The Ultimate

Combined Approach
to Resolving Chronic
Illness & Trauma

CATHLEEN KING, DPT

 TABLE OF
CONTENTS

3 - Who is Cathleen King?

4 - What is Brain Retraining?

6 - The Maladaptive Stress Response

8 - Top Down or Bottom Up?

10 - Where Does the Vagus Nerve

Come into it?

16 - Bringing it All Together

18 - Regulate™ Program Intro

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 3

WHO AM I?
Cathleen King, DPT
I have been where you are...

I’m an expert on chronic illness,

chronic trauma, relationship/
attachment repair, and inner
child healing. I’ve got the rare
combination of in-depth
doctoral-level education and
training as a physical therapist, and many
years of coaching others in wellness and
lifestyle education. I have been through my
own heroine’s journey of spending nearly 2
decades of my life navigating through deep,
debilitating illness and finally found my way
back to living an active, purpose-filled life!

I've been a wayshower to others of how to

make transformational health and lifestyle
changes for over 20 years.

I was born into deep trauma patterns and challenging

family dynamics and developed protective bodily stress
responses as a result. I suffered with debilitating chronic
infections and sensitivities that caused deep suffering.
(Lyme disease, mold, chronic fatigue, dysautonomia, etc.) I
have learned how to activate my own mind-body self-
healing by cultivating the embodiment of what I call
“Primal Trust™," which I now teach to others.

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WHAT IS
BRAIN
RETRAINING?
The concept of brain
retraining or
neuroplasticity is based on
the idea that the brain has
the ability to change and
adapt in response to new
experiences and stimuli.
This process is essential for
learning new skills,
adapting to new
environments, and
recovering from injuries or
illnesses.
In recent years, brain
retraining has become
increasingly recognized as
an important tool for self-
healing, particularly for
chronic health conditions.
We describe brain
retraining as a top-down
therapy (more on this
later)—basically, it’s a
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brain-to-body approach
that involves retraining
the brain to change its
responses to stress,
trauma, and pain, which
can help to alleviate
symptoms and promote
healing.
Brain retraining
refers to the process
of intentionally
changing the way
the brain functions,
by modifying neural
connections and
pathways.
The limbic system, which
is responsible for
emotions, memory and
behavior, plays a critical
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THE LIMBIC SYSTEM
role in brain retraining.
The amygdala, which is
part of the limbic system,
is particularly important in
processing emotional
responses, including fear
and anxiety.
The amygdala can
become overactive,
leading to chronic
stress and anxiety,
and contributing to
a range of physical
and mental health
conditions.
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Brain retraining
techniques, such as those
taught in my Primal
Trust™ and Regulate™
programs, can help to
regulate the amygdala
and reduce the negative
impact of chronic stress
and anxiety on the body
and mind.
By rewiring neural
pathways and reducing
the overactivity of the
amygdala, individuals can
improve their emotional
regulation, cognitive
function, and overall well-
being.
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THE
MALADAPTIVE
STRESS
RESPONSE
The maladaptive stress
response refers to a state
in which the body's stress
response system is
chronically activated,
leading to a range of
physical and mental
health problems. This
chronic activation is often
associated with the limbic
system, which is
responsible for regulating
emotions, memory, and
behavior.
When the limbic system is
overactive, it can keep
the body in a state of
chronic stress, even in the
absence of any external
threat or danger.
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This state of chronic stress
can have a profound
impact on the body,
leading to a range of
chronic illnesses such as
CFS/M.E., autoimmune
disorders, chronic Lyme
disease, POTS, long Covid,
anxiety, and depression.
This is because chronic
stress has been shown to
disrupt the body's
immune system, alter
hormone levels, and
contribute to
inflammation, which are
all factors in the
development and
progression of chronic
illnesses.
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Understanding the role of the limbic system
and maladaptive stress response in chronic
illness can help individuals to identify and
address the root causes of their health
problems, and develop strategies to
promote healing and well-being.

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 8

TOP DOWN
OR BOTTOM
UP?
When it comes to self-
healing for chronic health
conditions and interrupting
the maladaptive stress
response, it's important to
consider both top-down
and bottom-up
approaches.

Top-down techniques involve

working with the higher-level
processes of the brain, such as
thoughts, beliefs, and emotions,
to bring about calm.

Bottom-up therapy, on the other

hand, involves working with the
body's physical processes, such as
the nervous system and
physiological responses.

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 9

TOP DOWN
Brain to body:
Neuroplasticity/
brain retraining

BOTTOM UP
Body to brain:
Somatics/
Breath

Both approaches are important, as they target different

aspects of the body-mind system and can work
together as the body rewires and heals. For example,
top-down therapy can help to change patterns of
negative thinking and emotional responses, which can
in turn lead to changes in the body's physiological
responses. Bottom-up therapy, on the other hand, can
help to calm the nervous system and reduce physical
symptoms, which can in turn lead to changes in
thoughts and emotions.

Click here for access to the talk I gave about emotional

regulation and the limbic system for more information,

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 10

WHERE DOES
THE VAGUS
NERVE COME
INTO IT?
One of the key The vagus nerve
mechanisms involved in
plays a crucial role
brain retraining is the
vagus nerve. The vagus in tying top down
nerve is the longest nerve and bottom up
in the body and is healing approaches
responsible for controlling
together.
many important bodily
functions, including heart
The vagus nerve is
rate, breathing, digestion,
composed of both afferent
and immune function. It is
and efferent fibers, which
also involved in the body's
means it carries signals
stress response system,
from the body to the brain
and its job is activating the
(afferent) and from the
parasympathetic nervous
brain to the body
system, which controls the
(efferent).
"rest and digest" response.

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 11

WHAT DOES THE

VAGUS NERVE DO IN
THE BODY?
Communication
between
Controls throat
gut and brain
muscles to send
food and air down
Responsible for
the right tubes
speech muscle
movements/sound
Lowers blood
pressure/heart rate Relaxation with
in the case of illness or breathing
emotional stress

Controls digestion
Healthy organ and is responsible
functioning—heart, for your "full" feeling
liver, lung, pancreas,
intestines
Acts like a brake lever
to the gas pedal of
©Cathleen King DPT/Primal Trust™

the sympathetic
nervous system
(slows your autonomic
nervous system down)

Learning how to stimulate and tone your

vagus nerve is linked to increased
parasympathetic nervous system activity,
better energy and improved health/wellbeing.

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The afferent fibers of the
vagus nerve are
responsible for
transmitting sensory
information from the body
to the brain, such as
information about heart
rate, breathing, and
digestion. Afferent fibers
make up the majority of
the vagus nerve—about
80%! This means that the
vagus nerve plays a crucial
role in the body's
interoceptive awareness,
or the ability to sense and
perceive internal bodily
sensations. So the vagus
nerve plays a crucial role
in bottom-up therapy,
such as somatic practices,
which can help to calm
the nervous system and
reduce physical
symptoms.
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The efferent fibers of the
vagus nerve (about 20%)
are responsible for
transmitting signals from
the brain to the body. This
information can then be
used to inform top-down
therapy, such as brain
retraining, which can help
individuals inform the
body of safety. This leads
to physiological changes,
such as reduced
inflammation and
increased energy.
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 13

RS AF
E FE
FIB DID YOU KNOW RE
NT
ENT FIB
FER THE ER
EF S

VAGUS
NERVE
IS MADE
FROM VISCERAL
BRAIN BODY
TO BODY FIBERS THAT TO BRAIN
COMMUNICATE
THROUGH
THE BODY IN
THIS WAY?

©Cathleen King DPT/Primal Trust™

This is why it is SO IMPORTANT to
work on increasing your vagal tone
as part of any healing journey, and to
NOT just focus on modalities such as
brain retraining, which are "top-
down" practices. We must include
body-based, "bottom-up," somatic
practices to communicate safety in
the body, as these pathways make
up the vast majority of the visceral
fibers in the vagus nerve.

When you consider the percentage of afferent (body to

brain signalling) vs efferent (brain to body signalling)
through the vagus nerve, you can now see why it’s a) so
important to include somatic practices in any healing
protocol and not just focus on the brain, and b) why
toning the vagus nerve itself is crucial for providing the
best and most efficient super-highway for the new,
healthy signals you are creating to travel through!

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When the vagus
nerve is activated, it
can help to reduce
stress and anxiety,
promote relaxation,
and improve overall
well-being. This is
because the vagus
nerve helps to
regulate the body's
response to stress,
and can help to
reduce the negative
effects of chronic
stress on the body.
One way to activate the
vagus nerve is through
somatic practices, such as
qigong, yoga, and other
gentle, body-based
stretches and exercises.
These practices involve
bringing awareness to the
body and breath, and can
help to reduce stress and
promote relaxation. They
can also help to retrain the
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brain to change its
responses to stress and
pain, which can be
beneficial for chronic
health conditions. We
have a whole module of
specific somatic practices
within our Primal Trust™
Level 1 program,
Regulate™, which are easy
to use and incorporate
into your daily routine. We
also have wonderful
regular classes including a
Somatic Awareness class
and four weekly "Brain
Body Neuro Reset" classes
for you to join, giving you
somatic tools with the
benefit of co-regulation.
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 15

Somatic practices can help

to improve something
called interoception, which
is the ability to sense and
perceive internal bodily
sensations. This can be
particularly important for
individuals with chronic
health conditions, as it can
help to increase awareness
of the body and its needs,
and can help to promote
self-healing. It's also
sometimes a gateway into
starting to slowly process
trauma and feel safe once
more within the body
through gentle presencing
exercises.

Research has shown that

somatic practices can help
to increase gray matter
density in the brain,
particularly in regions
associated with emotional
regulation and attention
span, which goes full circle
and brings us back to brain
retraining.

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BRINGING IT
ALL TOGETHER
At Primal Trust™, we
combine all of these tools,
whereas many programs
out there just tend to
focus on one. Either they
go all-in on neuroplasticity
and think we only have to
target our brain and
limbic system through
brain retraining in order to
bring about healing in the
body, or they are heavily
trauma informed with
somatic practices, or some
programs out there will
focus on vagus nerve
stimulation through
things such as specific
exercises, breathing
practices or manual
stimulation with electrical
devices. But we truly feel
that the combination here
is what gives the most
success, and by utilizing
this multipronged
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approach, we are
maximizing the healing
potential.
It's important to use
both top-down and
bottom-up
approaches to
therapy for self-
healing of chronic
health conditions.
The vagus nerve plays a
crucial role in tying these
two approaches together,
as it carries signals from
the body to the brain and
from the brain to the
body, and can be
activated through somatic
practices.
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 17

A Disrupted A Healthy
Vagal State Vagal State
Dorsal Vagal = vs Ventral Vagal =
I AM NOT OKAY I AM OKAY

Withdrawn and wants Socially engaged

©Cathleen King DPT/Primal Trust™

to isolate
Strong Vital Force
Restricted Vital Force

Feels floaty or "spaced out" Grounded

Feels disconnected Feels safe

Protective and unable Feels willing to take risks

to handle change
Natural curiosity
No energy to explore

Disassociation Mindful and present

Numbness/depression Settled and hopeful

By working with both top-down and bottom-up

approaches, individuals report greater and more
sustained improvements than one approach alone.

So to summarize, brain retraining, vagus nerve stimulation

and somatics are all important tools for self-healing for
chronic health conditions. By retraining the brain to
change its responses to stress and pain, and by activating
the vagus nerve through specific toning exercises and
somatic practices, individuals can promote healing,
reduce symptoms, and improve overall well-being.

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 18

FOUNDATIONAL BRAIN-BODY NEURAL RETRAINING

FOR CHRONIC ILLNESS, PAIN AND TRAUMA

The Science of the Chronic Stress

Response & Cell Danger Theory
Polyvagal Theory and Somatic
Awareness
Vagus Nerve Toning
Neuroplasticity—Brain Rewiring
Somatic Movement and Presence
practices
Trauma Healing Principles, Breath
Work and more
TM Implementation of daily brain-body
neuro retraining practices

Regulate™ is a comprehensive program offered by

Primal Trust™ that brings together everything talked
about in this document—brain retraining, somatics,
and vagus nerve toning. It aims to help individuals
learn how to regulate their nervous systems and find
freedom from chronic illness, stress, and trauma. This
program is based on the principles of learning how to
consciously self-regulate your own biology and teaches
how to regulate the nervous system in a paced, gentle,
yet extremely effective way.

In this entry-level, Level 1 program for Primal Trust™,

individuals also learn about polyvagal theory and the
role of the vagus nerve in self-regulation. Through
Regulate™, individuals can gain a deeper
understanding of their own nervous system and
develop strategies for managing stress and allowing
the body to heal and come back into balance.

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 19

WHO IT'S FOR

Regulate™ is designed for anyone experiencing any
chronic-stress related conditions, including:

Mental Health: anxiety, panic, depression, insomnia

Immune Health: Lyme disease, Chronic Fatigue,
long-haul Covid/viral infections, autoimmune
Physical Health: chronic pain, digestive issues,
hormone imbalances
Emotional Health: mood, relationship/attachment
stress
Allergies: food and chemical sensitivities, EMFs
Trauma: co-dependency, fawning, PTSD
Entrepreneur burnout and overwhelm
Or just for self-learning as a healthcare practitioner!

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 20

HOW IT You can join at any time.

WORKS We also run Integration

Meetings throughout the
year to help you progress
There are 7 Modules, pre- through the material with
recorded, which you can the help of a Primal
work through at your own Trust™ mentor and in the
pace. The outline is as company of others.
follows:
Regulate™ has taken over
Module 1: Understanding 3 years to put together
The Science Of Stress and we feel is the most
extensive, thorough,
Module 2: Polyvagal Theory complete nervous system
and Mapping Your Nervous guide out there today!
System
There are 30 hours of total
Module 3: Vagus Nerve watch time, and all the
Toning content is highly
structured. You will be
Module 4: Brain Retraining given specific guidelines
Home Program of which tool to use when,
and how your daily routine
Module 5: Somatic can be set up with many
Awareness and Movement options for customization.

Module 6: Trauma Healing Modules are drip-released

& Breathwork one per week, to allow for
processing and
Module 7: Putting It All integration of all the
Together and Next steps material.

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 21

HOW MUCH
TIME?
Plan on at least 2-3 months to work through Regulate™.
If you have cognitive challenges, plan on working
through the program over 4-6 months.

Investing between 30-90 minutes per day using the

tools is recommended, depending on how severe your
condition is. Splitting up this time throughout the day is
encouraged, which helps with "riding the Polyvagal
Wave" and overall nervous system regulation by
balancing periods of activity and rest.

How long will it take to "feel better"? This question is

one where a realistic answer is needed, one without
false promises, or seductive marketing responses, as is
often the case in many healing programs.

The length of time for healing nervous system

dysregulation depends on how deeply your set point is
for experiencing resistance to life; history of trauma;
history of illness; the amount of cellular distress/toxicity,
and amount of support systems in your life. That being
said, we believe everyone can experience significant
improvement over several months, regardless of how
many limiting factors are at play. But the improvement
is not tied to “doing the tools alone.”

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 22

Simply doing the practices, but NOT changing your

lifestyle, will likely result in you seeing shifts in your
overall stress response, but healing might be limited or
slowed. The practices are meant to help you repattern
your entire way of interacting with your life. It is often
recommended that by doing 1 hour per day of
neuroplasticity exercises, after 6 months, results in
significant changes in brain activity, and people report
great reduction in symptoms.

READY TO
TAKE THE
FIRST STEP?
You can join Regulate™ as
soon as you feel the call,
and become part of the
Primal Trust™ Academy &
Community, our online
platform. When you
become a member, you
also gain access to all our
live community classes
that run throughout the
week, plus an active forum
Head to:
and optional free study
groups to work through www.primaltrust.org
the material with others.

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 23

Regulate™ sets you off on

an amazing journey
within the Primal Trust™
mentorship. Not everyone
needs to continue beyond
Level 1, but should you feel
drawn to, Level 2 goes into
deeper inner work, and
Level 3 helps with your
emergence back out into
the world, living a life
aligned with your values
as your True Self.

Where will your journey of self discovery

and transformation take you?

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 24

Disclaimer:
NO MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT

Even though Cathleen King, DPT, is a Licensed Physical

Therapist, she is not offering Physical Therapy services
through this informational content or any of its
Offerings, Information, Products and/or Services.

THIS EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT A

SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE,
DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, OR PREVENTION, OR FOR A
PROFESSIONAL THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP.

You agree to use your own due diligence and

judgment before applying any advice or
recommendations made with this educational content,
and you acknowledge that you take full responsibility
for your health, life, and wellbeing, as well as the health,
lives, and wellbeing of any dependents.

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 To read more
details about
Regulate™ and
the Primal Trust™
membership, head
to our website.
You can also
watch lots of
testimonials from
Primal Trust™
graduates.
Copyright 2023 Cathleen King / Primal Trust™

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