Restoring your Internal Sense of Safety after Trauma w/ CPTSD Expert Dr. Arielle Schwartz

10 snips

Oct 10, 2025

In this enlightening conversation, Dr. Arielle Schwartz, a trauma-informed clinician and author specializing in polyvagal approaches, shares insights on restoring safety after childhood trauma. She explains the vagus nerve's role in our safety responses and how early trauma can disrupt our sense of security. Dr. Schwartz emphasizes the importance of social connection for healing and introduces techniques like co-regulation and somatic practices. Listeners will learn actionable methods to enhance their emotional resilience and processes for trauma recovery.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Vagus Nerve Has Multiple Roles

The vagus nerve has multiple circuits that support social connection and bodily regulation.
Upper vagal pathways detect social safety cues while lower vagal pathways support rest and digestion.

INSIGHT

Early Connection Shapes Safety Wiring

Early relational safety shapes the development of the social engagement system via experience-dependent wiring.
Lack of caregiver cues in infancy can impair lifelong felt-sense of safety.

INSIGHT

Tiered Threat Response Explained

Polyvagal theory describes a tiered threat response: social engagement, then fight-or-flight, then dorsal vagal shutdown.
Each tier serves evolutionary survival functions but can become maladaptive when stuck.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Let's dive into how to feel safe again after Childhood Trauma, aka CPTSD, Complex PTSD, using a somatic and polyvagal lens. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership

Check out Dr. Schwartz' online course here- Strengthen Vagal Tone & Transform Trauma Through Somatic Practices & Spiritual Integration | Upcoming 6 month Immersion Course | Begins 11/11/25 : https://shiftnetwork.isrefer.com/go/rnshrEM/a27571/

Building Nervous system resilience- Free webinar: https://shiftnetwork.isrefer.com/go/nshrEM/a27571/

In this conversation, I talk with Dr. Arielle Schwartz about polyvagal theory and how it helps us understand trauma and rebuild a sense of safety. We dive into how the vagus nerve shapes our responses to safety and threat, and how complex PTSD from early developmental trauma impacts the nervous system. We also explore why social connection is a biological necessity and how co-regulation helps us heal.

Looking for affordable online counseling? My sponsor, BetterHelp, connects you to a licensed professional from the comfort of your own home. Try it now for 10% off your first month: https://betterhelp.com/therapyinanutshell

Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com

Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell

Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books

Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.