After a short summer hiatus, Dr. Don MacDonald returns with a nervous-system-forward reset for the season. We unpack how to balance predictability without stagnation, why co-regulation is your real growth engine, and how to prune distractions so your adjusting gets more focused, consistent, and effective.

What you’ll learn

Why “boring consistency” (predictable, regulated presence) builds trust and retention

How polyvagal theory explains connection vs. “going through the motions”

A fall reset playbook: from unstructured summer to clear routines

Pruning non-essentials to free up focus and volume

Training a new grad/locum while preserving flow, priorities, and connection

Practical co-regulation cues you can use table-side—no scripts

Chapters

0:00 -1:00  Welcome back & why we pause in summer

1:11 -1:20 Predictability vs. stagnation (polyvagal lens)

2:30 -3:50 Seasonal reset: routines, families, and stressors

7:49 - 8:00 Pruning distractions to sharpen adjusting

8:40 - 9:10 Training the new chiropractor & maintaining connection

10:54 - 11:50 September game plan + what’s coming next including "Healing the Chiropractor"

Upcoming on the podcast

Dr. Kelly Holt (New Zealand College of Chiropractic): research & AI in chiropractic

Dr. Peter Amlinger: philosophy + nervous-system-forward practice (Toronto Super Conference)

Links & resources

The Informed Chiropractor Super Conference — Toronto, Dec 6:

Join The Informed Chiropractor mentorship waitlist:

Free “Intro to the Polyvagal Lens” (for Chiropractors):

If this helped, share it with one chiropractor and follow/subscribe for weekly nervous-system-forward insights.