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CATHLEEN KING, DPT

 Cathleen King wishes to give special thanks to her team
at Primal Trust™, and to Louise Pigott, for assisting
with the design and editing of this ebook.

All content within is copyright of Cathleen King, DPT, and

Primal Trust™ Academy & Community.

All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be reproduced by

any mechanical, photographic or electronic processes. It may
not be shared or otherwise copied for public or private use,
other than for fair use as a brief quotation, without prior
written permission from Primal Trust™.

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.
 Contents
Welcome Message ....................................................................................... 7-8
Introductory Statements .......................................................................... 9-10
Who Can Benefit From Nervous System Healing
Practices? ............................................................................................................ 11
Nervous System Dysregulation Quiz ............................................... 12-14

Part 1: The Science & Approach To Self-Healing 15

The Body as a Computer Analogy....................................................... 15

So, What is Primal Trust™? ..................................................................... 20
The Primal Trust™ Process ..................................................................... 21-23
Testimonials From Our Members ...................................................... 25-26

Awareness: The Science and Cause Behind Chronic

Stress Conditions ........................................................................................... 27
The Autonomic Nervous System’s Role in Chronic Illness,
Pain, and Stress ............................................................................................... 28-33
Chronic Unresolving Illness = Chronic Stress State and a
Dysregulated Nervous System ............................................................. 34
Introducing The Maladaptive Stress Response ........................ 35
Cell Danger Response ................................................................................ 37-43

Self-Regulation Tool Number 1: Expressive

Writing/Journaling 44-46

Endorsements From Medical Professionals ............................... 47-49

Top-Down vs Bottom-Up Therapy ..................................................... 50

Self-Regulation Tool Number 2: Breathwork Practice 53-54

How We Heal: Combining Top Down and Bottom Up
Approaches ........................................................................................................ 55
The Power of Rewiring Your Brain .................................................... 56-58
The Common Algorithm of Brain Retraining ............................ 58
The Brain Retraining Sequence .......................................................... 59
Why Brain Retraining Alone Often Isn’t Enough: My
Personal Story .................................................................................................. 60

Self-Regulation Tool Number 3: Brain Retraining 101 61-63

Bottom-Up Somatic Practices ............................................................. 64

Self-Regulation Tool Number 4: Pattern Interrupt and

Somatic Environmental Orienting 66-67

Why Many of Your Symptoms Are Due to Your Brain’s

Limbic System and Nervous System Processing and
Perception .......................................................................................................... 69-70
“But I’ve tried other brain and nervous system tools
before and I’m still dealing with symptoms. Why?” .............. 71-72

Part 2: The Primal Trust™ Healing Process 73-74

The Primal Trust™ Hero's Journey: The Roadmap to

Transformation ................................................................................................ 75-77
Candace Moss Healing Success Story and YouTube Link 78
Level 1: Regulate™ ........................................................................................ 79-82
Results and Data From Regulate™ .................................................. 83
Fox M Testimonial ......................................................................................... 84
Daily Practice and Time Commitment ........................................... 85
“How soon will I start to feel better?” ............................................... 86-87
Kelly Barber Healing Success Story and YouTube Link ...... 88
Level 2: The Mentorship ............................................................................ 89-91
Alyssa Shifrel Testimonial ........................................................................ 92

Self-Regulation Tool Number 5: Befriending Scared

Parts of You (includes guided somatic meditation
audio) 93-96

Catherine Hyza Healing Success Story and YouTube Link 97

The Primal Trust™ Community: Members, Teachers and
Live Classes ........................................................................................................ 98-104
Level 3: Liberate .............................................................................................. 105-106
The Levels Summary ................................................................................... 107
How Does Primal Trust™ Compare to Other Programs? 108
What Sets Primal Trust™ Apart? ........................................................ 109
Practicalities ...................................................................................................... 111
Marla Hall Healing Success Story and YouTube Link ........... 112
Monthly Membership Explained ........................................................ 113-114
What People Are Saying About Primal Trust™ ........................ 115

Closing Statement - Primal Trust™ Vision and Values ....... 116

More About Cathleen King, Professional Background ....... 117-118

Glossary of Terms ........................................................................................... 119-125

Link To Book a Discovery Call and Other Free Resources 126

Yes, you can heal.
In this guide, we share with you:

WHY you may be stuck with chronic

symptoms,

WHAT is happening from a scientific

and mind-body perspective,

and

HOW healing happens through

creating biochemical changes in the
body and implementing brain and
nervous system regulation practices.
 Welcome,
I’m Cathleen King, DPT, Founder and CEO of
Primal Trust™ Academy & Community, an online
membership platform for nervous system
regulation and brain retraining that helps people
find freedom from chronic illness, pain, stress, and
trauma.

I’ve personally walked the path of chronic illness (Lyme, mold

toxicity, Chronic Fatigue, and more) with many debilitating
symptoms, and felt completely overwhelmed with the fear that I
might never return to a full and vibrant life. Like many of you, I
went from doctor to doctor, piling up a staggering number of
diagnoses and desperately trying treatments, many of which
only made me feel worse. I became obsessed with the drive to fix
myself, spending endless hours frantically researching and
unable to concentrate on anything else in my life. I know
painfully well the spiral of loneliness, anger, and
deep despair that comes with being told
there is no chance of fully healing.

But then I created a roadmap to guide

me out of the dense fog of my illness and
fear. I learned how to self-regulate my
nervous system and, astoundingly, to
experience true joy and calm even
while I was still experiencing difficult
symptoms and limitations. My
nervous system started to change.
My brain began to rewire. And I
began to trust my body could heal.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 7

 Essentially, I discovered how to embody “primal trust,” the
frequency of safety and connection, and I chose to let it ignite
my body’s innate healing ability. I was amazed to experience
symptom after symptom fall away as I continued to lean into
these tools of self-regulation and trust, ultimately being
rewarded with vibrant health and a life filled with joy and
purpose. Now I am called as a guide to help others do the
same: disarming the danger signal stored at a cellular level
through heart-led rewiring of the nervous system.

Through my work in developing the Primal Trust™ platform, I

have led thousands of people through their own hero’s journey
of self-healing and self-discovery, empowering them with the
tools needed to regulate their nervous system, but also to go
inwards to find alignment with their True Self essence and
emerge transformed.

I give a glimpse into my story to spark the flame of hope and

trust that I so desperately needed when I was sick. The
capacity, courage, and power to self-heal already exists in your
heart—tinder ready for that spark. Please rest assured that
there is a path out of chronic illness, pain, anxiety, trauma and
suffering, and that you, too, have what it takes to heal. Now it’s
time for you to choose to grow that glowing fire: to break free
of the patterns that have kept you stuck in a chronic stress
state, experience inner freedom, and reveal your true nature to
the world. You are part of a vision to reveal the self-empowered
path of healing! I invite you to learn these tools and join our
loving community where we embrace nervous system co-
regulation on this path of healing and transformation.

Together we rise,
together we fly. It’s time.
Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 8
It’s possible
to have your own
immune system fight
chronic “incurable”
infections.

It’s possible
to calm a nervous system
that has been stuck in
trauma or anxiety for
years.

It’s possible
to find things you love to
do after years of feeling
lost, sick, or hopeless.
Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 10
 Who Can Benefit From
Nervous System Healing
Practices?
The Primal Trust™ training program specializes in helping
people find freedom from health conditions related to chronic
stress and/or trauma, including:

Mental health: PTSD, anxiety, panic, depression, insomnia,

relationship difficulties

Physical health: chronic pain conditions (e.g. fibromyalgia,

interstitial cystitis, migraine), chronic fatigue (ME/CFS), long-
haul Covid, burnout, postural orthostatic tachycardia
syndrome (POTS), autoimmune disorders, digestive issues,
hormone imbalances

Immune system health: chronic Lyme disease, long-haul

COVID, other viral/bacterial/parasitic infections

Environmental sensitivities: multiple chemical sensitivity

(MCS), mast cell/mold illness/chronic inflammatory
response syndrome (CIRS, MCAS), food sensitivities and
allergies, environmental allergies, electromagnetic
hypersensitivity

We do this by teaching tools of self-regulation, which means

learning to bring the body into a state of balance and out of a
habitual stress response, for optimal, natural healing.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 11

 Take the
Nervous System Dysregulation Quiz
Not sure if what you’re experiencing can be helped by brain
retraining and nervous system regulation? Take our quiz to find out!

1– Do you have Chronic Fatigue 7– Do you experience allergies,

Syndrome/M.E., Long Haul Covid, MCAS, histamine intolerance, or
inflammation, or autoimmune mold illness? Y/N
activation? Y/N
8– Do you have an increased
2– Did you become unwell sensitivity to chemicals, smells,
following a virus, bacterial light, EMF, sounds, touch? Y/N
infection, mold, or chemical
exposure and haven’t felt well 9– Do you experience anxiety,
since? Y/N panic, depression, dissociation, or
depersonalization? Y/N
3– Do you experience
dysautonomia (heart rate/blood 10– Do you have chronic sleep
pressure irregularity issues, issues? Y/N
breathing dysregulation resulting
in a fast pulse, feeling dizzy or 11– Have you experienced either a
faint upon standing, poor ability physical or emotional trauma
to adjust to hot or cold that continues to feel unresolved
temperatures)? Y/N despite working on it? Y/N

4– Do you have brain fog, 12– Have you tried multiple

difficulty remembering things, or protocols, diets, and other
inability to concentrate? Y/N therapies without successful
alleviation of your chronic
5– Do you experience chronic symptoms, anxiety, or stress? Y/N
pain and difficulty with pain
processing? Y/N 13– Have you been told that you
must have a mystery illness, or
6– Do you have digestive issues that there’s nothing wrong with
and/or food sensitivities? Y/N you, or it must all be anxiety or
psychosomatic? Y/N

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 14– Do you notice every sensation, 22– Do you have issues with low
symptom, or shift in your body? energy, weakness, or become
Y/N excessively exhausted or in more
pain after physical activities? Y/N
15– Do you scan your body upon
waking up in the morning and 23– Are you unable to take a break
through the day for symptoms or or relax, constantly feeling rushed,
what's wrong? Y/N hyper-alert or very stressed? Y/N

16– Are you internally focused with 24– Do you feel overwhelmed,
your attention trying to decide if immobilized, shut down, or
your body is getting better, worse, hopeless? Y/N
or being triggered by something?
Y/N 25– Do you experience food
restrictions? Or food obsession?
17– Do you track and record your Y/N
symptoms and potential causes?
Y/N 26– Do you experience emotional
outbursts, mood swings, or cannot
18– Do you notice symptoms regulate your emotions? Y/N
when simply thinking of a
triggering event? Y/N 27– Are you often judgmental,
resentful, blaming, pointing out
19– Do you ruminate on the past, what others are doing TO you?
wishing you could change it, say Y/N
it, or do it differently, unable to let
the past go, or having memory 28– Do you research every
flashbacks? Y/N symptom, diagnosis, or protocol?
Y/N
20– Do you rehearse future events
over and over, obsessing over 29– Do you have very restrictive or
details about how you will handle excessive protocols you are trying
the situation, whether you will feel to follow? Y/N
well enough, and what might
happen if you experience 30– Are you obsessed with what is
symptoms? Y/N wrong with you and how to fix it?
Y/N
21– Do you experience regular
negative inner self-dialogue? Y/N WHAT’S YOUR SCORE? ____ / 30

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 13

 Did you answer YES to 5 or more of the quiz questions? If so,
there’s a very good chance that something often referred to as
a limbic system impairment, or a dysregulated nervous system,
is either creating or heavily influencing the manifestation of
your unresolving symptoms and stress.

Intrigued to learn more? Read on for a full breakdown!

How can we help you?

If you’ve found Primal Trust™ and you’re reading this ebook
right now, you’re probably struggling with either one or several
of the following: chronic unresolving illness and/or pain,
chronic stress and/or anxiety, and trauma.

Whether you’re early on in your journey to reclaim your health

and vitality, or you’ve been in pursuit of these things for many
years, you’ve probably recognized the modern-day healthcare
system doesn’t hold the answers for resolving chronic
conditions. In fact, much of our health care system could more
accurately be called a sick care system when it comes to
treating chronic illness. It’s kind of like a graveyard, full of
diagnoses tombstones, all lined up and carved out with names
and dates but not giving you any direction or hope that you
can make it out of this place alive!

It’s the modern medical model to focus on treating symptoms

rather than pursuing a deeper understanding of our complex
mind, body, and brain connections.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 14

 PART 1: The Science And
Approach Of Self-Healing
The Body As A Computer Analogy
Here at Primal Trust™, we approach things differently. We
believe that addressing the mind-body connection through
nervous system regulation and limbic system retraining can
make a world of difference when it comes to reversing
chronic conditions. Rather than believing symptoms are the
result of your diagnoses, we find that many unresolving
symptoms can be the result of a maladaptive stress
response wreaking all sorts of havoc on the body’s systems
and processes, and impaired mind-body communication
keeping you from realizing at a deep level what your body
needs to self-heal.

You can think of your body with chronic issues like having a
sluggish computer, clogged up with old files, and running on
an out-of-date operating system. At first, you try to work with
what you’ve got, installing more programs, and downloading
more files, but inevitably picking up more viruses. Until one
day, that computer crashes. Each time you open a program,
you encounter a problem (i.e. the build-up of toxins,
pathogens, and inflammation because the brain-body stress
signaling is limiting self-healing).

Nothing is running smoothly and all the computer’s energy is

getting used up just powering on, let alone performing the
tasks you need (i.e. your body’s energy is stuck and not
detoxing, digesting, fighting infections, etc).

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 15

 So what’s the solution to this?
Is it getting a fancy new mouse or keyboard? Is it polishing the
screen? Is it giving the computer a really good talking to, and just
telling it to try harder? (e.g. trying new supplements/
protocols/etc.) No! You need to get to the root cause.

First, you might decide to run the diagnostics (more lab tests)
to figure out what’s going wrong. You get a whole list of issues
(new diagnoses). You go to the computer repair shop (more
specialists), but right now, they’re overrun with broken-down
machines, and you’ve heard they’ve got a reputation for
patching up the problem only to keep you hooked in the
system so you keep coming back. Intuitively, you know what
you need to do. You find a clued-up tech wizard who shows
you how to clear out the old software and upgrade it, update
the operating system, and reboot your hard drive (rewire the
brain and nervous system). No more patch-up jobs, no more
downloads, and no more gadgets to do what your computer
has been built to do on its own… The tech wizard shows you
how you can solve the issues and keep your system running
smoothly. They place the power firmly back in your hands.

This is what we teach you at

Primal Trust™. While we’re not
quite wizards, we’re here to
guide you to the core of what’s
powering your body—your brain
and your nervous system—and
we will show you how to clear
out everything that’s preventing
that very intelligent body system
from functioning optimally.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 16

 The body is not dumb. It’s the super computer of all
computers! If you can work with that intelligence by removing
all the coding of fear, the infected malware, and the clutter of
files you no longer need, your whole system comes back
online, reboots, and clears out the trash at the same time!

So if you’re coming from a bleak landscape filled with lab tests,

pills, platitudes, and invalidation, it would be understandable if
you’ve been left feeling unheard and unsupported. But
hopefully, you’re beginning to see that a more integrative,
holistic, and empowering mind-body approach is out there;
an approach that will rewire your brain and body so it can
heal itself—and it works!

Somewhere in you, you know there’s truth in this. You know

there’s more to you than chronic illness, stress and trauma, and
you know there has to be a reality out there where you are
healthy, free, and transformed. You don’t have to accept a
multitude of chronic labels and limitations for the rest of your
life. With the right support and balance of modalities, you can
find your way out of this darkness and into the light.

Here at Primal Trust™, we’re going to shine a torch

for you, until step by step, and glimmer by
glimmer, you’re going to break out of
the shadows and into the dawn of
a bright new day.

So, are you ready to reboot

and power up?

Let’s look at the

next steps…

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 17

 I know this seems too good to
be true... that your own body
can self-heal from infection,
autoimmune, toxin exposure,
and more...
My personal story was that I was VERY resistant to doing
brain retraining and nervous system healing for over 10
years! Why? Because I did not believe that my condition
could be helped by simple mind-body healing techniques.
In fact, I would get quite upset if anyone would label my
“actual infection and toxic exposures” as a mind-body
illness.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 18

 You see, at the time I was really ill I still considered myself an
expert in mind-body symptoms, as I worked for many years as
a physical therapist treating chronic pain. I believed that pain
was modulated by the brain and our emotions, but...

I was never taught the complex science of

psychoneuroimmunology, or the science behind a
chronic stress response resulting in impaired
immune system modulation and poor detoxification
leading to infection and toxin buildup. So I didn’t
feel my health issues could be helped by the mind-
body somatic techniques I used to teach my patients.
I also didn’t believe that resolving my trauma had anything to
do with my Lyme disease and other issues. I was an unbeliever
in everything I’m about to share with you.

For this reason, I know I had to REALLY be convinced of the

science before I allowed myself to implement the practices I’ll
be teaching you about. My rational brain needed proof that
the limbic system and autonomic nervous system function
are the cornerstones of unlocking self-healing from real
infections and all of my other issues. So buckle up, as we will
take a deep dive into the theory and principles of mind-body
healing.

But first, a brief overview of the Primal Trust™ process I’ve

created to help you through the journey of reversing your
chronic symptoms...

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 19

 So, what is Primal Trust™?
Primal Trust™ is an online platform and community for nervous
system regulation and neural retraining. It’s here to help people
find freedom from chronic illness, stress, and trauma. We teach
you how to turn on your body’s self-healing mechanisms and
give you the power to customize your practices. This is not a “one
size fits all” approach or program. It is split into the Academy, for
education, and the Community, which offers a range of live
classes and opportunities for connection. There are three levels in
the Primal Trust™ Academy, which we will break down in PART 2
of this guide:

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

Regulate™ The Mentorship Liberate

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 20

 The Primal Trust™ Process
There are going to be 5 steps to getting you from where you are
now in your healing journey to where you want to be—healthy,
vibrant, and able to self-regulate out of life’s stressors.

Step 1 We build the foundation

Step 2 We give you the tools

Step 3 You apply the tools

You do the deeper inner

Step 4
self-healing work

You reemerge into the

Step 5
world transformed

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 21

 Step 1 We build the foundation

First, we want to start by helping you understand the science

behind your chronic illness, chronic pain, chronic stress, and
trauma. To do this, we give you a comprehensive education in our
Level 1 program, Regulate™, on the limbic system, the maladaptive
stress response, the nervous system, Polyvagal Theory, and cell
danger response. If you’re not familiar with these terms, you can flip
through to our glossary right now for the definitions at the back of
this guide. We’re also going to go into it all in bit more depth on the
coming pages. Understanding the “why” behind what’s going on
helps to get your psyche on board for implementing the tools and
the new routines you will learn in our program, and helps you to
prepare for the changes that are to come. We don’t bypass the
science and ask you to blindly believe us. This isn’t faith healing, but
it is about finding trust in your body and environment once again.
Giving you the science provides a solid starting point to build
from and lets your brain know that there’s method and sense
behind these tools. It’s the first step in turning off the alarm in
your limbic system.

We give you the tools Step 2

Once you have a firm understanding about what’s going on in your

brain and nervous system when you experience chronic health
issues and stress, we’re going to give you the tools you need to
rewire your brain and consciously self-regulate your biology for
optimal health. There are over 40 tools taught in Regulate™,
including brain retraining (neuroplasticity) techniques, nervous
system regulation exercises, and other holistic approaches such as
vagus nerve stimulation and breathwork that address the root
cause of your issues vs just chasing the symptoms. In this ebook,
we give you a jump start with 5 powerful tools to begin the self-
healing process.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 22

 You apply the tools with the support
Step 3
of our team and community

Now is the time for you to do your part and engage in a

manageable daily routine designed to rewire your brain and
regulate your nervous system. You will have the support of our
team, live classes, the forum, Q&A sessions and study groups.
You practice daily the proper sequencing of your tools for best
results.

You do the deeper inner

Step 4
self-healing work

After you’ve journeyed onwards with Level 1 Regulate™, we

encourage you inwards through the optional deeper work in our
Level 2 program, The Mentorship, especially if you have a trauma
history. Through inner attachment repair (parts work, inquiry &
somatic presencing), we’ll work on the relationship you have
with yourself, others, and the world around you. We will really
dive into the concept of developing what we call your Adult Main
Personality to foster resilience and a sense of self and your purpose,
unlocking deeper self-healing.

You reemerge into the

Step 5
world transformed

Our community and mentoring process supports you not only in

healing from chronic symptoms but also in rediscovering your True
Self beyond the identity shaped by chronic illness, pain, stress, and
trauma. We want you to embrace a joyful life where you are
defined not by your suffering, but by your resilience and vitality. Our
Level 3 offerings help support your ongoing lifestyle transformation.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 23

 Now you have the outline of our approach, we’d love to give
you a bit more information on each of the 5 steps, giving you
an overview of why you are stuck with chronic symptoms, and
providing more understanding of the types of practices that
help the body heal.

We’re going to:

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 24

 A few testimonials of what the
outcomes are by applying the
Primal Trust™ roadmap of
self-healing & transformation
“I’m 100% healed from 5 years of chronic pain!”
- Kelly Barber

“The doctors said they would have to take out

80% of my colon because of severe colon
inertia/digestive issues, now after Primal
Trust™, I’m 100% healed in my digestive
system!“ - Marla Hall

“I never wanted to leave the house since being

sick, especially to eat. About 1.5 months ago I
started walking every morning, I realized it was
making a huge impact on my healing especially
because I'm surrounded by beautiful nature.
Tired or not, I’m going, and yesterday... I ran! I
mean not just a little, I ran 5K! I had not run for
about 3 years.” - Aline Robin

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 25

 “During the first few months of Level 1,
Regulate™, I used the tools and was able to re-
introduce many of the foods that had been
triggering for me. By the end of last summer, I
had successfully integrated all the foods I used to
love and eat into my diet and was doing so with
almost no symptoms!” - Laura Hunt

“After 45+ years of illness, anxiety, etc, and 20+

years of trying every single healing modality I
could find, my symptoms are about 90% gone
(mold, CIRS, chronic fatigue, CPTSD, SIBO, and
more).” - Candace Moss

“I joined because I have been struggling with

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for over 10 years. Since
joining only 4 months ago my energy has nearly
fully returned, I no longer have crashes and I can
finally do nearly any activity I like without
worrying about my energy crashing... Primal
Trust™ has also helped me with the chronic pain
that I’ve had for over 20 years. Most of the pain I
used to feel has either disappeared or dissipated
now. I also used to struggle with brain fog every
day but now my cognition is clear and I am able
to be socially engaged with people most of the
time. -Jenny Naismith

We have taken over 8000 people through this

process. See our testimonials page HERE.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 26

 Next up: the science of why you get
stuck in illness and the principles
behind mind-body healing practices...

Awareness: The
Science and Cause
Behind Chronic
Stress Conditions
Understanding what happens on a physiological level when
someone is chronically stressed, has a toxin/pathogen
exposure, or experiences trauma, and how it can lead to
diverse health conditions, is a key first step in the self-healing
journey. To increase awareness and help people feel
empowered, in the Level 1 Regulate™ program we start with
videos about the science of a maladaptive stress response
and cell danger theory, drawing from the latest scientific
research. We then explain in detail the scientific basis for
each concept and tool as it is introduced throughout the
Regulate™ modules, and we list many resources for those
interested in learning more. This scientific knowledge
provides a clear motivation for following the recommended
daily practices. The scientific understanding also helps you
develop a healthier, less fear-based relationship to your
current symptoms and conditions, which helps you to
start to self-heal.

To help kick-start your learning process, we cover some of the

key concepts here in this ebook and explain how they relate
to your chronic symptoms.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 27

 The Autonomic Nervous
System’s Role in Chronic
Illness, Pain, and Stress
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) has two branches: our
sympathetic branch, which is like a gas pedal, and the
parasympathetic branch, which is like a brake pedal. The body
is always making subtle adjustments between the ‘gas and
brake’ of our nervous system to respond to our internal and
external environment appropriately.

It is normal and healthy to have a stress response (sympathetic

“fight/flight/freeze”) activated. The problem is that sometimes
that stress response becomes chronic or too extreme. The
parasympathetic, often referred to as the “rest and digest”
system, promotes relaxation and healing when it is in a
balanced state. Heart rate and breathing slow down, and the
body returns to calm. When things get too stressful for too
long our body has an “emergency brake” where the
parasympathetic nervous system activates in an extreme way
to cause “shut down.”

The parasympathetic nervous system is controlled by the

vagus nerve, which you will learn more about later. One of the
first skills we teach in Primal Trust™ is to learn to “track your
nervous system.” That means to be conscious of what
autonomic state you are in currently, to determine if you need
to help your body consciously slow down or sometimes even
take action. This helps you become more of a partner with your
nervous system by being able to consciously self-regulate your
own biology.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 28

 In order to “track” your nervous system, we learn the
predominate states of activation levels, which are outlined
below:

Fight (Sympathetic Branch): Our “activate” and “go-towards”

response: heart rate increases, breathing quickens, and energy
is mobilized to deal with the threat.

Common traits: anxiety, anger, ambition, excitement,

insomnia

Flight (Sympathetic Branch): Similar to “fight,” the body

readies itself to go away/escape: heightened alertness,
increased energy, and a readiness to flee from the
perceived danger.

Common traits: anxiety, fear, upset, avoiding

Freeze/Immobilization (Combined/Sympathetic/
Parasympathetic Branches): This is like the gas and brake
being on at the same time. In some situations, the body may
enter a state of “freeze.” This can occur when the perceived
threat is overwhelming, leading to a temporary paralysis or
immobilization response. The body becomes still as a defense
mechanism.

Common traits: overwhelm, dissociation, anxiety

Shut Down (Extreme Parasympathetic Collapse): In

complete overwhelm and fear, the ANS response is to shut
down (think full pressure on the brake pedal), which results in
extreme exhaustion and lethargy and can feel like numbed-
out hopelessness.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 29

 When we are in chronic fight/flight/freeze/shutdown, our body
has decreased ability to fight infections, has poor absorption of
nutrients, has decreased ability to detoxify, and the result is
chronic illness. Treatments do not work as well when our
nervous system is stuck in these states. This is why learning to
recognize and consciously self-regulate your nervous system is
paramount.

The Polyvagal Ladder

safe and o
am k
VENTRAL

!
VAGAL

respond to
SYMPATHETIC to t
ed

hr
ea
I ne

t!

DORSAL
VAGAL n and ove
dow rw
t h
hu
el
s

m
I am

ed
!

A Helpful Tool To Track Your Nervous System

The above image is known as the Polyvagal Ladder, created by

Deb Dana, to describe and understand the Polyvagal Theory
coined by Steven Porges. The Polyvagal Theory provides a
structure to explain how our autonomic nervous system works
and describes three primary states of activation.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 30

 Deb Dana uses the Polyvagal Ladder exercise to help us
imagine our nervous system as a ladder, with the ideal state of
safety being at the top (ventral vagal), the sympathetic
activation state in the middle, and dorsal vagal (extreme
parasympathetic) shut down state at the bottom.

As you look at this ladder, do you recognize which rung you

might be hanging out on most of the time?

Are you at the top (ventral vagal), feeling safe and

connected and generally okay about life?

Are you in the middle (sympathetic), constantly rushing,

feeling anxiety, or overly driven?

Or have you fallen to the bottom of the ladder

(parasympathetic dorsal vagal) after having too much stress
for too long where you simply cannot cope anymore?

Or maybe somewhere in between?

Now the task is, how do you move up the ladder to a state of
calm, safety, and connection?

One of the key purposes of nervous system regulation is to be

aware of what state your nervous system is in and then, if
needed, have tools to help you shift your autonomic nervous
system in to calm ventral vagal connection (top of the ladder).
Since the vagus nerve is the master regulator of the autonomic
nervous system, we learn tools to target the function of the
vagus nerve so that you have more capacity to move up the
ladder after you have been in a stressed situation.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 31

 Ultimately, we want to be spending most of our time in a
relaxed, calm, connected state (ventral vagal =
parasympathetic), which allows the body to rest, heal, repair,
digest, and detoxify. But we also need to teach the brain and
body how to cope with all kinds of different stressors. Nervous
system regulation is not about being calm all the time. It’s
about being able to move between the different states of
activation (move up and down the ladder) when needed, but
not get stuck in a sympathetic or prolonged collapsed state.

We teach you this in Primal Trust™. We show you how to

access the ventral vagal state for healing, and come out of
stuck stress patterns that can be seen in chronically activated
sympathetic, freeze, or shut down states.

In this ebook you will learn several tools to get started to

help you be able to climb up that ladder to safety and
connection (the ventral vagal autonomic state), which helps
your body begin the process of self-healing (detoxifying and
immune rebalancing).

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 32

 Sympathetic Response =
lack of vagus nerve activity

Run Fear
Aggression
Anger Worry
Frustration
Panic Irritation
SYMPATHETIC
Fight or Flight PARASYMPATHETIC
HEALTHY
"I feel anxious SHUT DOWN
PARASYMPATHETIC
and scared" Collapse
Rest and Digest
"I feel safe and "I feel hopeless
want to connect" and can't react"

Compassionate
Depressed

Grounded
Ventral Sympathetic/ Dorsal Hopeless
Vagal Adrenaline Vagal
Engaged
Numb

Mindful
Disassociation
©

rim
P

al
Tru Exhausted
st ™

VAGUS NERVE
Ventral Vagal +
SYMPATHETIC/
PARASYMPATHETIC Dorsal Vagal
Burn Out
IMMOBILIZATION Wired But
Freeze Chronic Sends signals to the
Tired
Fatigue rest of the body
"I have one foot on the
gas and one foot on Boom/Bust Unrefreshing
the brakes!” Rest
Mood Swings

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 33

 Chronic Unresolving Illness
= Chronic Stress State and a
Dysregulated Nervous System
When the body’s nervous system is stuck in a state of chronic
stress for long enough, it is often called a “dysregulated nervous
system.” It is here that we become vulnerable to developing
chronic illness, and/or we become burnt out, startle easily, and
can’t regulate ourselves emotionally.

Person B
Person A
Dysregulated
Regulated Nervous System
Nervous System

Healthy Immune Response

Weak Immune Response
Recovers from Infections
Infections Become Chronic
Detoxification Pathways Open
Detoxification Pathways Sluggish

Healthy Chronic Illness/

Chronic Stress

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 34

 The body’s nervous system is intimately connected with the
brain, and in particular, receives stress signals from a part of
the brain called the limbic system.

The Limbic System

Introducing the Maladaptive Stress

Response
You may have heard of the term “the maladaptive stress
response” before. It refers to a state in which the body’s stress
response system is chronically activated, such as we have been
describing. This state has been shown to disrupt the body’s
immune system, impair detoxification abilities, alter hormone
levels, and contribute to inflammation; all factors in the
development and progression of health conditions such as
chronic fatigue, chronic pain conditions, autoimmune
disorders, long-haul Covid, lasting infections, digestive issues,
chemical and food sensitivities, anxiety and depression.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 35

 This state of nervous system dysregulation is often associated
with overactivity in the limbic system of the brain, which is
responsible for emotions, memory, and behavior. In order to
self-heal, we must specifically target the limbic system of the
brain to shift the biochemistry of the body and trigger a rest
and digest state of activity. We target the limbic system with
top-down practices such as brain retraining, inquiry, and
mindfulness practices.

Let’s Summarize What You’ve

Learned So Far...
Chronic Stress + Toxin, Injury, or Pathogen Exposure results in:

Suppression of rest, digest and natural healing processes

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system protection

responses

Decreased detoxification ability causing toxin build up and

increased inflammation results.
– Often leads to diagnoses such as mold illness, chemical
sensitivity, mast cell activation, heavy metal toxicity, etc.

Digestion slows, poor nutrient absorption

– Often leads to diagnosis of SIBO, irritable bowel syndrome,
food allergies, autoimmune issues, etc.

Immune system dysregulation

– Excessive cytokine production, increased inflammation
– Immune over-reactivity to body/foods (autoimmune/
allergies)
– Under-reactive to pathogens: Lyme, co-infections, parasites,
viral loads build up over time.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 36

 Autonomic nervous system dysregulation (impaired
communication between the brain and body)
– Symptoms of dysautonomia result: heart rate and blood
pressure irregularities, dizziness, long-haul Covid symptoms,
intolerance to various stimuli, chronic pain, and more.

Chronic symptoms result when the brain and nervous system

are stuck in heightened stress biochemistry. The body cannot
rid itself of toxins and appropriately fight infections when in
states of stress, protection, and fear, and treatments often have
limited outcomes.

In fact, the body’s danger or protection response is on a cellular

level. That’s why the theory of the Cell Danger Response is one
of the missing links to explain mysterious, unresolving chronic
illness.

Cell Danger Response (CDR)

Understanding CDR explains why nervous system healing
practices ignite innate body intelligence (self-healing
mechanisms) capable of reversing a myriad of chronic
conditions!

This was the theory/science that really convinced me

personally of the entire approach I’m about to teach you. It
finally made sense why my body seemed “dumb” and unable
to see pathogens or detoxify like “normal” people. My body was
stuck in Cell Danger Response! And my history of emotional,
physical, and chemical trauma had a lot do to with why I
couldn’t self-regulate out of the danger response!

Once I understood this, then I became motivated to do all I

could to come out of Cell Danger Response.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 37

 So what happens in our bodies when we become stuck in a
maladaptive stress response, all the way down to within our
cells? Cell Danger Response (CDR), is a concept introduced
and researched by Professor Robert Naviaux (University of
California, San Diego). The CDR is triggered when a cell
encounters a chemical, physical, or microbial (e.g. viruses,
bacteria) threat. Psychological trauma, particularly during
childhood, can also activate the CDR, or give you the perfect
set up to have this response become chronic and not turn
off.

Infections Toxins

Physical
Injury
Chemicals

Psychological
Trauma

Essentially, CDR is the stress response at the cellular level,

specifically involving the mitochondria.

Cells go into protection (CDR) against detected threats in

the system.

This a normal response not meant to last for an ongoing time

period. When it doesn’t turn off, we can get quite sick and have
intolerance to treatments/supplements.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 38

 Are Your Cells (And Body) In Safety
(Thriving), Or In Danger
(Protection)?

Mitochondria inside the cell create energy to THRIVE

(detoxify and absorb nutrients) when the cell signaling is in
SAFETY and PURPOSE mode (parasympathetic activation
state).
OR

Mitochondria create PROTECTION signals when the CDR

signal is activated because of a threat detected, resulting in
decreased detoxification and nutrient absorption
intracellularly.

This ongoing CDR signalling at the intracellular, mitochondrial

level is literally what can make you sick and toxic if the
protection response doesn’t turn off! This is why nervous
system regulation is crucial to reverse chronic illness. We need
to help turn the “safety signals” back on at a cellular level.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 39

 A Basic Overview of the Science
Behind the Protection Response
Naviaux explains that when a threat (like a pathogen or toxin
exposure, physical injury, or trauma) is detected, mitochondria
change cellular metabolism to protect the cell from further
injury. Mitochondria decrease oxygen consumption and stiffen
their membrane to limit the spread of pathogens, and they
release antiviral/antibacterial chemicals and ATP from the cell.

Instead of being used as energy for living and supporting the

organs, this extracellular ATP (eATP) acts as a warning
messenger to other cells, rapidly spreading the ‘danger
response’ throughout the body. A host of defense-related
processes occur as a result, affecting metabolism,
inflammation (increased release of cytokines and
chemokines), immunity, microbiome, brain function, sleep
patterns, and behavior. These CDR processes are
fundamental to survival and are all part of a normal
response to a perceived threat at the cellular level. They are
universal, meaning that the same CDR is activated by many
different types of threats (stress, toxins, pathogens, etc).

Normally, once the danger has been eliminated or perceived

as gone, a choreographed sequence of anti-inflammatory and
regenerative processes in the body is activated to reverse the
CDR and heal (i.e. you have innate self-healing mechanisms
when you come back into safety!). In some cases, however, the
cells become stuck in this protective ‘danger phase’ and
the body cannot complete the healing process; this is what
is happening with chronic illness.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 40

 The body system remains over-responsive, even to harmless
stimuli, causing an ongoing flood of eATP and keeping the
body on high alert. This is why minute levels of mold and
chemicals can make you feel very sick!

This state, termed an “ongoing cell danger response,” is

often manifested as chronic illness.

It is abnormal when the CDR

signal does not turn off. Why
doesn’t it turn off? Being in a
state of fear and stress is one
reason, or having a history of
trauma, which is why nervous
system work is the key to
unlocking self-healing.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 41

 “The war is over…
back to growth and
repair.”
Summary of CDR treatment approaches:
Functional Medicine approach:
Open up detox pathways,
eradicate pathogens, remove toxin
exposures.
Primal Trust™ approach:
Turn off the danger signaling in the
brain and nervous system and
improve self-regulation capacities.

*In Primal Trust™ we support

both integrative or functional
medicine approaches as well
as our nervous system
approach to reversing CDR
and chronic illness .

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 42

 If the idea of your mitochondria being hunkered down in
protection mode is overwhelming, remember that these little
powerhouses are still producing energy (ATP), it is just that
your energy is being diverted from pathways for living in order
to communicate danger and protect the cells. In Primal
Trust™ we teach you tools to help give your mitochondria the
‘all clear’ signal so they can increase energy production again
and start to use ATP for healing and thriving. Bottom–up
practices are particularly important because they can directly
influence the functioning of the mitochondria located in cells
throughout the whole body.

For instance, regularly stimulating the vagus nerve, including

using the practices we introduce in Primal Trust™, has been
shown to increase mitochondrial activity. In addition to these
somatic practices, repeatedly directing our thoughts,
emotions, and behaviors through top–down practices helps
send clear messages from the brain all the way down to the
mitochondria that we are okay now, and we are safe.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 43

 Expressive Writing/Journaling
Expressive writing is a powerful and well-researched tool for
releasing stored emotions and easing the impact of chronic
illness. It’s a gateway into our subconscious and helps to stop
rumination and thought loops that keep us in sympathetic
overdrive, with a limbic system that’s firing off alarm signals. It
can help with:

Emotional Expression:

Writing allows you to express and release pent-up emotions,

providing a form of emotional catharsis, and purging dense
energy stuck in the body. This can be especially helpful for
addressing longstanding or unresolved emotions.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 44

 Stress Reduction:

Expressive writing can help reduce stress by providing an

outlet for emotions, breaking the cycle of chronic stress and its
negative impact on physical health. There are dozens of
research articles supporting the use of expressive writing as a
helpful healing aid.

Identifying Triggers:

Regular journaling enables you to identify patterns in your

emotions and potential triggers for stress or flare-ups of
chronic illness. Recognizing these patterns empowers you to
make proactive changes. This increased self-awareness can
contribute to a better understanding of the emotional roots of
chronic illness/pain/stress.

Becoming Aware Of Unconscious Danger Messaging:

This process allows the danger, fear, and stress messaging that
you are often unconscious of to come out of you to be seen
and let go. Think of it like purging the thought toxins in your
body!

As a side note, this is an exercise I give my own teen child to

help her process her emotions and have a safe space to vent.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 45

 Here’s the exercise:

Take a piece of paper or a notebook and set aside 2-15 minutes.

For a minute, close your eyes and settle into the present
moment. Now ask yourself the following:

Do you believe that you have a mind-body connection

regarding your symptoms? If your body could speak, what
would it say to you? Or what would you want to say to God,
life, spouse, parent, etc if you knew there would be no
negative consequence?

Now simply write about anything that comes up. Do NOT

self censor here! Write about anything and everything. This
is the most important instruction. You want to become
aware of the truth locked inside of you that may be keeping
you in CDR and nervous system dysregulation.

After 2-15 minutes, stop the exercise and rip up everything

you wrote and throw it away. This lets your subconscious
know that it’s safe to purge and that no one will ever know.

Repeat daily and don’t be surprised if some of your chronic

symptoms start to disappear as you release unexpressed
stress thoughts and decrease bound-up emotional charges.

*research supporting: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/emotional-

and-physical-health-benefits-of-expressive-writing/ED2976A61F5DE56B46F07A1CE9EA9F9F

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 46

 What doctors & medical professionals
are saying about Primal Trust™
“I specialize in treating unusually
sensitive patients. Most of them have
become sensitive because of their
exposure to mold or Lyme or EMFs and I
have been referring many of them for the
Primal Trust™ program because of its
efficacy in helping those patients to heal.”

– Dr. Neil Nathan, M.D., Now retired, Board

Certified Family Physician, who combines his
knowledge of conventional medicine with his
extensive background in holistic medicine and
pain management www.neilnathanmd.com

“So many people that I see in my

telehealth functional medicine clinic have
a dysregulated nervous system. Not only
is this a result of many chronic health
problems, it can continue to perpetuate
symptoms if left unaddressed. I always
recommend Primal Trust™ to my patients
because they truly understand how to
heal the nervous system and my patients
always rave about how much better they
feel after utilizing their tools.”

- Dr. Will Cole, leading functional medicine expert,

IFMCP, DNM, DC, and author of Ketotarian, The
Inflammation Spectrum, NYT-bestseller, Intuitive
Fasting, and Gut Feelings www.drwillcole.com

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 47

 "Even though we say in common parlance,
'the body tends to heal itself,' it doesn't do this
particularly well when its locked in a chronic
stress physiology that's running on autopilot.
Dr. Cathleen King and her Primal Trust™
organization provide some of the best tools in
the business for limbic system regulation, for
getting out of this state, using both top-down
and bottom-up approaches. She is bringing
hope and healing to thousands of chronically
ill individuals, and I wish this body of
knowledge were being taught at every
medical school."

- Eric B. Robins, MD, Urologist and Mind-Body

Healing Expert, Co-author, Your Hands Can Heal
You, and The Power of Prana www.drericrobins.com

“Dr. Cathleen King, DPT is one of those rare

gems who is at the forefront of transforming
human healthcare as we know it. Having been
humbled herself through decades of
debilitating chronic illness, she has developed
true human kindness, where compassion runs
deep into her core… In my opinion, this IS the
prerequisite required to wield True Power; the
kind of power that has the ability to
transcend fear and rewrite human history. Her
teachings are truly profound and her prolific
body of work is not only forging new paths of
thinking, but it is healing and awakening the
leaders of tomorrow!”

– Dr. John Bergman, Chiropractor specializing in

Human Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics and
multiple Chiropractic Techniques
www.bergmanchiropractic.com

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 48

 “Primal Trust™ is a comprehensive limbic
retraining program that has helped
thousands of our Mast Cell 360's clients
and community members. The emphasis
on trauma-informed and somatic
approaches has been instrumental for so
many, including myself. The results I've
seen make Primal Trust™ a phenomenal
value for those recovering their health.”

- Beth O’Hara, Functional Naturopath at Mast Cell

360 Research Adviser at Nutrigenetic Research
Institute www.mastcell360.com

“Primal Trust™ helps my protocols stick.

The clients get more out of all programs
and protocols when their nervous system
is regulated and Dr. Cat is living proof of
that!”

– Dr. Jessica Peatross, expert in the field of Lyme,

parasites and the health hazards of mold,
international keynote speaker, and functional
medicine leader www.drjessmd.com

“Primal Trust™ is my go-to program for

nervous system work because it’s the one
that all my patients thank me for sending
them to!"

– Dr. Jaban Moore, Functional Medicine

Practitioner, Chiropractor www.drjabanmoore.com

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 49

 Next: Top Down vs Bottom
Up Therapy

Top Down Bottom Up

Brain Retraining
Somatic Presencing
Thought Pattern
Orienting
Interrupt
Somatic Mindful
Journaling
Movement
Emotional Freedom
Breathing Exercises
Technique (although
Yoga, dance, sound
this could be a bit of
healing
both!)
Energy Medicine

BOTH are needed for regulation of the nervous system,

along with inner work to develop what we call your “Adult
Main Personality” — but more on this later!

You will see these terms mentioned on our website, platform,

and across social media. In our opinion, combining top-down
AND bottom-up tools is vital for getting good healing
outcomes when it comes to nervous system health, and this is
one of the things that sets Primal Trust™ apart. In Regulate™,
we give you a wide variety of top-down and bottom-up tools,
as well as vagus nerve stimulation exercises, to help strengthen
the communication channel between the brain and body.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 50

 Because the vagus nerve is one of
main controls of organ function and
can be an on/off switch for health or
illness, we start our healing protocol
with with various forms of vagal
toning exercises.

One of the key mechanisms tying

together top–down and bottom–up
approaches to self-healing is toning
and stimulation of the vagus nerve.
The vagus nerve is the longest nerve
in the body and helps control many
important bodily functions,
influencing heart rate, breathing,
digestion, and the immune system. It
is also involved in the body’s stress
response system, where its job is to
activate the parasympathetic nervous
system (“rest and digest” response)
and put a brake on the sympathetic
nervous system (“fight or flight”
response).

The vagus nerve transmits sensory

information from the body to the
brain (bottom-up signaling), such as
information about heart rate,
breathing and digestion.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 51

 The vagus nerve is crucial in the body’s ability to perceive
internal bodily sensations and send messages back to the brain
to regulate body function (interoceptive awareness). This is why
the vagus nerve plays an important role in bottom–up practices,
and why such practices are so important for developing a sense
of inherent safety and calm in a self-healing protocol. The vagus
nerve also sends signals from the brain to the body. In top–down
brain retraining, for example, these fibers help you to consciously
inform the body of your safety, leading to physiological changes
such as reduced inflammation and increased energy.

S AF
BER FE
EN
T FI
Did You Know RE
NT
FIB
R
FE THE ER
EF S

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

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 52

 Breathwork Practice
Vagal Toning Breath: Voo Breath

This breath is used to get the vagus nerve to almost ‘feed’ or

nourish the organs with its connectivity.

Do this when feeling irritation, anger, fear, stress (Sympathetic

Activation). This is another great tool to also do along with your
kids of all ages, even toddlers.

Version 1 (to calm): Eyes open or closed. Hands on belly, inhale

into lower abdomen, exhale slowly, and say in a low vibratory
tone “vooooo.” The key is nice long exhales.

Repeat for 1-2 min. Then just rest and notice your body and
environment for several moments.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 53

 Version 2 (to improve energy): Voo energy through teeth and
eyes. Eyes open. Inhale into the lower abdomen, exhale and say
“voo” while showing teeth and opening/closing your mouth,
and trying to almost speak through your eyes. Feel the
vibration in your face. This stimulates the ventral vagal
pathways of facial connection, with smiles and happiness.

Repeat for 1-2 minutes.

“Voo” breath originators:

Peter Levine, PhD and ancient Tibetan chants

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 54

 TOP-DOWN
Brain to body:
Neuroplasticity/
brain retraining

HEART
Identity - Inner Work

BOTTOM-UP
Body to brain:
Somatics/
Breath

How We Heal: Combining Top–Down

and Bottom–Up Approaches
Self-healing from a chronic stress response and the suffering
caused by chronic health conditions has been demonstrated
through the experiences of countless people, many of whom
were once bedbound or severely debilitated.

Our experience is that it is important to consider both top–

down and bottom–up approaches in this process. Top–down
(brain to body) techniques involve working with the higher-
level processes of the brain, such as thoughts, beliefs, and
emotions, to bring about calm. Bottom–up (body to brain)
therapies, on the other hand, involve working with the body’s
physical processes, movement, and physiological responses.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 55

 The Power of Rewiring Your Brain
What if you could hit a reset button in your brain (“reboot your
computer”)? Well that is possible with limbic system retraining, aka
brain retraining. This type of top–down approach is grounded in the
concept of neuroplasticity, the idea that the brain constantly changes
(rewires) in response to all new experiences, especially emotionally
charged stimuli. You can think of the brain as a rehearsal machine. It
often only outputs what it has memorized to do. But we can teach
the brain to memorize new things to rehearse! In recent years,
consciously self-directing neuroplasticity through “brain retraining”
has become increasingly recognized as an important tool for self-
healing, especially for chronic health conditions. This involves
consciously retraining the brain to change its memorized responses
to stress, trauma, and pain, which can help to alleviate symptoms and
promote healing. Essentially, brain retraining is the process of
intentionally changing the way the brain responds by rewiring neural
connections and pathways. The healing effects are profound for
those with a variety of conditions as the practices help turn off CDR
and create healing biochemical changes through conscious
biohacking of your own limbic system!

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 56

 On a practical level, brain retraining often means creating
new, positive associations with perceived triggers and
symptoms (like mold, chemicals, foods, hormone changes,
etc), intentionally elevating one’s emotions despite the
symptoms, by practicing visualization, inquiry, and/or mindful
awareness regularly. The limbic system plays a critical role in
brain retraining—by rewiring neural pathways through brain
retraining techniques, the activity of the amygdala and overall
limbic system can be calmed down even when triggers still exist
in your body or environment, leading to improved emotional
regulation, cognitive function, and decreased chronic symptoms.

This means that you can rewire and turn down the symptom
response to a host of triggers that in the past made you feel
sick!

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 Brain retraining is a foundational element in the daily practices
taught in Primal Trust™. In Regulate™, we present and give
examples of several options for including this technique, rather
than insisting on a rigid protocol, so people can choose what
feels most authentic for them. We teach you how to
customize your brain retraining practices to address
specific triggers and/or emotional wounding that is often
the core issue behind your body symptoms.

The Common Algorithm of Brain

Retraining
One of the main things we teach in Primal Trust™ is the how,
the why, and the common principles behind every tool. This is
so that you can customize each practice in the best way for
YOU. Rather than jump from program to program to learn the
latest variation of brain retraining, which is often just another
twist of the same practice, we like to empower YOU to
understand how to make your own version or make your own
twists on our version.

After researching several neuroplasticity methods and memory

consolidation practices, I have come to the conclusion of 3
common elements behind most brain retraining practices.
Simply by implementing this sequence of steps, you are
performing a brain retraining practice.

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 The Brain Retraining Sequence:
1st: Conscious recognition of habitual
thoughts, feelings, or behaviors

2nd: Interrupting your automatic, habitual

state and getting into the present moment

3rd: Creating new neural pathways with rehearsed

mental messages, creative visualizations, focused
mindful awareness, and elevated emotional states

That’s it! It's quite simple and anyone can do it.

The brain needs repetition to rewire, so the algorithm

must be repeated in various ways to create new
neural networks of associations and subsequent
biochemical changes in the body.

The Primal Trust™ brain retraining method is called

ABC Dimensional Shift© and we teach multiple ways
of doing this practice in Level 1 of our Regulate™
program.

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 Why Brain Retraining Alone Often
Isn’t Enough – My Personal Story
When I first implemented brain retraining to self-heal in 2017, it
was all the rage, and not much was mentioned about bottom-
up somatic practices for healing chronic Lyme, mold toxicity,
etc. Fortunately, I knew a ton about somatic practices by being
trained in them as a mind-body physical therapist. And my
knowledge came in handy when brain retraining alone
presented me with some roadblocks. I have since seen these
same pitfalls in thousands of others who try to self-heal with
brain retraining programs alone.

For me, when my limbic system started to calm down, it

ironically also opened up ‘pandora’s box’ in my body. I started
to actually feel sensations and emotions more because I was
safe enough to feel into my body as I gained more regulation. I
started to remember trauma and suppressed emotions and
even rage started to surface. This is all normal, and it was an
invitation by my body to come down into the heart of my
stored stress and trauma. Brain retraining alone can be a
good distraction technique to calm down, but it doesn’t
fully address body-held trauma patterns. Many people use
only brain retraining to calm down, or even recover, only to be
triggered back into symptoms as the stored emotions in the
body start to surface later on.

This is why somatic work, or bottom-up approaches, are

included in our roadmap. These practices allowed me to
discharge tension in the body and begin to resolve trauma
patterning.

In my opinion, somatic body presencing and breathwork are

lifelong skills to keep you grounded and able to process stress.

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 Brain Retraining 101
There are many ways to approach brain retraining. Some
practices involve visualizing yourself in happy times or feeling
calm and safe. Some approaches help you create a short-term
distraction ‘fix,’ but I like to use the tool for a deeper purpose
and there are many ways we do this in Primal Trust™.

I often ask my clients, “What are you rewiring towards? What

do you truly want your brain to help you with? What needs to
be addressed on a deep emotional level in your psyche with
brain retraining?” If you don’t know what you truly want and
how you want to live, then your brain might just rewire
itself in circles.

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 A particular
practice that was
helpful for me
early on, which
was a more
specific form of
brain retraining
that I created,
was using this
practice to help
me get in touch
with my needs
and create the
feeling that I was
worthy of having
them met.

I have found that one cause of chronic symptoms is because of

unconscious stress and deep wounding that is
unacknowledged and not felt. We can get so stuck in a
protection response of ruminating about our symptoms and
researching treatments, and our sole focus/need gets
oriented onto getting the symptom to go away! All the while,
deeper unmet needs of your wounded psyche/inner child get
overlooked. This builds up a ton of emotional stress in the body
system.

I have literally witnessed thousands of people have a profound

shifting of symptoms with this practice alone, as it helps the
brain find and locate deep emotional longings and brings
them to the surface to be seen, heard, felt, and then met! It’s
like an opening that happens deep in the nervous system and
allows a well of built-up pressure to release. It's like the cells
begin to breathe again when this practice is fully experienced,
saying, “Thank you for feeling into what I truly, really need right
now!”

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 The Practice - Visualizing Meeting Your Needs

In the morning close your eyes, take 3 deep breaths into your
belly, and then ask yourself any of the following questions:

What need is my body asking me for (self care, exercise,

dance, etc.)?

What can I do for myself that would feel like loving myself
(e.g. make myself tea)?

What is the most important thing I can do today to feel more

at ease when I go to bed tonight (get that project done, follow
through on x, etc.)?

Now listen and notice what comes for the next minute. What you
are doing here is getting your brain and body to tell you what it
might need that you are not allowing yourself to take the time
to feel.

Next, use your imagination to visualize following through with

actions to meet the needs that you became aware of. Take 1-5
minutes to visualize all the details involved with the activity.
Notice all the sensations—sound, touch, sight/color, taste,
feelings. In fact, try to stir up the emotional satisfaction or
feelings of self-love that might happen as you are meeting this
need. The emotional experience is the most important part here
as it is the emotions that are the strongest force creating
neuronal rewiring changes. It can be hard to feel the emotions
at first, but that’s okay—keep trying!

You can repeat this several times a day. You can also even think
of a time in the past when your needs weren’t met and imagine
you, or someone else, meeting those needs and how that would
have felt. Why this works: this emotional experience can disarm
the limbic system protection response because a sense of “I
matter, I am okay, my needs are met” can flood the brain/body.

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 Bottom-Up Somatic Practices
Bottom–up therapies, often referred to as somatic
awareness/presencing and movement practices, can help calm
the nervous system and reduce physical symptoms, which can
in turn lead to beneficial changes in thoughts and emotions.
Somatic movement practices, such as qigong, yoga, and other
gentle physical exercises and stretches are examples of
bottom–up techniques used to promote relaxation and move
energy through the body. These practices involve bringing
awareness to the body and breath, which can help improve
interoception, or the ability to sense and perceive internal
bodily sensations.

This internal sensing ability can be particularly important for

people with chronic health conditions, as it can help to
increase awareness of the body and its needs, bring relaxation
to an otherwise unconscious, contracted somatic body, and
promote self-healing. Gentle presencing—through exercises to
become fully present in one’s body and the surrounding
environment—is a bottom-up practice
that can serve as a gateway to
slowly process trauma by
helping people to feel safe
within their body once again
and allow stuck emotions
and protective physiological
reactions to discharge
throughout the body. Again,
also helping to turn off the
ongoing CDR protection
response.

Somatics – Breathwork –Movement

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 Research has shown that somatic practices increase grey
matter density in the brain, particularly in regions associated
with emotional regulation and attention span, which circles
back to top–down approaches (brain retraining). We guide you
through several somatic presencing and somatic movement
practices in Regulate™ and hold weekly live classes where you
can do them with the support of a group.

Top–down and bottom–up practices target different aspects of

the mind–body system and can work together as the body
heals. A unique and key feature of Primal Trust™ is how it
seamlessly weaves together these two approaches to create an
integrative daily self-healing protocol.

Many people come to Primal Trust™ after months

or even years of trying top–down brain retraining
practices with limited success. Once they add the
bottom–up components to their self-healing
routine, they experience much more satisfying
shifts and healing.

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 Pattern Interrupt & Somatic
Environmental Orienting
This is a seemingly simple but profoundly effective start to
both retraining your brain, and introducing somatics. What you
are going to do is the following:

1– Every time you notice you are:

Ruminating on your symptoms

Worrying about your health
Being negative about how you’re feeling
Having the same fear-filled thoughts over and over
Catastrophising
Telling yourself or others repeated stories about your
illness/stress/trauma

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 STOP. Pause. Take a breath.
This is the pattern interrupt.

Next is environmental orienting.

2– Take your attention from the

symptoms/stress/body and notice
your environment. Notice where you
are in this space, and relative to other
things. If you’re sitting down, what do
you feel? If you’re standing, can you
feel your feet? What can you notice in
the space, room, or environment that
actually brings you some peace,
interest, or joy? It can be something
small or something big. A pet, a
teacup, a piece of art, a bird, a tree,
the sky.

Stop and really notice and put all your

focus on this thing that is outside of
you as if you have never seen it
before. Can you perceive its beauty or
uniqueness? Can you connect with it?
Breathe into this experience for 30
seconds and notice your breath as
you also notice the object outside of
you.

Repeat this practice as often as

needed to reorient to the present
moment.

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My wise therapist
once said...
"Cathleen, I think 80% of your Lyme
disease symptoms would go away if
you would learn the tools of
nervous system regulation."

I was SO angry.
I replied:

"I think 80% of my

nervous system
symptoms are due
to my Lyme disease!"

He was correct.
 Why are many of your chronic
symptoms due to your brain’s limbic
system and nervous system processing
and perception?
Well, your brain and nervous system are responsible for the
majority of the sensory inputs/outputs and messages of alarm
that you feel, rather than the actual toxin or pathogen in your
body. Sure you have effects from the things in your body. But
not every body is impacted the same by them. This is why
nervous system healing has resulted in so many chronic illness
recovery stories! Your brain regulates your pain and all sorts of
other perceptions. What I’m saying is that how you feel
physically is very dependent on your brain state and nervous
system communication.

For example, did you know that people test positive for Lyme
disease with no symptoms, the same for mold and other issues
(parasites, heavy metals, etc.)? Why? Because their brain and
body are not in a state of threat and sending messages of
alarm to their conscious mind. Their prefrontal brain is more
dominant than their emotional limbic brain, and their nervous
system isn’t constantly sending danger messages back to the
brain to be processed and interpreted.
*see this Swiss study on asymptomatic Lyme borreliosis in high-risk
populations: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1988513/

I had vision issues, dizziness, blood pressure issues,

neurological issues, digestive complaints, overstimulation
issues, fatigue, and weird feelings all over my body. And the
brain retraining and nervous system tools made a direct
impact on all of my symptoms.

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 Now, I’m not saying your
symptoms are “in your head,”
rather I’m saying that your
overall stress load of the body
and the way your brain and
body communicate contribute
to the symptoms you are
feeling and how the various
issues you have actually
manifest physically.
This often makes people a little
upset to feel that their
symptoms might have a mind-
body component. It can even
feel invalidating after all the
diagnoses and years of
suffering. I hope that you can
see that this could be
encouraging news. There is a
way out of your suffering even if
you have the presence of
pathogens and and toxins in
the body. Thousands are
finding relief using these
methods, often without
treatment! I was one of them. I
didn’t directly treat Lyme
disease, and I now test PCR
negative for tick-borne illness.
Turns out the body can fight
infections on its own! I started
to have symptom relief almost
immediately when implement-
ing nervous system practices.

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 “But I’ve tried other brain and
nervous system tools before and I’m
still dealing with symptoms. Why?”
Sure, many find relief within weeks of implementing these
practices. Others have tried for much longer but still have
symptoms. This can be disheartening, and so if that is you, let
me explain how we approach things a bit differently and help
you see blind spots that may be influencing your health,
despite using rewiring tools.

Ultimately you have to feel innately safe/okay to have your

body start to self-heal. What is in the way of that? Let’s
explore...

1– Trauma: Those with significant trauma history, especially

developmental/attachment trauma, often take longer to heal
because the nervous system has been long-wired to be in
chronic stress and doesn’t remember what regulation feels
like. It can take deeper tools, such as those we teach in our
Level 2 program, to process trauma and develop a healthy
inner adult self to allow the nervous system to feel safe, maybe
for the first time in your life. 1-on-1 Internal Family Systems
work, Somatic Experiencing, and Emotional Freedom
Technique are also helpful to combine with our program if this
fits your background.

2– Relationship Stress: You can practice tools all day long but
if you have dysfunctional or toxic relationships, your body is
reacting to that with stress chemistry and that can be
counterproductive to your healing. Relationship repair must
also be a focus during your retraining journey.

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 3– Unconscious Beliefs/Secondary Gains: This is a triggering
one to look at, but sometimes unconscious parts of us get our
needs met, get validation, get love, and get support because
we are sick. If we heal, these unconscious parts of us will lose
their sense of love and validation for suffering. We explore this
in our Level 2 Mentorship.

4– Fixing-Focus, Anxiety, Type-A Drive: Using many healing

tools and programs. This is a common personality type that
creates more stress chemistry trying to do the program
perfectly, rather than getting calmer by using the tools.

5– Stuck in the Wired-Tired-Crash Loop: This means the

energy you feel is adrenaline (fake energy) trying to pull you
out of dorsal vagal shutdown (collapse), but then you do too
much with the energy because you don’t know how to pace
and stay calm while you experience the upsurge in energy!
And then your nervous system immobilizes you again to
prevent overwhelm. This is due to a lack of healthy ventral
vagal safety while experiencing the energy and learning to
pace yourself properly.

6– Structural Spinal Issues, Mineral Deficiency, Lack of

Movement: These are all practical things to explore that do
influence your autonomic state and can keep you in distress,
inflammation, and poor mitochondrial health if not addressed
properly.

I have recorded a 46 min

class on this subject where
I go into more detail. To
watch this video, head
here: Why Is It Taking
Me So Long To Heal?

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 PART 2: The Primal Trust™
Healing Process
By now, you may be wondering how we help people with
their healing journey from a practical level. That is what the
second half of this ebook will dive into.

We’ve provided a good overview of the science, the theories, and

the principles of how healing happens. We’ve shared several tools
to help you get started regulating your own nervous system and to
help unlock self-healing (we have one more tool in the following
pages).

Please also take the time to learn about how we have created a
program to help you every step of the way. Our program has been
carefully curated to give you a specific sequence of education and
tools. The sequence is of utmost importance in this process.

I learned the hard way that not every nervous system tool is
appropriate in the beginning. I also learned that trying to directly
treat my painful wounding and trauma patterns before having a
good understanding of how to use nervous system tools was
disastrous. It is for these reasons that I created a roadmap with
various levels devoted to different focus points. I know that this
work must be done with the greatest of care and the maximum
amount of support.

A do-it-yourself, simplistic home course that focuses on only one

methodology is usually not effective for complex illness issues. The
healing process is multifaceted and requires in-depth education
and training to help you ride the bumps of the journey; it requires
support to avoid pitfalls and customize your practice. I learned what
works and what doesn’t after working with thousands of chronic
illness and stress sufferers over the years.

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 In the upcoming sections, you will learn how we take people
through our process and the various components involved by
combining our academy learning with online live community
support.

I also want to say that I am not the only program out there. Maybe
you don’t need a full program and this ebook and its science and
tools will be enough for you to have the “ah-ha” of how to shift your
symptoms. If so, then writing this ebook for you was worth it! I
encourage everyone to feel into what path resonates for them
and there’s more than one way to self-heal. Understanding the
principles is all one needs to find their own unique way of healing.

For me though, I tried for years to heal alone. It didn’t work. It

wasn’t until I connected with others who understood me and
rewired my brain and nervous system alongside others that I finally
felt like I did belong and I was able to even contribute to others'
healing processes. I hope that our community helps you feel the
same way. And for those that still want a “no-distraction zone” of
learning, we offer that too by simply going through the online
program at your own pace.

Up next... time to learn about what Primal Trust™ is all about!

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 The Primal Trust™ Hero's Journey:
The Roadmap to Transformation
Here’s how we structure our program...

ey
Journ
nw a rds
o

Implement Nervous
System Regulation Tools

Level 1: Regulate™
ir s s
s
F

t: A e Tools Learned:
w aren
- Brain Retraining
Symptoms: - Somatics
Chronic Stress/Anxiety - Polyvagal Mapping
Chronic Illness - Vagus Nerve Toning
Trauma Patterns -Breathwork
Relationship/ -Trauma Release
Attachment Stress
Learn the Science Top-down & Bottom-up
of Nervous System
Dysregulation If there's no trauma history,
aka the Chronic Level 1 may be enough for
Stress Response you to emerge into the
world again!

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 ey
Journ
utwa rds
o

ey
Journ
ds
inwar

Level 3: Liberate

Living True Self

Purpose and Values

The Hero's Journey Committed to being a

Level 2: The Primal self-regulated, powerful,
Trust™ Mentorship compassionate adult that
lives their True Purpose!
- Inner Attachment
Wound Repair
- Trauma Response
Patterning
- True Self Discovery

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 Everyone starts at the Level 1 program: Regulate™ where we
first provide detailed information about the science behind
how chronic stress or trauma can lead to a maladaptive stress
response and many forms of chronic illness. This scientific
understanding can be incredibly empowering and calming in
itself and gets your psyche onboard for implementing the tools
in the later modules.

We then explain and guide you through an approach to

nervous system regulation that integrates top–down (brain to
body) and bottom–up (body to brain) tools, helping the brain
and body come into balance. We use tools to activate the
parasympathetic nervous system, which is the branch of the
autonomic nervous system responsible for rest, relaxation,
digestion, immune modulation, cellular repair, and
detoxification. This results in decreased symptoms and
improved biological function for a myriad of chronic health
challenges, as well as mental and emotional relief.

For those who feel they need more, in Level 2, which we call
The Mentorship, we guide you through the deeper inner work
of addressing emotional wounding, trauma patterns, and
unconscious resistance. This part of the transformational
journey involves befriending, re-patterning, and integrating
the emotional wounding and lifestyle habits that are the
original triggers of your stress response. Level 2 leads you back
to your essence, helping you remember how to live a life you
love, based on your values and passions.

Level 3 - Liberate offers ongoing support and transformation

within the community—the outward part of the hero’s healing
journey where we support you in bringing your transformed
self back into the world.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 77

“I am beyond grateful for the
Regulate™ program. After 45+
years of illness and anxiety, and
20+ years of trying every single
healing modality I could find, I
am finally coming home to myself.
Not only are my symptoms about
90% gone, I have a new, tender,
trusting relationship with myself
and my body. I always had a deep
sense (it felt like a dream) that life
could be so much easier, more
peaceful and enjoyable. And now
I’m finally experiencing that on a
daily basis”
– Candace Moss

Watch her Primal Trust™

Success Story HERE!
 Level 1: Regulate™
Tools to consciously self-regulate your own
biology and activate the parasympathetic
nervous system provide you with the strongest
foundation for your healing journey. When I was
on my own journey of transformation, I gained
deep intuitive understanding of the mind–body
connection in chronic illness and incorporated
tools and principles offered by various thought
leaders and programs. I found myself thinking,
“How can I put this all together in a carefully
designed sequence, while also teaching self-
mastery of these concepts?” That is what we
have done for you with Regulate™—a highly
structured program where we guide you
through the entire journey of becoming a master
of your nervous system.

We released this revolutionary program in fall

2022, after more than three years in the making.
We believe it is the most detailed and
comprehensive nervous system guide out
there today. It includes information about the
science behind chronic illnesses, brain retraining,
polyvagal understanding, vagus nerve toning,
somatic practices, breathwork, functional
neurology exercises, and trauma processing, all
woven together in a streamlined, effective way.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 79

 I have based much of my teaching process on the foundational
principles of both Polyvagal Theory and Cell Danger Response
theory, and the program is taught through a trauma-informed
lens to the best of my current understanding. Awareness of
trauma-induced behaviors and responses is an important part
of the program, as resolving chronic illness involves attending
not only to your brain and vagus nerve function but also to
your inner wounding. We help you to understand why you
might have bumps along the journey of transformation, why
past trauma sometimes surfaces as you start to heal, and what
to do about it. Primal Trust Regulate™ helps you find an innate
sense of safety within your body—regardless of what’s going
on in your environment or what sensations you’re experiencing
at the time. It is this sense of cultivated safety and self-
regulation that helps your symptoms resolve on their own.

Regulate™ comprises seven online modules (30 hours of

watch time in total) that you work through in a self-paced
way. We generally recommend taking 1–2 weeks per module,
which means 2–4 months for the whole program. Modules
are sequentially unlocked at a pace of one module per week,
which is for the important purpose of pacing, integration,
and building nervous system capacity. We provide specific
guidelines on which tool to use when and how your daily
brain–body neural retraining routine can be set up. We offer
many options for customization, emphasizing that you
should focus on the tools that feel good and work well for
you (not a rigid or one-size-fits-all approach).

Each of the modules comes with a downloadable workbook

outlining the key concepts and giving detailed written
instructions for the recommended exercises. In addition, we
offer plenty of live classes to help you implement the program.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 80

 Level 1 Regulate™ Program Outline

Introduction: Overview
Module 1: Understanding the science of stress and how it
relates to chronic health conditions
Module 2: Polyvagal Theory and mapping the nervous system
Module 3: Vagus nerve toning principles and exercises
Module 4: ABC Dimensional Shift© brain retraining (top–down
AND bottom-up approach)
Module 5: Somatic awareness, presencing, and movement
(bottom–up approaches)
Module 6: Trauma healing principles and breathwork
Module 7: Putting it all together and next steps

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 Live Level 1 Integration Classes:
Support To Help You Through
Alongside the pre-recorded material, we regularly run
Regulate™ Integration Classes and Q&As, with myself and
other mentors, which are live and open to everyone in our
community at no extra cost. Integration Classes help to
summarize each module and make sure you have a full
understanding of the material.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 82

 What sort of results have we
seen so far from those who
have taken Regulate™?
Some of our favorite outcomes are:

Those who self-identified as Low

Functionality improved by an
average of 87% after 3 months of
Regulate™
*Indicating you are never too sick to heal!

All participants who used the tools

taught for 6 months improved by
and average of 60%
*The longer you practice the better the outcomes.

Lyme sufferers improved by an

average of 51% in just 3 months
*Yes, even infection can be improved by nervous system
practices alone! In fact, Lyme sufferers had some of the
highest outcomes of all!

Data gathered from entry and exit surveys of members who

completed Level 1 Regulate™.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 83

“Three and a half months ago I
was housebound and often
bedbound. The last 5 days in a row
I've gone on hour long walks. I'm
getting reacquainted with joy and
making friends with my body for
the first time in my life. Thank you
so much Primal Trust™ for helping
me come back home to myself.”
– Fox M
 What Does the Daily Practice Involve
and What is the Time Commitment?
The self-regulation tools taught in Level 1 Regulate™ are
simple to learn and can be applied with a small daily time
commitment. Daily practices for Regulate™ generally include a
combination of brain retraining, exercises to tone the vagus
nerve, somatic presencing and movement, and breathwork.
We recommend 30–60 minutes per day (more if needed) of
applying these tools, ideally split throughout the day to
support nervous system regulation by balancing periods of
activity and rest. We offer suggestions of how these practices
could be integrated into your routine, but there is no rigid daily
regimen, and we encourage you to be creative and tailor the
practices to your needs.

If you decide to go through the Primal Trust™ Level 2

Mentorship, there are short written exercises and journaling
prompts that we recommend you complete to get the most
out of the lessons.

Find Freedom From Chronic Illness & Trauma www.primaltrust.org 85

 “When Will I Start to Feel Better?”
This is a question where a realistic answer is needed, one
without false promises or seductive marketing, as is often the
case with healing programs. The time needed to heal nervous
system dysregulation depends on how deep your set point
is for experiencing resistance to life, your history of trauma
and/or illness, the amount of cellular distress/toxicity
present, and the strength of the support systems in your
life.

That being said, with dedication, we believe everyone can

experience significant improvement over several weeks to
months, regardless of how many limiting factors are at play.
Many people report significant changes in the first few weeks!
But improvement is not tied to doing the tools alone.

Simply doing the practices, but not changing a stress-filled

lifestyle, will likely result in shifts in your overall stress response
but with slower healing.

The practices are meant to help you re-pattern your entire way
of interacting with your life. When this holistic approach is truly
embraced, people often report a drastic reduction in symptoms
(indicating significant changes in brain activity) within 3–6
months of practicing self-regulation neuroplasticity exercises.
See our amazing testimonials and results HERE.

From a practical perspective, plan on taking 2–4 months to

complete the Level 1 Regulate™ program (learning the
tools) and several months to continue practicing the tools.

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 Focus on Transformation Rather
Than Fixing
Unlike many other programs where you “stop” old thought
patterns and behaviors, redirecting to mood elevation and
positivity alone, the foundational brain retraining practice in
Primal Trust™ involves first bringing conscious awareness to your
nervous system activation state, thought patterns and behaviors,
with an attitude of compassion and acceptance; then moving on
to breathwork and presencing/orienting; and finally a choice/
creation element where you learn to rewire and intend to act in a
way aligned with your adult True Self while embracing/
integrating the parts of you that are still wounded or protective.
In other words, you do this work not to simply get rid of
symptoms, but to discover and cultivate a deeper relationship
to your own heart and soul.

We feel that this approach centered on transformation and self-

presencing helps you move away from a perspective of always
needing to fix or control aspects of your life (e.g. symptoms,
relationships). Instead, you become more able to focus on
being present and accepting of your current situation
while creating a life you love that is
guided by your true values,
irrespective of any imperfections
inside you or in your surroundings.

This approach results in a shift

away from fear of symptoms
and instead a focus on living.
This is another key of
self-healing.

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“Physically, when I started this program I
couldn't walk or stand for more than 10 seconds
at a time. These physical restrictions shrunk my
life so dramatically. Emotionally, I felt so
scared, confused, angry, and embarrassed about
what was happening to me. Chronic pain had
become my identity (5 years of dealing with
symptoms). Over the course of Primal Trust™
Level 1 Regulate™ program (only a 2.5-month
period!) I saw slow but steady improvements in
my physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Regulate™ taught me how to be embodied and
made me realize I'd gone my whole life
dissociated from my body. I had profound,
spiritual moments of healing finding my true
self through embodiment. I am 100% physically
healed now but much more importantly, I am
spiritually transformed and on the most
beautiful path that I will continue on for the
rest of my life.”

– Kelly Barber

Watch her Primal Trust™

Success Story HERE!
 Level 2: The Mentorship
I believe it is essential to know what your values
are, who you want to be, and how to honor your
true needs, beyond just being free from
symptoms, to truly heal. It is by losing touch with
these aspects of ourselves that we often get stuck
in a stress response for years, and this is what
leads to illness in the first place.

While some people may already have a strong

sense of these aspects and only need Level 1
Regulate™, the Level 2 Mentorship is offered as a
more advanced program for nervous system
healing and transformation. In the Mentorship, we
help you to heal inner attachment wounding
(known as “parts work”), re-pattern trauma
responses, and experience a deep self-knowing
called Adult Main Personality development. In this
process, the goal is to remodel memories,
emotions, beliefs, and behaviors to integrate the
past with the present in a healthy way that further
regulates your nervous system and also helps
reveal your True Self identity – that person you
want to be when you feel free of limitations.

The Mentorship emphasizes “two-point

awareness” training, to develop both cognitive
flexibility and increase awareness of what you
want and what you don’t want, so you can
consciously choose how to live rather than
unconsciously being ruled by habits.

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 Essentially, the Mentorship teaches you to deeply embody an
innate sense of safety, move past your unconscious resistance
to self-healing and your inner protective responses, and live a
life you love.

We have both a simplified and comprehensive Level 2

program. The 2023 simplified version includes 10 core classes
with Q&As and brain rewiring attunements*. We also offer live
integration classes ongoing and study groups to assist you
through this process.

All of the core classes contain evidence-based neuroscience

and somatic awareness principles. We provide a workbook for
each class, summarizing key concepts and providing
journaling prompts and other written exercises. Level 1 must
be completed before starting Level 2, to ensure that all
participants have a solid understanding of those concepts and
plenty of practice with the tools to regulate their nervous
system. As stated earlier, working through deeper wounding
and trauma without adequate nervous system healing practice
can cause adverse effects. For this reason, we require Level 1 to
be completed before Level 2. It would be best if you planned
on taking at least 3-6 months to work through the Level 2
material.
* In Primal Trust™, a brain rewiring attunement is Cathleen King’s unique mix of
guided meditation, memory repatterning, somatic embodiment, visualization, and
connection with the “Superconscious” field of intelligence. Its purpose is to help
merge neural pathways of resistance with those of your True Self, to help you
consciously choose how you want to live. It’s one of the most powerful aspects of the
Primal Trust™ process that often results in decreasing unconscious resistance to
change and sets our advanced program apart from any other programs out there.

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 Level 2 The Mentorship Outline

Introduction: The Adult Main Personality and Parts Creation

Class 1: Inner Identity Awareness and Judgment
Class 2: True Self Discovery Process
Class 3: Standing in Your Values—There’s Nothing to Fix
Class 4: Daily Structure Sheet
Class 5: Inner Conflict Resolution Process
Class 6: Embracing Your Power of Creation and Vision Quest
Class 7: Divine Neutrality Process and Level 3 Brain Retraining
Class 8: Living Primal Trust™ and Re-patterning the Past
Class 9: Self-Generating Primal Trust™ Frequency—The
Antidote

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“After struggling to heal from chronic Lyme, co-
infections and mold toxicity for 3 years, I was
recommended to "rewire and calm my nervous
system" from a functional doctor of mine. I felt
resistance at first because I wanted the easier fix
where I could take certain supplements or be on a
detox protocol and be done... but little did I know,
this is what would change my life completely. I felt a
new excitement to learn and "attend school,” as I'd
tell my friends, by implementing Primal Trust™ into
my routine each day. It became the highlight of my
day to learn more about why I felt and acted the
way I did and to use the tools and exercises provided
to rewire my nervous system.

I truly feel like I've come back home to myself. The

amount of support and live calls you can get on each
week where you feel a part of a community with
other individuals on the same path as you made me
feel seen. But what I love the most is that Cathleen
King breaks down the program into very easy to
digest bite-sized chunks and you'll have an exact
plan of action of what to do next.”

– Alyssa Shifrel
 Befriending Scared Parts of You
Our Level 2 program helps you to find the inner resourcing to
be able to hold space for the parts of you that have very
charged emotional states. In fact, it is in the capacity to stay
consciously present and engaged whilst at the same time
“feeling the feels” of what emotions and sensations have been
trapped inside of you, that allows trauma healing to occur. This
multifaceted awareness state means the prefrontal cortex
region of your brain is active while also not being “hijacked” by
the limbic survival brain state that is active as well. The
prefrontal state is referred to as an “Adult Main Personality”
brain state, and the activated emotional state is often referred
to as a “wounded part activation.”

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 This is a tool to get a glimpse of that approach and help you
begin the process of what is often referred to as “parts
integration” or “inner attachment repair.”

Now, if this tool feels too challenging, that is normal and simply
means you have to grow your nervous system's capacity to be
with difficult emotional states. If this is the case for you, we
would recommend you practice the first 4 tools or take part in
our Level 1 program for several weeks and then come back to
this tool. For this reason, we have a Level 2 program—so that
we can address trauma patterns AFTER we have good basic
nervous system regulation skills in place. The earlier tools we
taught you in this ebook help you keep your prefrontal cortex
engaged (Adult Main Personality development) while
discharging stress in a more gentle way.

We have also included a link to a guided

audio that is a more expanded version of
this practice. You can listen to this guided
presencing practice HERE.

When you feel flooded by emotion, especially scary feelings or

sensations, this would be a time to try this practice once you
have a basic capacity to self-regulate. IF you are not
ready to “feel the feels” then we recommend
to use one of the earlier tools we
described, or some of the other
tools from our Level 1
Regulate™ program.

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 Think of the whole goal of this practice being the same as a
comforting and self-regulated mother or father holding their
scared child who is afraid of the “monsters under their bed.”

The child feels the monsters are a real threat right now, but the
stable, calm adult knows that what the child needs most is to
be seen, heard, understood and loved without judgment. If
the parent acts just as afraid as the child, then it is impossible
for the child to feel safe. The goal is for the parent to listen and
perceive the true needs of the inner child/wounded parts of
you, rather than sending messages to your inner child and
body that they are broken and need to be fixed. Instead, it's
about witnessing and sending the signals that you are not
afraid and can relax around the emotions or sensations,
which creates a powerful regulation effect in the body.

How to Practice Getting to Know

(Making Neural Connections) with
the Scared Parts of You:
1– Find a sense of present
moment self by first breathing
into your heart, noticing your
feet on the floor, and looking
around the room. State to
yourself “I am here now. I can feel
the feels and be with scared
parts of me. I am willing to just
be with the upset or alarm that
has been with me for some time
now.“

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 2– Look inward now, and find a familiar feeling of fear, upset,
alarm, OR a symptom that scares you or that is uncomfortable.
Be willing to meet it with the part of you that is present and all
grown up. Become the curious observer of this feeling, this
symptom or sensation. This part of you, a healthy inner adult,
has an infinite capacity to hold space for these feelings and
sensations.

3– The key is to not want to fix the feeling, not want to change
the sensations, and not have any resistance. If you can be
willing to just feel it, be with it, listen for 1-5 minutes while
simply breathing and relaxing into your heart or the area of
upset. This presence is your primal trust, and it turns off the
alarm signal in your brain and body over time. This is what self-
regulation is.

4– From an allowing, witnessing, curious state of presence, be

willing to ask about your scared inner child (part of you), or
symptomatic areas of the body... “What needs do you have?
How am I not showing up for myself and my true needs? Or...
what is my body asking me to do to bring in more vitality?”

5– Now do your best to fully RELAX around all the sensations

and emotions that you feel, like you are surrounding the
charged energy with a comforting hug. You might feel both
the pain and the soothing comfort at the same time. That is
called “2-point awareness,” and that is the goal of the inner
attachment repair work that we do in Level 2 of Primal Trust™.

Again, this practice is not about searching for how to fix your
body, how to change someone else, or how to prove you have
been wronged. It’s about witnessing yourself, validating
yourself, and showing up for yourself by meeting more of your
needs. This 2-point connection allows deep suppressed energy
to be released from the body, allowing more self-healing to
occur over time.

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“I am a different person! Not only have I healed
and sent ’my’ autoimmune condition
(Hashimotos) into remission (no more symptoms
or antibodies) but I am also hugely resilient,
happy 95% of the time, and no longer drown in
trauma reactions from cPTSD. I am back
working, traveling, and meeting friends and even
facing challenging contact situations, like meeting
my mother for the first time in 2 years or burying
a loved one. I can handle everything and stay
healthy and with tons of inner peace. My
outcomes from Primal Trust™ after only a
handful of months are: - emotional stability -
symptom-free! - Hashimoto in remission - insulin
resistance reversed - resilience in a thousand ways
- living a normal life - regained capability to
work - saved my relationship - happy 95% of the
time - completely changed biochemistry.”

– Catherine Hyza

Watch her Primal Trust™

Success Story HERE!
 Community is at
the heart of Primal
Trust™, providing
a great deal of
encouragement &
accountability.
Our vibrant community embodies the collective energy of like-
minded individuals who embrace the spirit of our motto,
“together we rise, together we fly.” In all three levels of the
program, we support each other through access to an
engaging forum, community live classes for understanding
and integrating all the tools and academy teachings, peer-led
study groups, mentor-led Experiential Journey Groups and the
possibility of one-on-one coaching with Primal Trust™
mentors.

These opportunities for co-regulation help to ensure that you

feel guided and held with love every step of the journey,
providing a nourishing environment for healing. There is also
ample support for private self-study, if that is your preference.
We invite you to join our ever-growing community!

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Our Community Members...
...Healing and Regulating Together!
 Vibrant Community
The community element of Primal Trust™ is something we
take immense pride in. Every weekday you can turn up online
to join in activities to help self-regulate the nervous system. We
support each other in guided practices using the tools,
movement classes (e.g. dance, qigong), somatic sessions,
sound healing classes, study groups, and an engaging forum.
While many other programs only offer material beyond the
basic lessons at an additional cost, in Primal Trust™ the live
community classes and groups, as well as access to an
extensive video library of recorded sessions, are all part of the
monthly membership.

We have designed our teaching approach to reenforce this

strong sense of community. While we have taken great care to
present the material in a way that is highly professional and
clearly structured, we hope to also convey our own humanity
and lifelong journey of transformation, as well as our love and
compassion for all our community members.

This aspect
really comes
alive in the
Q&A sessions,
along with the
many weekday
offerings,
where
participants
can interact
directly with
the leaders.
Some of the Primal Trust™ leaders!

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 Live Community
Classes You Can
Join During
The Week:

Befriending Ourselves Elevate & Regulate™ Somatic Discovery

Q&As & Brain Rewiring Meet with the Mentors Expansion & Integration
Attunements

Journaling Sound Baths Brain Body Neural Reset

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 Myself and the other leaders share stories and learning
experiences from our own healing journeys and from our lives
today, modeling openness and vulnerability to the community.
In the live classes and Q&As, I openly share real life challenges
that I still face and how I navigate through them, because I
want to be real and show that transformation is a lifelong
process that continues beyond healing the body from
symptoms. I believe these personal interactions are incredibly
supportive and set Primal Trust™ apart from many other
leading programs.

Example of a Community Class Schedule

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 Level 3: Liberate
Level 3 of Primal Trust™ offers ongoing support and
transformation within community for people who
have completed the Level 2 Mentorship. Here, we
support you in bringing your transformed self back
into the world and offer you opportunities to inspire
others and contribute to the Primal Trust™
community.

We take a deeper dive into specific areas of life

that can be challenging, such as navigating
relationships, honoring boundaries, parenting,
transitioning back to work, and developing more
loving relationships with our bodies. We also
take a closer look at quantum healing and sound
healing, two powerful techniques that can
complement the other approaches taught in
Primal Trust™.

In September 2023, we released a new version of

Level 3, with deep-dive containers taught live by
Primal Trust™ mentors, focusing on the ongoing
challenges we face in life. Level 3 is a center of
friendship, experience, and even compassionate
challenge so we can find resourcing together as we
fully embody our True Self nature.

Finally, there is an extensive resource library—over

300 hours of videos to help with brain–body neural
retraining, which is accessible to all Primal Trust™
members.

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 Level 3 Topics:

Relationships
Boundaries
Attachment Wounding and Repair
Deep Dive Exploration into Somatics, Self Inquiry, and Level
2 Concepts (including “Divine Neutrality“)
Going Back To Work/Finding Meaningful Work
Transforming Challenging Emotions: Shame, Unworthiness,
Victimization
Mindfulness and Ongoing Daily Practices to Cultivate
Awareness

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 The Levels Summary

Regulate™—Level 1: Awareness and understanding of the

science behind chronic stress conditions.

Top–down and bottom–up tools to consciously self-regulate

the nervous system and handle stress with greater ease.
Knowledge of Cell Danger Response theory, Polyvagal
Theory, vagus nerve toning, functional neurology exercises,
somatics, breathwork, brain retraining, and basic trauma
patterning awareness.

Plan on taking 2–4 months to complete the Level 1 material.

The Mentorship—Level 2: Inner work of attachment repair,

resolution of trauma wounding and resistance to living a
life you love, and True Self discovery.

Plan on taking 3–6 months to complete the Level 2 material.

Liberate—Level 3: Ongoing transformation and support in

community, with a focus on values-based living and re-
emerging into the world.

Deep-dive experiential containers (each 6–8 weeks) covering

boundaries, relationships, acceptance of your physical body,
going back to work, deepening your mindfulness practices,
and more.

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 HOW DO WE COMPARE TO OTHER
PROGRAMS OUT THERE?

Brain Retraining Program - Primal Trust™ -

What You Get VS What You Get

Brain retraining Brain retraining

Somatic practices

Vagus nerve stimulation

techniques

Breathwork

Trauma Work

Functional Neurology
Exercises

Focus on developing your

True Self Identity

Parts Work/Dissolving
Unconscious Resistance

+ LIVE DAILY NERVOUS SYSTEM REGULATION SUPPORT & STUDY GROUPS

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 What Sets Primal Trust™ Apart
From Other Programs?
Primal Trust™ is not just another online program—
it’s a movement, it’s a community, it’s a frequency.

Comprehensive Platform

I was a wayshower in 2019 by creating a neuroplasticity

program that integrates both top–down and bottom–up
approaches: brain retraining, somatics, polyvagal theory, vagus
nerve toning, inner attachment repair, subconscious
attunements, and breathwork (2019 Creating Calm® and the
2020 Primal Trust™ Mentorship). I then carefully studied the
effects of this combination over three years to create a new
and even more comprehensive, integrative healing model
(Level 1 Regulate™) where the concepts and tools are woven
together seamlessly and with a particular sequencing.

Other leading neuroplasticity programs are all excellent in

what they offer but are often primarily top–down brain
retraining programs with a limited set of tools. I saw this lack of
somatic and trauma processing components and confusion in
the sequencing of tools in the standard neuroplasticity
methodology as a blind spot. My background as a mind–body
physical therapist taught me that healing needs to occur on a
body level, not just in the brain, for full resolution.

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 On the other hand, there are programs that focus on somatic
practices alone, without fully harnessing the power of
neuroplasticity through brain retraining techniques. With
Regulate™ you are basically getting multiple programs in one.
This offers huge savings in time, mental effort, and cost
compared with working through each of these modalities
separately.

Finally, the inner work we guide you through in Levels 2 and 3

make the Primal Trust™ platform even more comprehensive,
covering aspects that are often completely overlooked in other
leading programs.

We believe this is one of the most holistic and effective

programs currently available to help reverse chronic health
conditions.

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 Practicalities

Primal Trust™ is a membership platform, meaning that you

pay monthly and can cancel or resume at any time. There’s also
an annual membership option, which is better value if you plan
to spend a year with us. Our platform is accessible from your
computer or smartphone, so long as you have connection to
the internet.

After completing Level 1 Regulate™, joining Level 2, and

subsequently Level 3, is a personal choice, but offers an
incredible opportunity for growth along your healing journey.
We believe what we offer is both extremely comprehensive
and of great value-for-money given the depth and breadth of
education and support we provide. Some people move
through the entire Level 1 program in 2 months, which means
a lower overall fee compared with other programs that charge
a flat rate.

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Marla Hall was suffering for years with colonic inertia,
fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Epstein-Barr, rheumatoid
arthritis, insomnia, brain fog, and depression before
starting Primal Trust™. This amazing woman was told
that 80% of her colon needed to be removed, and as a
last-ditch effort, she reluctantly tried Primal Trust™ to
heal her nervous system, because her doctor encouraged
her to give it a try. And guess what? It worked! She's off
medications and feeling better than she has in years as
her chronic pain and chronic fatigue are also resolving.
She is a true seeker of freedom and has lifted herself out
of victim programming and taken radical responsibility
for her life and health. Marla describes:

"Just after the 1st month with Primal Trust™ I

could already tell a difference. I had my first
surgery back in 2012 and my chronic illnesses
and autoimmune diseases started in 2015. You
know how it is... every doctor “diagnosing” you
with something. More labels… more
prescriptions. Until Primal Trust™! Know this
is all resolvable by creating new neural
pathways!"

– Marla Hall

Watch her Primal Trust™

Success Story HERE!
 Monthly Membership Details
Billed monthly at $96, cancel anytime

Access to the Academy* and Community

*Regulate™ is drip-released at a rate of one module per week over 7
weeks, as pacing of this material is very important. Watch why.

Online forum to post questions, often answered by

Primal Trust™ mentors and graduates, and engage
in discussions with other members

Recorded videos of lessons and Q&As taught by

Cathleen King, DPT and other experts to watch on
demand

Access to live community classes throughout the

week including 20-min Brain-Body Neural Reset
(BBNR) classes 4 days per week, Elevate &
Regulate™ classes weekly, Befriending Yourself,
Meet with the Mentors, Somatic Discovery, sound
healing, journaling, self-inquiry, and other focus
topics relating to self-healing

Detailed, downloadable workbooks outlining the

material and journaling prompts/exercises

Optional peer-led Study Groups available to join

with other community members

Library of 300+ hours of videos to browse, featuring

brain rewiring attunements, meditations, and
interviews on a range of topics including managing
CFS, sleep disturbance and incremental training

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 Optional Add-On Support:

1-1 Mentoring

Our Primal Trust™ mentors have a wide range

of expertise and are here to support you 1-1
with anything from the program, as well as
establishing your daily practice and
overcoming any stumbling blocks. They are all
experts in brain retraining/neuroplasticity,
nervous system regulation and the Primal
Trust™ material. Mentors are trained and
certified through Primal Trust™ and they
charge a separate hourly rate. You may book
with them on the Primal Trust™ platform after
you join us. Our mentors have dealt with and
resolved numerous issues and conditions from
doing nervous system regulation work
themselves, and all speak from hard-earned
experience.

Small Group Mentoring

Our Primal Trust™ mentors also offer a

reduced price fee compared to 1-1 for small
groups that explore both the core Level 1 & 2
content as well as specific focus group options
such as recovery from mold, digestive healing,
anxiety/fear issues, and more. They meet over 4
to 12 weeks depending on topic.

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What people
are saying...

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 You’ve made it to the end of our
guidebook!
We hope this has given you a thorough introduction to brain-
retraining and nervous system regulation, and the power it
holds to totally transform lives. To close, we‘d like to share
with you our vision and values. Do you resonate?

Primal Trust™ Vision:

To empower people worldwide to embody the frequency of

Primal Trust™ (i.e. inherent safety and trust in life itself), discover
their True Self, break ancestral patterns and societal
programming. We want to teach self-regulation and True Self
discovery to create global healing of trauma, chronic stress, and
illness cycles.

Primal Trust™ Values:

1. TRUST = integrity, honesty, authenticity, safety

2. COLLABORATION = community with common purpose, open
communication, support, respect
3. TRANSFORMATION = change, expansion, awakening, letting
go of old paradigms
4. ABUNDANCE = vitality, prosperity, gratitude for all we have,
able to celebrate the success of others
5. SERVICE = giving back to the world, helping lead/guide
others, giving and receiving and moving beyond scarcity
mindset

Whether you join our community or your path takes you

elsewhere, your journey towards self-regulation, optimal
wellbeing and heart-centered connection could start right here.

With love, Dr. Cathleen King, DPT & the Primal Trust™ Team

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 More About Cathleen King, DPT

Cathleen King is an educator and guide in chronic illness,

trauma, relationship/attachment repair, and inner child
healing. Her background includes doctoral-level education and
training as a physical therapist combined with many years of
coaching others in wellness and lifestyle optimization. She has
been on her own personal journey, navigating through
debilitating illness for nearly two decades and finally found her
freedom.

Cathleen was born into deep trauma patterns and challenging

family dynamics and developed protective bodily stress
responses as a result, with chronic health conditions (Lyme
disease and co-infections, mold illness, chronic fatigue,
dysautonomia, PTSD and more) that caused deep suffering
and ultimately left her mainly housebound and unable to work
and mother her children. She regained her vitality though a
combination of neuroplasticity-based methods, somatic
embodiment practices, an understanding of her unconscious
inner conflicts and trauma patterns, and self-discovery.
Essentially, she learned how to activate her own mind–body
self-healing by cultivating the embodiment
of what she calls “primal trust.”

You can watch Cathleen King speak

about her full story right here.

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 Professional Background

Cathleen graduated with a doctorate degree in physical

therapy from Pacific University in 2003, then moved onto post-
graduate training in orthopedic manual therapy and a
specialization in somatic movement and chronic pain/injury
conditions*. Her professional training also incorporated
principles from Hanna Somatics, The Sarno Method, and other
mind–body connection practices.

Cathleen’s continuing education has focused primarily on

neuroplasticity-based self-healing methods, the
neurophysiology of trauma and attachment, emotional
regulation practices, mindfulness training, memory
reconsolidation, and breathwork. She is a certified PSYCH-K
facilitator and transformational life coach, and she is currently
completing her Holistic Health Practicioner (HHP) training.

*In Primal Trust™, Cathleen King, DPT does not give physical therapy advice or treatment.
Instead, she offers wellness and lifestyle education and practices while using her knowledge as
a physical therapist to weave scientific principles into her approach.

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 Glossary of Terms
Adult Main Personality

A phrase Cathleen King uses to describe the brain state that she
had to create in order to send messages of regulation to her limbic
system. This brain state is your truest identity in the human sense—
the physiological, prefrontal brain state of a healthy inner adult. This
particular brain state is a whole brain state. It’s not a hijacked
emotional state or unconscious parts. It’s a whole brain state where
you become aware of your inner wounded aspects and stress
response, but you are also aware from a rational perspective.
This particular brain state is a physiological brain state of healthy
brain function. It is also the gateway to what Cathleen King believes
is the True Self Essence—our ability to connect with a higher sense
of self. In this whole brain state, our brain firing pattern has access
to higher consciousness, to be able to make decisions in times of
stress, rather than our limbic consciousness.

Amygdala

The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure in the brain's

temporal lobe. It's crucial for processing emotions, especially fear
and danger, and plays a key role in our response to perceive threat.
As part of the limbic system, it regulates reactions to stress and
emotions.

Attunement

Simply a form of rewiring/neuroplasticity called “memory

reconsolidation.” It’s a more effective, efficient form of brain
rewiring. It is self-directed through energetically being present with
two internal experiences at the same time. It works by the principle
of “neurons that fire together, wire together.”

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 The focus is on the deep integration of parts and our main
personality, re-patterning our past perceptions that have negative
emotional associations, and decreasing the unconscious resistance
to living life fully.

Attunements are gentle and easy, and are done by connecting to

the superconscious field of information that we all have access to in
our consciousness. Most importantly, your own higher self is the
one running the show. Cathleen King is simply giving suggestions
and helping you to get into a space of neuroplastic repatterning of
your past.

There are many examples of brain rewiring attunements for free on

the Primal Trust™ YouTube channel.

Autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a division of the peripheral

nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions. It
regulates processes such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate,
pupillary response, and sexual arousal. The ANS has two main
branches: the sympathetic nervous system, which activates the
"fight or flight" response, and the parasympathetic nervous system,
which promotes the "rest and digest" state. Together, these
branches help maintain internal balance and respond to external
stimuli to ensure the body functions optimally.

Bottom–up approach

Involves working with the body's physical processes, such as the

nervous system and physiological responses. We include practices
such as somatics, breathwork, and vagus nerve stimulation in this
category.

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 Brain retraining

Refers to the process of changing neural pathways in the brain

through various techniques and exercises. The underlying idea is
that the brain is adaptable and can be modified to improve not only
its function, but the function of the whole body and nervous
system.

Cell Danger Response

The Cell Danger Response (CDR) is a concept in cellular biology

proposed by Dr. Robert Naviaux. It describes a set of protective
measures and changes that cells undergo in response to stress,
threat, or danger. The idea behind the Cell Danger Response is that
cells, when faced with various stressors such as infection, toxins, or
injury, activate a defense mechanism aimed at promoting survival
and maintaining cellular integrity.

Interoception

The sense that allows an individual to perceive and understand the

internal state of their body. It involves sensing signals and
information from within the body, such as those related to
heartbeat, breathing, hunger, thirst, temperature, and other
physiological processes. Interoception plays a crucial role in
maintaining homeostasis—the body's internal balance—and in
guiding behavior based on internal signals.

Limbic System

A complex network of structures within the brain that is involved in

various functions, including emotions, memory, and certain aspects
of behavior. It is sometimes referred to as the "emotional brain" due
to its central role in emotional responses and regulation. The limbic
system is not a distinct anatomical entity but rather a collection of

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 interconnected brain regions that work together to coordinate
different aspects of emotional and cognitive processing. It includes
the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala.

Maladaptive stress response

Refers to an individual’s habitual, often automatic, chronic stress

response in the brain and nervous system. Maladaptive patterns
develop as a way for the brain and nervous system to cope and
survive with fear, anxiety and trauma, but are not optimal for health
and wellbeing. The result of a maladaptive stress response is a
dysregulated nervous system and overactive limbic system.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity or neural plasticity, is

the ability of the brain to re-organize and adapt by forming new
neural connections throughout life. This process involves the
structural and functional changes in the brain's neural networks,
including the strengthening or weakening of existing synapses
(connections between neurons) and the formation of new
synapses.

Parts Work/Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a therapeutic approach that falls

under the broader category of parts work. Developed by Dr. Richard
Schwartz, IFS is based on the idea that individuals have different
"parts" within themselves, each with its own unique characteristics,
emotions, and functions. These parts often emerge as a way for
individuals to cope with various life experiences and challenges.
The goal of Internal Family Systems therapy is to help individuals
explore, understand, and integrate these different parts in order to
promote inner harmony and well-being.

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 Polyvagal Theory

Polyvagal Theory is a framework developed by Dr. Stephen Porges

that provides insights into the autonomic nervous system (ANS)
and its role in shaping our physiological responses to stress, social
interactions, and emotional experiences. The theory highlights the
evolutionary development of the vagus nerve and its branches,
emphasizing their influence on the body's responses to
environmental cues and the regulation of social engagement.

Key concepts within polyvagal theory include:

1- Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): The autonomic nervous

system is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions,
such as heart rate, respiratory rate, and digestion. It consists of two
main branches: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the
parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

2- Vagus Nerve: The vagus nerve is a major component of the

parasympathetic nervous system and plays a crucial role in
regulating the body's internal organs. The vagus nerve has two
main branches: the ventral vagus (linked to social engagement and
communication) and the dorsal vagus (linked to immobilization
and shutdown responses).

3- Social Engagement System: According to Polyvagal Theory, the

ventral vagus nerve is associated with the social engagement
system. When this system is activated, individuals are more likely to
engage in social interactions, experience feelings of safety, and
display facial expressions that promote connection.

4- Fight-Flight-Freeze Responses: The sympathetic nervous system,

often associated with the fight-or-flight response, is activated in
situations of perceived threat or danger. In contrast, the dorsal
vagus is associated with immobilization and shutdown responses,
such as freezing or dissociation.

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 Polyvagal Theory suggests that the autonomic nervous system
does not operate as a simple on-off switch between the
sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. Instead, it involves a
hierarchical organization where the ventral vagus nerve supports
social engagement and adaptive responses, while the dorsal vagus
and sympathetic systems are recruited in response to increased
levels of perceived threat.

Somatics

Somatics refers to a field of study and practice that involves the

integration of the mind and body in the exploration of personal
experience, movement, and awareness. The term "somatic" comes
from the Greek word "soma," which means the living body in its
wholeness. Somatics encompasses various approaches aimed at
understanding and improving the connection between the body,
mind, and overall well-being.

Key aspects of somatics include:

1- Embodiment: Somatic practices emphasize the experience of

being present in one's body. This involves developing awareness of
bodily sensations, movements, and the felt sense of experience in
the present moment.

2- Mind-Body Connection: Somatics recognizes the

interconnectedness of the mind and body, emphasizing that
mental and emotional states are expressed and experienced
through the body. The way we move, breathe, and hold tension can
reflect our emotional and psychological states.

3- Movement Practices: Many somatic practices incorporate

movement as a means of exploring and improving the mind-body
connection. These may include mindful movement, dance, yoga,
Feldenkrais Method, and other movement therapies.

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 4- Body Awareness and Sensation: Somatic education often involves
cultivating awareness of bodily sensations and exploring the
sensations associated with different movements, postures, and
emotions.

5- Trauma-Informed Approaches: Somatics is frequently applied in

trauma-informed care, recognizing that trauma can be stored in the
body and impact overall well-being. Somatic therapies aim to
address and release tension, stress, and trauma held in the body.

6- Self-Regulation: Somatic practices often include techniques for

self-regulation, helping individuals manage stress, anxiety, and
other emotional states through mindful attention to bodily
sensations and movement.

Top-down approach

Involves working with the higher-level processes of the brain, such

as thoughts, beliefs, and emotions, to bring about calm and feed
this feeling to the rest of the body. Brain retraining, Thought-
Pattern Interrupt, and journaling are some examples.

True Self

Represents the core, unchanging, and compassionate essence of an

individual. It is considered the true and whole self that can provide
guidance and healing to the various parts. We also refer to this in
Level 2 of Primal Trust™ as the Adult Main Personality.

Vagus Nerve

Also known as the tenth cranial nerve, the vagus nerve is a major
component of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). It is the
longest cranial nerve and plays a crucial role in regulating various
bodily functions, including heart rate, digestion, and respiratory
rate. The vagus nerve is a key player in the parasympathetic nervous
system, which is responsible for the "rest and digest" response.

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 Would you like more information
to see if the Primal Trust™
membership is right for you?
You can:

– Book a free discovery call with us by clicking here

– Head to our website to read our detailed FAQs

– Join Cathleen King’s free 3 Day Resiliency Course

– Download our free material:

Lyme Disease Mini Course Brain Retraining,

Webinar and ebook Somatics & Vagus Nerve
Stimulation ebook

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You entered this portal
just to ‘feel better’...
But you emerged focused
on being the TRUE YOU.
You awakened to your true
nature, your values, your inherent
sense of safety and connection.

“And so the hero, both

heartbroken and
heart-awakened, brings
their healing, skills and
understanding to others.”
This hero is you.
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