Integration, Neuroplasticity, and the Art of Rewiring
Explicit content warning
05/12/25 • 50 min
“Integration” is a word that gets thrown around in the healing world, but what does it really mean? In this powerful episode of Trauma Rewired, Elisabeth and Jennifer unravel the true meaning of integration, not as a final step, but as the heart of sustained transformation. Without integration, even the most profound somatic release, emotional breakthrough, or psychedelic insight can quickly fade back into old survival patterns. The nervous system, always seeking safety and familiarity, needs time, rhythm, and repetition to embody change.
We explore the neurobiological foundation of integration through the lens of Nneurosomatic Iintelligence. You’ll learn about neuroplasticity, minimum effective dose, how somatic preparation sets the stage for transformation, and the dangers of skipping integration in psychedelic or peak somatic experiences.
Jennifer shares her deeply personal journey through years of NSI, medicine work, and vision quest, offering lived insight into how patterns like unworthiness get rewired over time. Together, we invite you to rethink healing as an ongoing relationship with your nervous system, your intuition, and your body.
Whether you've had a mystical experience, a big emotional release, or a subtle insight in therapy, integration is how you make that change last. If you're navigating your own healing journey, or supporting others in theirs, this episode is essential listening.
Topics discussed in this episode:- Why integration is the process, not the end
- The brain’s need for pattern repetition and safety
- What neuroplasticity is and how NSI uses it for lasting change
- Somatic preparation before peak experiences like psychedelics
- The three measurable types of psychedelic breakthroughs
- Emotional, psychological, mystical, and somatic insights
- Signs your nervous system isn’t ready to receive a breakthrough
- The dangers of bypassing integration
- Practical examples of integrating new beliefs like worthiness
- How NSI supports embodied transformation
Get started training your nervous system with our FREE 2-week offer on the Brain Based Membership site: https://www.rewiretrial.com
Connect with Jennifer https://calendly.com/traumarewired/nsi-1-1-rewire-consultation
Learn more about the Neuro-Somatic Intelligence Coaching program and sign up for the next cohort now! https://www.neurosomaticintelligence.com
Connect with us on social media: @trauma.rewired
Join our Trauma Rewired Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/761101225132846
FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired
Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear.
We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If someone’s life is in danger, immediately call 911.
We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don’t warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It’s very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren’t responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.
We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don’t verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization.
We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.
We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This po...
“Integration” is a word that gets thrown around in the healing world, but what does it really mean? In this powerful episode of Trauma Rewired, Elisabeth and Jennifer unravel the true meaning of integration, not as a final step, but as the heart of sustained transformation. Without integration, even the most profound somatic release, emotional breakthrough, or psychedelic insight can quickly fade back into old survival patterns. The nervous system, always seeking safety and familiarity, needs time, rhythm, and repetition to embody change.
We explore the neurobiological foundation of integration through the lens of Nneurosomatic Iintelligence. You’ll learn about neuroplasticity, minimum effective dose, how somatic preparation sets the stage for transformation, and the dangers of skipping integration in psychedelic or peak somatic experiences.
Jennifer shares her deeply personal journey through years of NSI, medicine work, and vision quest, offering lived insight into how patterns like unworthiness get rewired over time. Together, we invite you to rethink healing as an ongoing relationship with your nervous system, your intuition, and your body.
Whether you've had a mystical experience, a big emotional release, or a subtle insight in therapy, integration is how you make that change last. If you're navigating your own healing journey, or supporting others in theirs, this episode is essential listening.
Topics discussed in this episode:- Why integration is the process, not the end
- The brain’s need for pattern repetition and safety
- What neuroplasticity is and how NSI uses it for lasting change
- Somatic preparation before peak experiences like psychedelics
- The three measurable types of psychedelic breakthroughs
- Emotional, psychological, mystical, and somatic insights
- Signs your nervous system isn’t ready to receive a breakthrough
- The dangers of bypassing integration
- Practical examples of integrating new beliefs like worthiness
- How NSI supports embodied transformation
Get started training your nervous system with our FREE 2-week offer on the Brain Based Membership site: https://www.rewiretrial.com
Connect with Jennifer https://calendly.com/traumarewired/nsi-1-1-rewire-consultation
Learn more about the Neuro-Somatic Intelligence Coaching program and sign up for the next cohort now! https://www.neurosomaticintelligence.com
Connect with us on social media: @trauma.rewired
Join our Trauma Rewired Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/761101225132846
FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired
Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear.
We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If someone’s life is in danger, immediately call 911.
We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don’t warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It’s very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren’t responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.
We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don’t verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization.
We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.
We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This po...
Previous Episode
Addiction Is An Adaptation: The Neurobiology of Survival and Shame
Society has long framed addiction as a character flaw—but at Trauma Rewired, we know that couldn’t be further from the truth. Addiction isn’t about who we are at our core; it’s about how we’ve learned to survive in chaotic, neglectful, or unsupported environments. As humans, we’re always seeking homeostasis. When we don’t have the tools—or the environment—to support that, we adapt in the ways we know how.
Just as trauma and addiction can rewire the brain, healing and regulation can too. In today’s episode, Elisabeth and Jennifer welcome a dear friend and special guest, Brooke Wolfe. Once an addiction recovery coach and now a somatic voice coach, Brooke helps women heal by reclaiming their voice. Together, they share their personal journeys with addiction and recovery, offering powerful reframes that challenge shame-based narratives.
They also explore the neurobiology of addiction—discussing the brain structures involved, the roles of the pain and pleasure systems, and how hormones like oxytocin shape our experience. Brooke reveals how working with the voice can unlock deeper emotional regulation and expand our capacity to feel. She also shares a few simple but transformative practices you won’t want to miss.
We may not be able to change what happened to us, but we can change how we relate to it. The outdated idea that addiction means something is wrong with you must be left behind. Addiction is a biological strategy for relief, not a moral failing—and when we view it through that lens, healing becomes possible.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, this episode is a must-listen. Share it with someone who needs it—and tune in for an inspiring, compassionate conversation.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Addiction as a biological strategy for relief and safety
- How trauma impacts and rewires the brain
- The reward circuitry of the brain and its role in addiction
- The influence of attachment styles and the hormone oxytocin
- How hypersensitivity can disconnect us from our bodies
- Reclaiming connection and community as part of the healing process
- The impact of high ACE scores and early childhood stressors
- Self-sabotage as a form of protection and self-preservation
- Somatic and practical healing practices for addiction
- Using the voice as a powerful tool for regulation and transformation
If you are interested in learning more about Brooke Wolfe and Neuro-Somatic Voice Coaching, visit her website here: https://www.brookewolfe.com/
Get started training your nervous system with our FREE 2-week offer on the Brain Based Membership site: https://www.rewiretrial.com
Connect with us on social media: @trauma.rewired
Join the Trauma Rewired Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/761101225132846
FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired
This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique https://www.podcastboutique.com
Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear.
We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If someone’s life is in danger, immediately call 911.
We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don’t warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It’s very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren’t responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.
We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don’t verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization.
We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audien...
Next Episode
Peak Somatic Experiences, Complex Trauma, and the Nervous System
What happens when your body feels more than your mind can make sense of?In this deeply grounding episode of Trauma Rewired, Elisabeth and Jennifer open up a necessary and often overlooked conversation about peak somatic experiences—powerful moments of healing that happen in the body, not the mind.
Whether you’re drawn to psychedelics, breathwork, or trauma release exercises, this episode unpacks the neurobiological, emotional, and spiritual layers of somatic breakthroughs. But more importantly, it’s a cautionary tale: for those with chronic dissociation or unresolved trauma, these experiences can be overwhelming or even destabilizing if approached without preparation, interoceptive training, and long-term integration.
Through the lens of Neurosomatic Intelligence (NSI), you’ll learn how peak somatic experiences interact with neuroplasticity, the default mode network, implicit memory, and emotional patterning. Jennifer and Elisabeth share their personal journeys and offer practical tools to build capacity, safety, and support before—and after—these experiences.
Whether you’ve already walked this path or are considering it, this episode will help you explore the power and risks of embodiment with reverence, curiosity, and care.
Topics discussed in this episode:- What defines a peak somatic experience through the NSI lens
- The science behind psychedelics, neuroplasticity, and the 5HT2A receptor
- Why preparation is more than a checklist—it’s a relationship with your body
- The role of the default mode network in identity, emotion, and trauma
- Emotional breakthroughs: what they are and what they’re not
- How dissociation impacts your ability to benefit from embodiment work
- Why "purging" trauma isn't the goal—and what to do instead
- The risks of somatic experiences for trauma survivors without proper resourcing
- Real-life stories of dysregulation and recovery after peak experiences
- Building interoceptive awareness and emotional processing capacity
- Why integration is the true work of healing—not the experience itself
- Rethinking psychedelics as collective healing, not just personal growth
Get started training your nervous system with our FREE 2-week offer on the Brain Based Membership site: https://www.rewiretrial.com
Connect with us on social media: @trauma.rewired
Join our Trauma Rewired Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/761101225132846
FREE 1 Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs from Athletic Greens when you use my exclusive offer: https://www.drinkag1.com/rewired
Trauma Rewired podcast is intended to educate and inform but does not constitute medical, psychological or other professional advice or services. Always consult a qualified medical professional about your specific circumstances before making any decisions based on what you hear.
We share our experiences, explore trauma, physical reactions, mental health and disease. If you become distressed by our content, please stop listening and seek professional support when needed. Do not continue to listen if the conversations are having a negative impact on your health and well-being.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or in mental health crisis and you are in the United States you can 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If someone’s life is in danger, immediately call 911.
We do our best to stay current in research, but older episodes are always available. We don’t warrant or guarantee that this podcast contains complete, accurate or up-to-date information. It’s very important to talk to a medical professional about your individual needs, as we aren’t responsible for any actions you take based on the information you hear in this podcast.
We invite guests onto the podcast. Please note that we don’t verify the accuracy of their statements. Our organization does not endorse third-party content and the views of our guests do not necessarily represent the views of our organization.
We talk about general neuro-science and nervous system health, but you are unique. These are conversations for a wide audience. They are general recommendations and you are always advised to seek personal care for your unique outputs, trauma and needs.
We are not doctors or licensed medical professionals. We are certified neuro-somatic practitioners and nervous system health/embodiment coaches. We are not your doctor or medical professional and do not know you and your unique nervous system. This podcast is not a replacement for working with a professional.
The BrainBased.com site and Rewiretrail.com is a membership site for general nervous system hea...
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