In this week’s episode, we welcome Jennifer Donovan, founder of Whole Body Healing and a trauma therapist turned holistic health expert. Jennifer shares how her personal battle with chronic illness led her to discover the powerful connection between nutrition, nervous system regulation, and mental health.

Here’s what we’ll cover in the video:

From Trauma Therapist to Holistic Healer: How Jennifer transitioned from traditional therapy to a full-body approach, integrating gut health and ancestral nutrition.

Food & Mental Health: Why nutritional deficiencies, gut imbalances, and metabolic dysfunction can masquerade as mental health issues—and how diet can play a key role in recovery.

The Befriending Method: Why viewing your body as a partner (instead of an enemy) is essential for healing chronic illness and emotional struggles.

Keto & Nervous System Regulation: How a bio-individual approach to keto and whole-food nutrition can help with depression, anxiety, and even severe neurological conditions.

Overcoming Binge Eating & Stress Eating: The link between sensory input, grounding techniques, and why binge eating often stems from more than just willpower.

Practical Steps to Heal: Jennifer’s go-to movement practices, mindset shifts, and brain exercises to help rewire your nervous system and regain control over your health.

If you’ve struggled with chronic health issues, binge eating, or mental burnout—and feel like conventional solutions aren’t working—this episode will provide you with the tools and insights to start your journey toward healing.

🗣️ Contact and Follow Jennifer here:

https://www.instagram.com/wholebodyhealingwithjen/

https://www.facebook.com/wholebodyhealingwithjen

https://www.youtube.com/@WholeBodyHealingwithJen/videos

https://wholebodyhealingwithjen.com

Please like, subscribe, and share this video with anyone who might find it beneficial. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter for more resources and support on your recovery journey!

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00:00 - Intro

00:41 - Who is Jennifer Donovan

01:51 - Jennifer's transition from trauma therapy to holistic health

02:36 - The connection between trauma therapy, mental health, and nutrition

04:17 - How nutritional changes impacted Jennifer’s mental health

05:30 - The role of food in nervous system regulation

06:36 - Common misconceptions about food and mental health

07:18 - The impact of ketogenic diets on the nervous system

08:29 - When a ketogenic diet is necessary for mental health

09:26 - How ketosis supports neurogenesis and brain function

10:30 - The relationship between fasting and mental clarity

12:07 - Why ketogenic diets aren’t just about weight loss

13:09 - Bio-individual approaches to diet and mental health

14:46 - The difference between mainstream keto and therapeutic keto

15:14 - The connection between binge eating and nutritional deficiencies

16:39 - The role of protein and fat in preventing binge eating

17:32 - Addressing emotional components of binge eating

18:44 - Sensory interventions for binge eating urges

20:03 - The importance of grounding techniques in emotional regulation

21:21 - How sensory input helps regulate the nervous system

22:55 - The role of soothing sounds and smells in nervous system regulation

24:07 - The concept of "befriending" your symptoms and body

26:19 - How symptoms communicate the body's needs

28:51 - Viewing symptoms as feedback rather than an enemy

30:34 - Movement and posture’s impact on nervous system function

32:50 - Diaphragmatic breathing

34:38 - Mindset work: shifting from neutral to positive

38:17 - Brain exercises for rewiring thought patterns

40:07 - How to gradually build mental resilience

40:30 - Short brain exercises

42:07 - Where to find Jennifer online and learn more about her work

#autoimmunedisease #rewireyourbrain #recoveryjourney #mindbodyconnection

Disclaimer: The information on this channel is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice or therapy. The views and opinions expressed by podcast guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Kristina Dobyns or Beyond Binge Eating.