Somatic Experiencing (SE™) & NeuroAffective Touch™ (NATouch™)

Trauma is not an event or just a psychological experience. Trauma is about what happens in the body when our normal coping mechanisms are overwhelmed, in response to a perceived threat. Trauma may begin as acute stress from a perceived life-threat or as the end product of cumulative life stress, with unresolved trauma being stored in the body.

Both types of stress can impact, a person’s health and ability to function with resilience and ease. Trauma may result from a range of different stressors such as accidents, invasive medical procedures, sexual or physical assault, emotional abuse, neglect, war, natural disasters, loss, birth trauma, epigenetics, systems, or the corrosive stressors of ongoing fear and conflict

Somatic Experiencing® (SE) Touch Work and NeuroAffective Touch™ (NATouch™) are two complementary modalities that integrate gentle, intentional touch with somatic trauma therapy to support nervous system regulation and deep healing.

Both approaches recognize that early developmental trauma, attachment wounds, and chronic nervous system dysregulation leave imprints on the body that cannot always be resolved through cognitive processing alone.

By engaging the body's implicit memory systems, autonomic nervous system (ANS), and fascia, these touch-based therapies can help restore a felt sense of safety, connection, and resilience.

The Science Behind SE Touch Work & NATouch™

Trauma impacts the autonomic nervous system (ANS), often leading to chronic fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses. SE Touch Work and NATouch™ both apply polyvagal theory to help shift the body from survival states into regulation and connection. Research shows us that:

• Gentle, attuned touch activates the parasympathetic system, allowing the body to move out of chronic stress responses.

• Safe touch co-regulates the nervous system, helping individuals who lacked early relational safety to develop self-regulation.

• Therapeutic touch can repair disruptions in early attachment by providing a nonverbal experience of safety and attunement.

• Gentle, rhythmic touch can regulate disorganized sensory processing common in developmental trauma.

The Role of Touch in Healing Developmental Trauma

Early relational trauma occurs before verbal memory develops, meaning much of its impact is stored in implicit body memory rather than conscious awareness. NATouch™ and SE Touch Work directly address:

• Preverbal attachment wounds by recreating the co-regulation experience of early caregiving.

• Fascia and connective tissue memory, where trauma can be physically held in the body. Emerging research in trauma-informed bodywork and fascia studies shows that: Trauma is often stored in the fascia, the connective tissue that encases muscles and organs.

• Disruptions in bodily awareness, helping clients reintegrate somatic sensation and presence.

Together, these modalities offer a structured, evidence-based approach to body-based trauma healing.

What Does a Therapeutic Touch Session Look Like?

After we check in at the beginning of the session, you'll be invited to lie down fully clothed on the table. Your comfort is a priority, so we'll use pillows, bolsters, and blankets as needed to help your body relax. I'll always ask for your permission before initiating any touch.

Typically, I might begin by placing a hand under your back near the kidneys. This area is significant because it's connected to the adrenal glands, which produce stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. By gently supporting this area, we encourage relaxation and improved blood flow, aiding in nervous system regulation.

Depending on your needs, we may focus on this area for one or multiple sessions before moving on to other parts of the body, such as the base of your head, neck, shoulders, joints, and feet—all with the goal of enhancing your overall sense of well-being.

It's important to note that touch isn't always used in sessions and isn't appropriate for everyone. We'll always discuss and decide together whether this approach aligns with your comfort level and therapeutic goals.