Beyond Trauma-Informed: How Exercise Physiology Can Transform Women’s Health with Stuart McDonald

So many women’s health issues come with a hidden layer: trauma. From birth trauma and medical gaslighting to subtle, cumulative stress that lives in the body, these experiences shape how women feel, function, and heal. Yet, most exercise physiologists were never trained to recognise or address trauma’s impact—until now. In this groundbreaking episode, Courtenay sits down with Stuart McDonald, exercise physiologist, educator, and trauma specialist, to explore why EPs are uniquely positioned to work with clients affected by trauma, and how the Working with Trauma & Women’s Health Program is redefining what’s possible in clinical care. What We Cover in This Episode: - Why so many women’s health concerns have roots in trauma—and how trauma can show up physically in the body. - Why “being trauma-informed” is not enough—and what it really means to integrate trauma work into exercise physiology. - The truth behind the phrase “trauma is stored in the body,” and why releasing trauma isn’t always the goal. - How EPs can stay in scope while working with clients affected by trauma—without needing to become therapists. - Stuart’s personal journey through injury, chronic fatigue, and emotional healing, and how it shaped his unique clinical approach. - Powerful tools like the Salience and Valence framework to help EPs understand what’s truly important to each client. - How exercise can either help—or unintentionally harm—trauma survivors, and how to navigate this complexity safely. - Stories of real client transformations, including women who went from housebound to travelling overseas through integrated trauma care. PLUS A deep dive into the four lessons covered in the Working with Trauma & Women’s Health Program, including: Lesson 1: Defining Trauma & Scope of Practice Lesson 2: Valence, Salience, Longings & Strivings Lesson 3: Hypervigilance, Avoidance & Dissociation Lesson 4: Agency, Power of Action & The Role of Exercise Physiology Connect with us on social media: @her.education_ @stumacster For women's health professional development head to our website www.hereducation.com.au