How Polyvagal Theory Transformed My Chiropractic Practice – Dr. Erina Olsen's Journey from New Zealand to Ireland

In this episode of The Informed Chiropractor Podcast—the go-to chiropractic podcast for neurologically focused chiropractors—we sit down with Dr. Erina Olsen to explore her journey from a curious 11-year-old in New Zealand to becoming a powerful voice for functional neurology in Ireland. After discovering the power of manual therapy, Dr. Olsen shifted her focus from osteopathy to chiropractic, graduating in the second class of the New Zealand College of Chiropractic. She shares the intense experience of helping the college gain accreditation and how those early challenges shaped her mission. What started as a temporary locum opportunity turned into 20 years of practice ownership in a country where chiropractic is still unregulated. Dr. Olsen reveals how Polyvagal Theory in chiropractic helped her reframe care through the lens of nervous system regulation, transforming skeptical patients into believers using chiropractic adjusting techniques rooted in safety and connection. This episode dives into what it means to practice neurologically focused chiropractic in a disconnected world, why self-care is critical for chiropractors, and how mentorship plays a key role in long-term impact. Whether deep into chiropractic mentorship or starting to integrate the nervous system into your adjusting protocols, this conversation is full of gems for functional neurology–minded chiropractors ready to lead the next evolution of care. Timestamp 0:00 - 02:15 Introduction 2:15 - 07:16: Discovering Chiropractic and Early Career 7:16 - 15:15: Transition to Ireland and Practice Experiences 15:15 - 18:58: Chiropractic in Ireland and Regulatory Challenges 18:58 - 20:57: Introduction to the Vitality Shift and Polyvagal Theory 20:57 - 29:12: Impact of Polyvagal Theory on Practice and Patient Communication 29:12 -32:08 Inspiration and Motivation in Practice 32:08- 38:17: Final Thoughts. You can connect with us on other platforms: Facebook: Instagram: YouTube: intervention.

You can listen to How Polyvagal Theory Transformed My Chiropractic Practice – Dr. Erina Olsen's Journey from New Zealand to Ireland online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

How Polyvagal Theory Transformed My Chiropractic Practice – Dr. Erina Olsen's Journey from New Zealand to Ireland is an episode from Breaking The Underdog Curse for Chiropractors by Dr. Don MacDonald.

This episode is 38:16 long.

This episode was published on May 8, 2025.

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