Welcome to the Retrain Your Brain podcast where you will find a neuroscience-based approach to help you heal from chronic illness and complex trauma (without the expensive and restrictive protocols!). My mission is to teach you real, effective strategies like brain retraining, somatic exercises, and trauma healing tools to help you heal at the deepest level - no more surface-level temporary fixes!

About Your Host:

Katie Nickerson is a trauma-informed brain retraining coach who recovered from severe chronic illness including ME/CFS, CIRS, mold, chemical and food sensitivites, SIBO, MCAS and more through the power of neuroplasticity. After her recovery, Katie has dedicated herself to helping others understand and implement brain retraining techniques to address their own chronic symptoms.

Connect With Katie:

• Website: https://abodehealingco.com/
• Instagram: @abodehealingco 
• Email: hello@abodehealingco.com

Coming Up Next: 

Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss our first full episode releasing on Tuesday, March 11! 

Resources:

Coaching: Looking for 1-1 support to guide you through the brain retraining journey? Apply for coaching and schedule your free Discovery Call to see if you’re a good fit for coaching with Katie

New to brain retraining? Watch this free training to understand the science of chronic symptoms and the basics of brain retraining.

4 Steps to Retrain Your Brain Around Mold - Free Guide! Download it HERE! 

My Free Somatic Healing Cheat Sheet: Download it HERE! 

Healing Mold Sensitivity Course: https://abodehealingco.com/healingfrommold

 

You are already training your brain every single day—but are you choosing the program?

In this episode I explain the surprising truth about how your daily habits are literally rewiring your brain for either stress or peace. Without even realizing it, many of us are unintentionally programming our minds to stay in fight-or-flight mode!

I walk you through 5 common habits you might be doing right now that are training your brain for anxiety and stress. But don't worry! For each stress trigger, I share a simple, practical switch you can make today to start retraining your brain for calm instead.

Discover how your amygdala (your brain's threat detector) gets confused by modern life and learn powerful techniques to help it become less reactive and more resilient!

Whether you're dealing with chronic stress or simply want to boost your overall wellbeing, this episode offers game-changing insights that will transform how you feel every day.

Stay tuned until the end—there’s a surprising tip that’s super easy to implement! . .

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:

💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE  🧠 New to brain retraining and want to understand more, watch my FREE 30 minute training that explains what brain retraining is and why it heals chronic illness:  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/641a42cadc3789176b6944d0

👉Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco

👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and Interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here: https://abodehealingco.com/apply Visit us at abodehealingco.com for more information and resources to help you on your way.

💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at hello@abodehealingco.com. I love hearing from you!

 

Welcome to the first episode of the Retrain Your Brain Podcast. I'm your host, Katie Nickerson, a trauma-informed brain retraining coach! I’m kicking things off today by diving into my own story of navigating a decade of complex chronic illness and finding incredible healing through brain retraining. This isn't just about my recovery; it's about showing you the incredible power your brain holds and how you can harness it to transform your health and life.

In this episode I'm peeling back the curtain on my journey through debilitating chronic pain, severe chronic fatigue, CIRS, MCS, food sensitivities, MCAS, and more!  I share my process of searching for answers, the wild treatments that I tried (that didn’t work), and how I FINALLY healed! 

If you're feeling stuck with chronic health issues or traditional treatments have let you down, there's hope! Tune in now for a dose of encouragement and science-backed solutions! 

. DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:

🧠New to brain retraining and want to understand more, watch my FREE 30 minute training that explains what brain retraining is and why it heals chronic illness:  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/641a42cadc3789176b6944d0

👉Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco 

👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and Interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here: https://abodehealingco.com/apply

Visit us at abodehealingco.com for more information and resources to help you on your way.

💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at hello@abodehealingco.com. I love hearing from you!

Ready to elevate your brain retraining skills so that you can see even better results? Maybe you’re feeling stuck, frustrated, or like you’re missing something… even though you’re doing “all the right things.”

In this episode, I’m sharing 7 surprising tips that most brain retrainers aren’t aware of—insights that can change the way you approach your practice and help you start seeing the progress you’ve been dreaming of. These are the exact strategies I use with my private clients to help them move past plateaus and get real results.

If your brain retraining practice feels stale, confusing, or frustrating, this episode will give you small tweaks to make that will change everything! 

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:

💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE 👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and Interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here:

🧠 New to brain retraining and want to understand more, watch my FREE 30 minute training that explains what brain retraining is and why it heals chronic illness:  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/641a42cadc3789176b6944d0

👉Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco

Visit us at abodehealingco.com for more information and resources to help you on your way.

💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at hello@abodehealingco.com. I love hearing from you!

Do you feel like retraining your brain is a monumental task? Are you struggling to fit your rewiring practices into your busy schedule? This episode is here to show you that significant progress can be made in just 15 minutes! 

Whether you're overwhelmed by the idea of lengthy sessions or simply don’t know where to start, these 3 short, powerful practices are designed for you. I’m teaching you the exact practices you need to retrain your brain in 15 minutes a day and by the end of this episode you’ll be ready to start rewiring your brain for health! 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Efficient Brain Retraining Techniques: Quick and impactful methods to retrain your brain that fit into any schedule.
• Daily Integration Tips: How to incorporate brain retraining into your day.
• Real-Life Success Stories: Results from my clients and my own life! 

 

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:

💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE🧠 New to brain retraining and want to understand more, watch my FREE 30 minute training that explains what brain retraining is and why it heals chronic illness:  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/641a42cadc3789176b6944d0

👉Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco

👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and Interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here: https://abodehealingco.com/applyVisit us at abodehealingco.com for more information and resources to help you on your way.

💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at hello@abodehealingco.com. I love hearing from you!

Struggling to stay consistent with your brain retraining practice? Feeling unmotivated and ALLLL the resistance? Honey, you are NOT alone! 

If you’ve ever thought, "I know brain retraining works, so why the poop can’t I just make myself do it?!" — this episode is for you.

In this episode, we’re talking all about resistance — why it shows up, what it really means, and how to move through it with compassion and clarity. Whether you’re ghosting your practice altogether or just struggling to stay consistent, I’ll walk you through practical shifts and creative strategies that will get your brain on board and enable you start showing up in a way that feels doable and aligned! Wahoo! 

This episode is especially for the high achiever, the perfectionist, or the recovering overthinker (hi, I see you!) who wants to retrain their brain without burning out.

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE 🧠 New to brain retraining and want to understand more? Watch my FREE 30-minute training that explains what brain retraining is and why it heals chronic illness! 👉Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco 👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here: https://abodehealingco.com/apply Visit us at abodehealingco.com for more information and resources to help you on your way. 💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at hello@abodehealingco.com. I love hearing from you!

You want to be consistent with your brain retraining practice… but somehow, resistance keeps getting in the way. Sound familiar? In this episode, we’re diving into 3 deeper reasons you might be struggling to follow through—and what to do about it. You’ll learn how "protective parts" (from an IFS perspective), demand avoidance, and the nervous system freeze state can all contribute to lowering motivation and increasing resistance … and how to move through it gently and effectively. This episode is packed with practical tools, mindset shifts, and compassion-centered strategies to help you support your brain and build momentum—without forcing, pushing, or shaming yourself. If you’ve ever felt like you just can’t make yourself do the thing (even though you know it helps), this one’s for you. 🎧 This is Part 2 of a 2-part series on resistance. Make sure to check out Episode 5 first if you haven’t already! DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE 🧠 New to brain retraining and want to understand more? Watch my FREE 30-minute training on what brain retraining is and why it works: 👉 Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco 👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here: https://abodehealingco.com/apply Visit us at abodehealingco.com for more resources to help you on your journey. 💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at hello@abodehealingco.com—I’d love to hear from you!

What really causes chronic illness? What if the true root of chronic illness isn’t what you’ve been told?  In this episode of the Retrain Your Brain podcast, I’m breaking down one of the most misunderstood topics in the chronic illness world: what actually causes illness to begin—and why it keeps going long after the original trigger is gone. We’ll explore how the brain and body become primed for illness, the role of the Cell Danger Response, and how neuroscience is reshaping the way we think about healing. If you’ve ever wondered how you got here (or how to get out), this episode will give you a powerful new lens to view your symptoms—and your recovery. Whether you’re just beginning your healing journey or have tried everything under the sun, this episode offers clarity, validation, and hope. 🎧 Press play for a deep dive you won’t hear anywhere else. DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES

🎧 EP 3 // How to Retrain Your Brain FOR FREE in 15 Minutes a Day! 💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my free 30-min training: WATCH HERE 📲 Follow along on Instagram: @abodehealingco 💻 Already brain retraining and looking for more support? Apply for 1-1 coaching HERE!  📩 Questions or feedback? Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

📣 The Flare Fix Kit is now available! Symptom flares can feel like a punch to the gut, especially when you’ve been doing everything “right.” They can make you question your progress, your body, and your entire healing journey. But what if a flare didn’t mean you were failing? What if it was actually a sign that your brain is learning something new? In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly what to do (and what not to do) during a flare. You’ll learn how to shift your response in a way that keeps you out of fear loops and actually moves your healing forward…even when things feel like they’re getting worse. This is for you if you’ve ever felt blindsided by a flare, stuck in overanalysis, or afraid that your symptoms mean you’ve done something wrong.

💡 This episode will help you:

• Break the spiral of panic, fear, and overthinking during flares
• Understand why flares happen (and why they don’t mean failure)
• Learn a new way to respond that builds resilience and safety in the brain
• Feel empowered, even in the messy moments of healing

It’s time to stop letting flares derail your progress and start using them as fuel for transformation. DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: The Flare Fix Kit 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET ✨ Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE. 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🗓 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*(*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing everything right—so why am I not getting better?” this episode is for you.

This week, we’re talking about the how behind your healing—not just what you’re doing, but the beliefs, thoughts, and emotions driving it. Because those things? They change your biology. I’m breaking down 3 surprisingly powerful mindset shifts that aren’t just inspiring—they’re biologically effective. We’ll explore how the way you think about healing sends real messages of safety or danger to your nervous system, resulting in real physical changes.

If you feel stuck in survival mode no matter how consistent you are with your tools, this episode will help you shift the energy behind your practice in a way your brain actually understands.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why your thoughts and beliefs create real changes in your body
• What the placebo and nocebo effects can teach us about the mind-body connection
• Three mindsets that sabotage healing (and how to shift them)
• How to practice these shifts in real life without toxic positivity or bypassing your experience

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE

 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET     ✨Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE. 🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*       (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

Ever wonder what recovery really looks like after mold sensitivity and chronic illness? Am I really fully recovered? In this episode, I’m sharing the truth - the messy, beautiful, incremental truth - about what life looks like now after retraining my brain around mold. From my nervous system’s progress to the chaos of 30-person family beach trips, you’ll hear both the practical steps that helped me heal and the small moments that remind me just how far I’ve come.

We’ll talk about:

• What “fully recovered” even means (and why that question can be tricky)
• How to see results with incremental training: 3 key pieces of an effective plan 
• What shifted when I started getting real results (hint: coaching helped!)
• How I now travel, eat/drink whatever I want, stay up ‘til 3AM, and enjoy family chaos without crashing

If you’re in the thick of it, I hope this reminds you that healing is possible and it’s often closer than it feels! 

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: ✨Healing Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 

💻 Healing Mold Sensitivity COURSE

🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE

 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET   🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE. 🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*       (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

If your to-do list is never-ending, your emotions are living just under the surface, and your nervous system is hanging on by a thread…this one’s for you.

In this episode, I’m sharing five simple, realistic tools that have brought me calm and stability through some very stressful seasons. You’ll hear the exact things I come back to when life feels like too much.

🧠 This episode is especially for the high-achievers, eldest daughters, and anyone navigating chronic stress, unexpected responsibilities, or just “extra life-y” seasons. You’ll learn how to:

• Interrupt the “do-it-all-then-crash” cycle
• Support your body and brain with low-bar, high-impact habits
• Validate your emotions and build emotional resilience
• Use brain retraining tools even when you’re in survival mode

Whether you’re going through a hard week or a hard season, I hope these tips feel like a deep breath and a soft place to land.

PS: If you’re a current brain retrainer, don’t forget to take the short survey linked here to help shape future offers - and be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card!

Mentioned in this episode: Fundamental Needs Workbook: https://chelsijo.co/fundamentalneedsworkbook

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:

🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET   ✨Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE. 🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.* (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email Katie: hello@abodehealingco.com

Whether your bedtime routine is a 10-step wellness routine or just falling into bed and scrolling TikTok, this episode will show you a simpler (and more effective) way to support real rest.

I’m sharing an easy, science-backed nighttime routine you can do in under 10 minutes - even from bed. It’s designed to shift your brain and body into a healing state before you fall asleep, so you wake up with more energy, better mood, and deeper rest.

This isn’t your typical checklist of supplements, skincare, and red light therapy. You’ll learn how to use your body, emotions, and brain retraining principles to help your nervous system relax, release stress, and support deep, restorative sleep.

Whether you’re dealing with chronic illness, burnout, or just need better sleep - this is a powerful practice that’s easy to start tonight.

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET   ✨Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE. 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🗓 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*       (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

Busy retraining but feeling frustrated? These 8 “gamechangers” might be what you’re missing.

Are you practicing brain retraining but feel stuck, overwhelmed, or confused about why you’re not seeing the progress you hoped for? You’re not alone - and this episode is exactly what you need!

In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the 8 “needle movers” that can help you simplify your healing journey, get unstuck, and feel confident moving forward. These aren’t just tips - they’re the exact strategies I’ve seen work time and time again for myself and my clients.

By the end, you’ll know which one or two to focus on so you can start seeing momentum in your retraining journey without the pressure, confusion, or burnout. And don’t worry—you don’t have to master all eight to make progress.

Inside this episode, I share:

• The #1 mindset that can make or break your progress
• A simple tool that interrupts the fear-symptom loop in real time
• How “going smaller and slower” actually speeds up healing
• Why perfectionism is slowing you down (and what to do instead)
• The surprising way compassion rewires your brain faster than criticism
• What it means to discover the positive intent behind symptoms
• How outcome independence creates lasting change

And because I want to make this easy for you, I’ve created a free PDF with all 8 gamechangers laid out for you to keep handy as you retrain. Grab it in the link below.

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 📄 8 Gamechangers FREE GUIDE 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET     ✨Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE. 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🗓 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*       (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

 

Does your brain retraining practice ever feel… way too complicated? Like you’re drowning in tools, second-guessing every choice, or paralyzed by decision fatigue? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing why simplicity is the secret ingredient to real progress - and how stripping things down can actually help you rewire faster.

We’ll talk about how overcomplicating your practice (or your healing journey in general) can keep you stuck, why your brain thrives on clarity and focus, and how to set up your practice in a way that feels doable and sustainable. 

You’ll walk away with a new lens for your practice: one that makes it easier to actually show up, retrain in the moment, and see results…all without burning yourself out.

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET   ✨Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE. 🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*       (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

Political polarization isn’t just about ideology - it’s deeply tied to our nervous systems. When your brain perceives threat, it slips into survival mode, shutting down critical thinking and pushing you into black-and-white categories: us vs. them, safe vs. unsafe, right vs. wrong. That instinct once kept our ancestors alive, but today it can fuel division by making it harder to see nuance, connect, or think critically.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through the neuroscience behind political polarization and explain why every strong opinion is NOT coming from reasoned thought. Often, it’s your primal brain (your limbic system and brainstem) driving the narrative. You’ll learn how to recognize when you’re caught in that survival loop, why your nervous system shapes the way you interpret political conflict, and most importantly, how to shift back into a calmer state that allows for empathy, curiosity, and true critical thinking.

Whether politics leaves you stressed, angry, or just confused, this conversation will help you step outside of binary, “us vs. them” thinking - and see how much power you have to change the way you engage.

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:

🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE

💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET  

✨ Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE

🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE.

🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*

      (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future)

📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco

🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com

📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

What would you do if your body reacted to almost every building you walked into? In this episode, Katie shares the deeply personal story behind her years of living with mold toxicity - also known as CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome).

She opens up about her official diagnosis, the extensive testing, and the long, exhausting journey through the Shoemaker-style treatment protocols that promised recovery but left her feeling worse. Katie reflects on the physical, emotional, and financial toll of doing “everything right,” and reveals the crucial turning point that changed her understanding of chronic illness forever.

If you’ve ever wondered whether mold toxicity can truly be healed - or felt trapped in a cycle of detoxes, avoidance, and fear - this episode will give you perspective, hope, and the insight she wishes she’d had from the start.

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE

💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET 

✨Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE

🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE.

🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*       (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future)

📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco

🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com

📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

 

If you’ve ever felt trapped by mold sensitivity - reacting to the tiniest exposure, rearranging your entire life to avoid it, and wondering if you’ll ever feel safe again - this episode is for you.

In this continuation of last week’s story, I’m sharing how I used brain retraining to rewire my brain’s response to mold and stop those extreme reactions for good. You’ll hear exactly what that process looked like, the turning point that shifted everything (yes, it happened at Disney World 🏰), and the 4-step framework I used to get from constant fear to complete freedom.

You’ll learn: ✨ The real reason your brain keeps overreacting to mold ✨ How to reframe your story about mold so healing can finally happen ✨ The importance of building new, safe associations with mold ✨ How to identify and interrupt the protective patterns keeping you stuck ✨ What incremental training really looks like (and how to do it safely)

Whether you’re early in your retraining journey or deep in incremental training, this episode will help you see what’s possible and encourage you to keep going!

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:

 🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE

 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET

✨ Retrain Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE

🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE

🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*       (*For those who have already gone through a retraining program)

📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco

🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com

📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

If the brain retraining process has felt like an emotional roller coaster, this episode will help you finally make sense of why. In today’s conversation, Katie walks you through the emotional stages of change that almost everyone experiences while retraining their brain.

You’ll learn why that early hope often gives way to frustration, doubt, or despair… why those phases don’t mean you’re doing anything wrong… and how understanding where you are in the process can help your nervous system feel safer, steadier, and more resilient. This episode is designed to orient you (contextually and emotionally), so you can stop panicking about where you are and start trusting the process again.

What This Episode Covers:

• The Emotional Cycle of Change and how it applies specifically to brain retraining
• Why uninformed optimism is normal - and why it never lasts
• The truth about the “descent” and the valley of despair (and why most people quit here)
• How symptoms, flares, doubt, and resistance often signal progress, not failure
• The difference between getting stuck vs. moving through hard phases
• What informed optimism actually looks like in real healing
• How safety, repetition, and support help you reach embodied change
• Why long-term support matters - especially when motivation disappears

This episode is your reminder that nothing has gone wrong and you’re likely right where you’re supposed to be.

 

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 

SUPPORT:

🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*       (*For those who have already gone through a retraining program)

🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE

 FREE RESOURCES:

 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET

✨ Retrain Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE

🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE

 

CONTACT:

📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco

🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com

📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

 

📣 The Flare Fix Kit is now available! If you’ve ever celebrated a huge win in your healing… only to have a flare knock the wind right out of you right after, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. Today I’m continuing the story from Episode 17 and sharing what happened when I left my breakthrough-filled Florida trip and flew straight into… a full-blown flare in my childhood home.

In this episode, I walk you through exactly how I navigated the fear, confusion, and “oh no, is this all falling apart?” spiral - and how that flare actually became the moment my brain completed the rewiring process. I’ll break down why it happened, how I stabilized my system, the incremental steps I took, and why this was the last time I ever experienced a mold reaction.

If you’ve taken “one step forward and two steps back” and are worried it means you’re failing… this episode will give you hope, clarity, and a roadmap to keep going.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why returning symptoms don’t automatically mean danger

• How I used safety, rest, and incremental exposure to retrain my brain

• The difference between compassionate pacing vs. fear-based avoidance

• Why meaning-making matters more than the symptoms themselves

• Objective markers (VCS tests + labs) that confirmed my brain and body were truly healing
• What I hope you take away if you’re in the messy middle right now

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: The Flare Fix Kit

FREE RESOURCES:

 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET

✨ Retrain Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE

🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE

 

SUPPORT:

🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*       (*For those who have already gone through a retraining program)

🗓 Join the group coaching waitlistHERE

 

CONTACT:

📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco

🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com

📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

📣 The Flare Fix Kit is now available! If you've ever found yourself in the middle of a symptom flare thinking, "I know I have tools for this... but I can't remember what they are," or, “I just can’t do it,” this episode is for you.

One of the most frustrating parts of the healing journey is that the moments when you need support the most are often the moments when accessing that support feels impossible.

In this episode, I'm breaking down what's actually happening in the brain during a flare, why your usual brain retraining tools can suddenly feel inaccessible, and why this experience isn't a sign that you're failing or doing something wrong.

You'll learn:

• Why symptom flares often make it harder to think clearly and remember what to do
• What's happening in the brain and nervous system when your symptoms spike
• The role of the prefrontal cortex and why it takes a backseat during stress
• Why self-criticism, overanalyzing, and "fix-it mode" can accidentally keep the flare going
• How shame and fear can become part of the symptom loop
• Why struggling during a flare is a normal neurobiological response, not a personal failure
• The key shift that helps you move through flares more effectively

This episode lays the foundation for next week's conversation, where I'll walk you through exactly what to do during a flare and introduce a simple framework for moving through symptom spikes with more ease and confidence.

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: The INNER SAFETY REWIRE course The FLARE FIX KIT 

FREE RESOURCES:

 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET

✨ Retrain Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE

🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE

SUPPORT:

🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*       (*For those who have already gone through a retraining program)

🗓 Join the group coaching waitlistHERE

 

CONTACT:

📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco

🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com

📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

 

"I've done the brain retraining programs. I learned the tools. But what do I actually do when I'm in the middle of a flare?"

If you've ever felt confused about that, this episode is for you! 

There IS something you can do in the middle of a flare-up that will help calm it. There's a roadmap for moving through it, faster and with less fear. And in this episode, I'm walking you through exactly what it is.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The 6 Steps to Calming a Symptom Flare-Up Faster, and the order they actually work in
• Why fighting a flare is the exact same losing strategy as fighting a rip current
• The three stages every flare moves through, and what to do in each one
• A way to make this roadmap accessible when you need it, not just when you're calm enough to remember it

Here's the truth: knowing the steps isn't the same as having access to them when it matters. That gap is exactly why I created the Flare Fix Kit! And it’s available through June 23 for HALF PRICE! Grab it HERE! 

DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:

📣The FLARE FIX KIT is now available! 

The INNER SAFETY REWIRE course FREE RESOURCES:

 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET

✨ Retrain Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE

🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE

 

SUPPORT:

🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*       (*For those who have already gone through a retraining program)

🗓 Join the group coaching waitlistHERE

CONTACT:

📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco

🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com

📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com