How Nervous System Regulation Can End Chronic Suffering with Beth Winkler
Tue Feb 03 2026
Are you living in a state of constant "fight or flight"? For many, chronic pain, headaches, and burnout aren't just physical injuries—they are signs of a nervous system that has forgotten how to feel safe. In this episode of the Will Power Podcast, we sit down with Beth Winkler, a Physical Therapist with 30 years of experience and a private practice owner, who shares her personal journey from 12 years of chronic pain to total recovery through brain retraining.
Beth breaks down the emerging science of neuroplasticity and nervous system regulation, explaining why we can’t "think" our way out of trauma and why "microdosing safety" is the key to lasting health. Whether you are a leader looking to show up stronger for your clients or someone battling persistent symptoms, this conversation offers a roadmap to getting back in the driver’s seat of your own healing.
Key Takeaways:
The "Stress Bucket" Theory: Understand how physical injuries, overdue bills, and past traumas all fill the same neurological bucket, eventually leading to symptoms like back pain or panic attacks.Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Healing: Why talking about trauma isn't enough; we must use the body as a "translator" to communicate safety to the brain’s fear center.Neuroplasticity – The Science of Hope: If the brain can learn a pain pattern, it can unlearn it. Beth shares the fascinating "Reverse Bicycle" analogy to explain how neural pathways work.Microdosing Safety: Why 5 minutes of regulation 3–5 times a day is more effective than an hour-long session once a week.The Power of Processing: What "feeling your emotions" actually looks like in practice and how it dissipates physical symptoms in 60–90 seconds.Resources Mentioned:
Book: The Way Out by Alan GordonBook: The Way to Integrity by Martha BeckResearch: Dr. John Sarno’s work on Mind-Body ConnectionPodcast: Bialik Breakdown (Mayim Bialik)Podcast: The School of Greatness (Lewis Howes)Connect with Beth Winkler:
Website: Magnolia Physical TherapyYouTube: Search "Beth Winkler" for educational tools and guided meditations.Send us a text
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Are you living in a state of constant "fight or flight"? For many, chronic pain, headaches, and burnout aren't just physical injuries—they are signs of a nervous system that has forgotten how to feel safe. In this episode of the Will Power Podcast, we sit down with Beth Winkler, a Physical Therapist with 30 years of experience and a private practice owner, who shares her personal journey from 12 years of chronic pain to total recovery through brain retraining. Beth breaks down the emerging science of neuroplasticity and nervous system regulation, explaining why we can’t "think" our way out of trauma and why "microdosing safety" is the key to lasting health. Whether you are a leader looking to show up stronger for your clients or someone battling persistent symptoms, this conversation offers a roadmap to getting back in the driver’s seat of your own healing. Key Takeaways: The "Stress Bucket" Theory: Understand how physical injuries, overdue bills, and past traumas all fill the same neurological bucket, eventually leading to symptoms like back pain or panic attacks.Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Healing: Why talking about trauma isn't enough; we must use the body as a "translator" to communicate safety to the brain’s fear center.Neuroplasticity – The Science of Hope: If the brain can learn a pain pattern, it can unlearn it. Beth shares the fascinating "Reverse Bicycle" analogy to explain how neural pathways work.Microdosing Safety: Why 5 minutes of regulation 3–5 times a day is more effective than an hour-long session once a week.The Power of Processing: What "feeling your emotions" actually looks like in practice and how it dissipates physical symptoms in 60–90 seconds.Resources Mentioned: Book: The Way Out by Alan GordonBook: The Way to Integrity by Martha BeckResearch: Dr. John Sarno’s work on Mind-Body ConnectionPodcast: Bialik Breakdown (Mayim Bialik)Podcast: The School of Greatness (Lewis Howes)Connect with Beth Winkler: Website: Magnolia Physical TherapyYouTube: Search "Beth Winkler" for educational tools and guided meditations.Send us a text Virtual Rockstars specialize in helping support or replace all non-clinical roles. Learn how a Virtual Rockstar can help scale your physical therapy practice. Subscribe here to our completely free Stress-Free PT Newsletter for your weekly dose of joy.