In this powerful and deeply personal episode of Beyond The Surface, Belinda sits down with Jessica Maguire — physiotherapist turned nervous system educator, trauma-informed practitioner, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Vagus Nerve Program and the Nervous System Certification Course.

Jessica opens up about her profound journey through grief, including the devastating loss of both her brothers, and how trauma shaped her life’s work. Together, Belinda and Jessica explore what real healing looks like — and why it must start in the body, not the mind.

Whether you’re new to nervous system work or deeply immersed in the healing space, this episode is packed with insights, science, and soul.

What We Cover:

• Jessica’s personal story of trauma, grief, and nervous system collapse
• Why trauma can’t be “thought” away — and the body’s central role in healing
• The role of the Vagus Nerve in emotional resilience, stress, and health
• Understanding the four primary stress responses: fight, flight, freeze & fawn
• The difference between stress and chronic stress
• How functional freeze and perfectionism often mask deeper trauma
• Why nervous system flexibility matters more than staying “calm”
• What bottom-up vs. top-down healing really means
• The importance of co-regulation in parenting
• Practical tools to improve vagal tone and regulate in real-time

Connect with Belinda:

Website: www.belindaanderson.com.au

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belinda.anderson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belindaandersonau

Connect with Jessica:

Website: www.jessicamaguire.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/repairing_the_nervous_system

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/repairingthenervoussystem/