combined with her work as a Radiant Life coach to the table. She is also the multi-award-winning author of three powerful self-help psychology books. Kate’s work integrates epigenetics through a relational, behavioral, and intergenerational family trauma lens. She also incorporates brain and nervous system science with psychology, spirituality, and creativity for a dynamic approach to deep inner work and personal healing.
Learn More about Susan Robbins:
Susan is a retired law enforcement officer and an accomplished Certified Epigenetic Human Performance Coach with a diverse and extensive background in wellness. She began her wellness career in 2015 as a holistic health and stress management coach. Her passion for helping others led her to expand her expertise into epigenetics in 2019, where she discovered the missing piece of the health optimization puzzle: Personalized health.
As a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Certified Level 2 Apeiron Zoh Epigenetic Human Performance Coach (DNA), and Certified PH360 Coach through Precision Health Alliance, Susan has developed a unique approach to health and wellness through completely personalized health. She is the proud recipient of the 2023 Precision Health Alliance Coach of the Year award. Susan works with clients to elevate their health and overall quality of life by understanding their unique needs based on their genetic makeup, taking out the guesswork, and getting results.
Their Synergy
Susan and Kate come from two very different, but perfectly complementary, worlds in the health and wellness space. Together, their synergy is magnetic. Think: science meets soul, strategy meets intuition, real talk meets radical transformation.
