133: Inspire Health Podcast with Dr Jason Loken and guest Dr. Pat Ogden133: Inspire Health Podcast with Dr Jason Loken and guest Dr. Pat Ogden
UK Health Radio Podcast
Dr Jason Loken talks with trauma specialist Dr Pat Ogden about how the body, brain and emotions interact in trauma and attachment wounds. The conversation outlines Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and highlights practical ways that posture, movement and sensation can guide healing, especially amid global stressors like Covid-19.
49:45•28 Jun 2026
Body, Brain and Trauma: Dr Pat Ogden on Healing Through Movement and Awareness
Episode Overview
- Trauma is framed less as the event itself and more as how the nervous and muscular systems are pushed beyond their capacity.
- Body patterns such as posture, tension and movement often reflect and sustain core beliefs like "I’m not good enough" or "I can’t rely on anyone."
- Gentle, mindful attention to physical sensations and impulses can bring up emotions and memories more directly than talking alone.
- Secure early attachment and consistent soothing from caregivers are described as the strongest protection against post‑traumatic stress.
- Trauma-related emotions are best approached from the body upwards, helping the system complete defensive responses that were interrupted at the time.
“"The way I see trauma is that it has less to do with the event and more to do with the nervous system and the muscular system of the body."”
How do people cope with the challenges of staying grounded when life feels overwhelming? This conversation on the Inspire Health Podcast brings trauma pioneer Dr. Pat Ogden together with host Dr Jason Loken for a calm, practical look at how the body, brain and emotions all work together under stress. Drawing on 50 years of experience and her creation of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Dr Ogden explains why trauma isn’t just about what happened, but about how a person’s nervous system responds.
She contrasts trauma rooted in sheer survival terror with the deep emotional pain of attachment wounds, pointing out that both show up clearly in the body.
As she puts it, "The way I see trauma is that it has less to do with the event and more to do with the nervous system and the muscular system of the body." You’ll hear how posture, movement and tension patterns can quietly carry beliefs like "I’m not good enough" or "I have to do it all myself" and how gently focusing on these physical patterns can bring up memories and meanings that talking alone might miss.
Dr Ogden shares simple examples, such as asking someone to slightly exaggerate rounded shoulders and then notice what feelings, images or words arise. The episode also touches on why secure early relationships are such a strong buffer against post‑traumatic stress, how parents act as an "auxiliary cortex" for babies, and why letting infants "cry it out" may undermine healthy regulation. Covid-19 is framed as a global trauma that will affect people very differently depending on their history and support systems.
The tone stays warm, curious and down‑to‑earth, making complex ideas about the nervous system feel accessible. Anyone dealing with stress, past hurt or emotional triggers – including those working on recovery from various life challenges – may come away with fresh respect for their own body as a crucial part of healing. Could paying closer attention to your posture and impulses be the next step in understanding your story?
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