Katie Nickerson | Somatic Brain Retraining & Chronic Illness Coach
Are you tired of missing out on life because of your health issues? Are you sick of strict protocols and diets that leave you frustrated and hopeless? Do you wish someone could give you a clear, step-by-step guide to finally heal? Are you ready to finally have symptom free days again? Welcome to Retrain Your Brain, where you will find a neuroscience-based approach to help you heal from chronic illness and complex trauma (without the expensive and restrictive protocols!). My mission is to teach you real, effective strategies like brain retraining, somatic exercises, and trauma healing tools to help you heal at the deepest level - no more surface-level temporary fixes! If you’re ready to harness the power of neuroplasticity to rewire your brain and reclaim your health, you’re in the right place! Hi, I’m Katie Nickerson, a trauma-informed brain retraining coach. For nearly a decade I was consumed by debilitating symptoms from ME/CFS, CIRS, chemical sensitivity, SIBO, food intolerances, MCAS, anxiety and more. Despite dedicating all my time and spending a fortune on every diet, supplement, and protocol imaginable, I saw almost no improvement—and even developed new symptoms. It felt like there was zero hope for recovery. Everything changed though when I discovered the incredible power of neuroplasticity and learned how to retrain my brain for health! Within just six months I went from debilitated and homebound to traveling, returning to work, socializing, and eating freely! I share my story because I want everyone suffering from a chronic illness to know that healing is possible! If you are ready to finally find an effective approach to healing your chronic symptoms with results that are tangible and sustainable - then this podcast is for you! So step away from the supplements, light that non-toxic candle, and let’s start retraining your brain!
Nov 18
If you’ve ever celebrated a huge win in your healing… only to have a flare knock the wind right out of you right after, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. Today I’m continuing the story from Episode 17 and sharing what happened when I left my breakthrough-filled Florida trip and flew straight into… a full-blown flare in my childhood home. In this episode, I walk you through exactly how I navigated the fear, confusion, and “oh no, is this all falling apart?” spiral - and how that flare actually became the moment my brain completed the rewiring process. I’ll break down why it happened, how I stabilized my system, the incremental steps I took, and why this was the last time I ever experienced a mold reaction. If you’ve taken “one step forward and two steps back” and are worried it means you’re failing… this episode will give you hope, clarity, and a roadmap to keep going. In This Episode, We Cover: Why returning symptoms don’t automatically mean danger How I used safety, rest, and incremental exposure to retrain my brain The difference between compassionate pacing vs. fear-based avoidance Why meaning-making matters more than the symptoms themselves Objective markers (VCS tests + labs) that confirmed my brain and body were truly healing What I hope you take away if you’re in the messy middle right now DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: FREE RESOURCES: 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET ✨ Retrain Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE SUPPORT: 🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE .* (*For those who have already gone through a retraining program) 🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE CONTACT: 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com
Oct 31
If you’ve ever felt trapped by mold sensitivity - reacting to the tiniest exposure, rearranging your entire life to avoid it, and wondering if you’ll ever feel safe again - this episode is for you. In this continuation of last week’s story, I’m sharing how I used brain retraining to rewire my brain’s response to mold and stop those extreme reactions for good. You’ll hear exactly what that process looked like, the turning point that shifted everything (yes, it happened at Disney World 🏰), and the 4-step framework I used to get from constant fear to complete freedom. You’ll learn: ✨ The real reason your brain keeps overreacting to mold ✨ How to reframe your story about mold so healing can finally happen ✨ The importance of building new, safe associations with mold ✨ How to identify and interrupt the protective patterns keeping you stuck ✨ What incremental training really looks like (and how to do it safely) Whether you’re early in your retraining journey or deep in incremental training, this episode will help you see what’s possible and encourage you to keep going! DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET ✨ Retrain Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE 🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE .* (*For those who have already gone through a retraining program) 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com
Oct 15
What would you do if your body reacted to almost every building you walked into? In this episode, Katie shares the deeply personal story behind her years of living with mold toxicity - also known as CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome). She opens up about her official diagnosis, the extensive testing, and the long, exhausting journey through the Shoemaker-style treatment protocols that promised recovery but left her feeling worse. Katie reflects on the physical, emotional, and financial toll of doing “everything right,” and reveals the crucial turning point that changed her understanding of chronic illness forever. If you’ve ever wondered whether mold toxicity can truly be healed - or felt trapped in a cycle of detoxes, avoidance, and fear - this episode will give you perspective, hope, and the insight she wishes she’d had from the start. DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET ✨Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE . 🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE .* (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com
Oct 1
Political polarization isn’t just about ideology - it’s deeply tied to our nervous systems. When your brain perceives threat, it slips into survival mode, shutting down critical thinking and pushing you into black-and-white categories: us vs. them, safe vs. unsafe, right vs. wrong. That instinct once kept our ancestors alive, but today it can fuel division by making it harder to see nuance, connect, or think critically. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the neuroscience behind political polarization and explain why every strong opinion is NOT coming from reasoned thought. Often, it’s your primal brain (your limbic system and brainstem) driving the narrative. You’ll learn how to recognize when you’re caught in that survival loop, why your nervous system shapes the way you interpret political conflict, and most importantly, how to shift back into a calmer state that allows for empathy, curiosity, and true critical thinking. Whether politics leaves you stressed, angry, or just confused, this conversation will help you step outside of binary, “us vs. them” thinking - and see how much power you have to change the way you engage. DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET ✨ Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE . 🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE .* (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com
Sep 12
Does your brain retraining practice ever feel… way too complicated? Like you’re drowning in tools, second-guessing every choice, or paralyzed by decision fatigue? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing why simplicity is the secret ingredient to real progress - and how stripping things down can actually help you rewire faster. We’ll talk about how overcomplicating your practice (or your healing journey in general) can keep you stuck, why your brain thrives on clarity and focus, and how to set up your practice in a way that feels doable and sustainable. You’ll walk away with a new lens for your practice: one that makes it easier to actually show up, retrain in the moment, and see results…all without burning yourself out. DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET ✨Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE . 🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE .* (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com
Aug 28
Busy retraining but feeling frustrated? These 8 “gamechangers” might be what you’re missing. Are you practicing brain retraining but feel stuck, overwhelmed, or confused about why you’re not seeing the progress you hoped for? You’re not alone - and this episode is exactly what you need! In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the 8 “needle movers” that can help you simplify your healing journey, get unstuck, and feel confident moving forward. These aren’t just tips - they’re the exact strategies I’ve seen work time and time again for myself and my clients. By the end, you’ll know which one or two to focus on so you can start seeing momentum in your retraining journey without the pressure, confusion, or burnout. And don’t worry—you don’t have to master all eight to make progress. Inside this episode, I share: The #1 mindset that can make or break your progress A simple tool that interrupts the fear-symptom loop in real time How “going smaller and slower” actually speeds up healing Why perfectionism is slowing you down (and what to do instead) The surprising way compassion rewires your brain faster than criticism What it means to discover the positive intent behind symptoms How outcome independence creates lasting change And because I want to make this easy for you, I’ve created a free PDF with all 8 gamechangers laid out for you to keep handy as you retrain. Grab it in the link below. DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 📄 8 Gamechangers FREE GUIDE 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET ✨Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE . 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🗓 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE .* (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com
Aug 8
If your to-do list is never-ending, your emotions are living just under the surface, and your nervous system is hanging on by a thread…this one’s for you. In this episode, I’m sharing five simple, realistic tools that have brought me calm and stability through some very stressful seasons. You’ll hear the exact things I come back to when life feels like too much. 🧠 This episode is especially for the high-achievers, eldest daughters, and anyone navigating chronic stress, unexpected responsibilities, or just “extra life-y” seasons. You’ll learn how to: Interrupt the “do-it-all-then-crash” cycle Support your body and brain with low-bar, high-impact habits Validate your emotions and build emotional resilience Use brain retraining tools even when you’re in survival mode Whether you’re going through a hard week or a hard season, I hope these tips feel like a deep breath and a soft place to land. PS: If you’re a current brain retrainer, don’t forget to take the short survey linked here to help shape future offers - and be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Mentioned in this episode: Fundamental Needs Workbook: https://chelsijo.co/fundamentalneedsworkbook DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET ✨Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE . 🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE .* (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email Katie: hello@abodehealingco.com
Jul 25
Whether your bedtime routine is a 10-step wellness routine or just falling into bed and scrolling TikTok, this episode will show you a simpler (and more effective) way to support real rest. I’m sharing an easy, science-backed nighttime routine you can do in under 10 minutes - even from bed. It’s designed to shift your brain and body into a healing state before you fall asleep, so you wake up with more energy, better mood, and deeper rest. This isn’t your typical checklist of supplements, skincare, and red light therapy. You’ll learn how to use your body, emotions, and brain retraining principles to help your nervous system relax, release stress, and support deep, restorative sleep. Whether you’re dealing with chronic illness, burnout, or just need better sleep - this is a powerful practice that’s easy to start tonight. DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET ✨Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE . 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🗓 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE .* (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com