E147: Dr. Christine Gibson on Trauma Tools, Polyvagal Basics & Everyday Regulation at Home!

Welcome to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast with Dr. Kerry Reller! This week, I’m joined by Dr. Christine Gibson, a family physician and trauma therapist. We unpack how trauma responses are adaptive, not defective, and how to move from fight/flight or freeze back into your “window of tolerance.” Dr. Gibson explains polyvagal basics and teaches fast, body-based tools—breath work, gaze shifts, EFT/tapping, Havening, butterfly taps, guided imagery, and “afformations”—to calm the nervous system. We also connect stress regulation to blood pressure, asthma, GI health, fertility, immunity, pain, and sleep. Tune in for practical, 60-second skills you can use daily to feel safer, clearer, and more in control.Christine Gibson, MD, is a trauma therapist and family physician with extensive training in mental health, medical education, and social change. Her work spans from individual trauma recovery to community resilience, and from local frontline care to international system-building in primary healthcare.Christine holds a Doctorate in Transdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s in Medical Education. She is a Clinical Associate Professor in Family Medicine and Psychiatry and is a two-time TEDx speaker. She co-founded multiple organizations that integrate equity, healing, and innovation, including:- Safer Spaces Training: Personalized training to equip professionals with the skills to build trauma-informed services and workplaces.- The Belong Foundation: dedicated to serving the complex and interconnected needs of community.- Global Familymed Foundation (GFF): Strengthening primary care systems in low-resource settings.Christine weaves the power of story into all she does—whether speaking, writing, facilitating, or leading change. 00:00 Intro & guest welcome01:35 Why a family doctor pivoted to trauma therapy03:20 Trauma is adaptive: triggers, vigilance, and meaning07:20 Fight/flight vs. freeze/dissociation (the “shutdown” state)11:05 The framework: Noticing → Shifting → Reconnecting13:20 Toolkit overview: EFT tapping, Havening, breath & gaze17:49 Butterfly taps, guided imagery, and multi-sensory grounding20:54 Neuroplasticity: rewiring stress pathways with practice23:58 How regulation supports BP, asthma, GI, fertility, immunity30:26 Where to start if you’re struggling: pick tools for your stateConnect with Dr. GibsonYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.christinegibsonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/gibtrotterMD#139 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-gibson-md/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tiktoktraumadoc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcConnect with Dr. RellerPodcast website: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerryrellermd/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearwaterFamilyMedicineInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearwaterfamilymedicine/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kerryrellermdClearwater Family Medicine and Allergy website: https://sites.google.com/view/clearwa...Podcast: https://gethealthytbpodcast.buzzsprou...Subscribe to the Get Healthy Tampa Bay Podcast on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Amazon music, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Pandora.