Exploring NeuroAffective Touch ™ (NATouch) & Somatic Experiencing ™ (SE) for Complex PTSD Recovery
For individuals dealing with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), traditional talk therapies may not be enough to address the deeply embedded, body-based elements of trauma. Complex PTSD often arises from prolonged trauma or abuse and typically includes symptoms beyond those of PTSD, such as emotional dysregulation, dissociation, and disrupted self-perception. NeuroAffective Touch ™ and Somatic Experiencing (SE) ™ are two body-focused therapies that offer promising avenues for healing. By engaging both the mind and body, these therapies aim to help individuals release stored trauma, regain emotional regulation, and improve overall well-being.
Understanding Complex PTSD and the Body’s Role in Trauma
Complex PTSD often involves a dysregulated stress response, meaning that individuals with C-PTSD may be hypersensitive to stress and have difficulty returning to a calm state after being triggered. Trauma impacts not only our minds but also our nervous systems, resulting in chronic tension, pain, or a “fight or flight” response that becomes embedded in our physiology. Researchers, such as Bessel van der Kolk in The Body Keeps the Score, explain how trauma remains “stuck” in the body, affecting individuals at a physical level, often beyond conscious awareness.
What Is NeuroAffective Touch ™?
NeuroAffective Touch ™, developed by Dr. Aline LaPierre, is a somatic-based therapy that combines gentle touch with psychotherapy to address early attachment wounds and trauma stored in the body. NATouch ™ operates under the principle that trauma disrupts the natural flow of sensation and energy in the body, often resulting in numbness, tension, or a lack of awareness in affected areas. By incorporating gentle, mindful touch in areas like the neck, shoulders, arms, spine, and other key points, NATouch ™ therapists aim to help clients connect to suppressed or unprocessed emotions, rebuilding a sense of safety and trust within their own bodies.
According to LaPierre, NATouch ™ helps to repair disrupted attachment patterns by activating the body’s innate capacity to self-soothe and regulate emotions. This method is particularly effective for C-PTSD, as it fosters a secure, embodied presence that allows individuals to explore difficult emotions and sensations in a supported way. As clients become more attuned to their bodies, they may find it easier to regulate intense emotions and experience a sense of wholeness that C-PTSD often disrupts.
Somatic Experiencing (SE) ™: Releasing Trauma from the Nervous System
Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, Somatic Experiencing ™ is a body-oriented approach to trauma that focuses on releasing trauma from the nervous system. SE is grounded in the concept that trauma causes the nervous system to become “frozen,” trapping individuals in cycles of hyperarousal or dissociation. By gradually guiding clients to notice and release these physical sensations, SE ™ works to “complete” the body’s natural stress responses, allowing individuals to process trauma that might be difficult to access through traditional talk therapy.
A key element of SE ™ is the concept of “titration,” or introducing small, manageable doses of traumatic memories or sensations for clients to process without becoming overwhelmed. By working in this way, SE therapy can help individuals with C-PTSD develop a sense of agency over their bodily responses, reducing hypervigilance, and allowing them to reconnect with their surroundings safely.
Benefits of NATouch ™ and SE ™ for Complex PTSD
Both NeuroAffective Touch ™ and Somatic Experiencing ™ have unique benefits for individuals dealing with complex PTSD:
Restoring a Sense of Safety in the Body: Through gentle, mindful touch and body awareness, these therapies help reestablish a sense of safety within the body. This can be particularly empowering for individuals who feel “disconnected” from themselves due to chronic trauma.
Emotional Regulation: NATouch ™ and SE support the development of better emotional regulation by helping clients become more attuned to their physical sensations and triggers. Studies suggest that this improved awareness can reduce instances of emotional overwhelm and dissociation, both common in C-PTSD.
Releasing Physical Tension and Chronic Pain: Many individuals with C-PTSD experience physical symptoms, such as chronic pain, tension, or fatigue. By addressing the body directly, NATouch ™ and SE ™ can help clients release these physical manifestations of trauma, improving both physical and emotional well-being.
Enhanced Self-Awareness and Resilience: Engaging with the body allows clients to understand and work through trauma at a foundational level. This can enhance resilience, allowing individuals to respond to stressors more adaptively and to trust their own instincts and feelings again.
A Complementary Approach for Lasting Healing
For individuals dealing with C-PTSD, NeuroAffective Touch ™ and Somatic Experiencing ™ offer complementary approaches that emphasize safety, empowerment, and gradual healing. While NATouch ™ utilizes touch to facilitate emotional and physical healing, SE ™ focuses on the nervous system’s response to trauma, helping individuals regain control over their reactions. Together, these therapies can work to dismantle the layers of trauma that contribute to complex PTSD, providing clients with tools to experience lasting relief and a sense of integration.
If you are interested in exploring body-centered therapies for trauma, our practice offers both NeuroAffective Touch ™and Somatic Experiencing ™ sessions with licensed practitioners. Reach out to learn more about how these therapies can support your healing journey.
References
- Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking Press.
- Levine, P. A. (1997). Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. North Atlantic Books.
- LaPierre, A. (2012). NeuroAffective Touch and the Early Attachment Experience. Journal of Body, Movement & Dance in Psychotherapy, 7(4), 218-232.
- Heller, D. P., & LaPierre, A. (2012). Healing Developmental Trauma: How Early Trauma Affects Self-Regulation, Self-Image, and the Capacity for Relationship. North Atlantic Books.
- Payne, P., Levine, P. A., & Crane-Godreau, M. A. (2015). Somatic experiencing: Using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 93.
Exploring the Benefits of Somatic Therapy in Psychotherapy
Somatic therapy has become an increasingly popular therapeutic approach in recent years, providing a holistic path to healing that addresses both mind and body. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which primarily focuses on thoughts and emotions, somatic therapy emphasizes the body’s role in emotional and psychological well-being. This body-centered approach has shown remarkable potential for helping individuals with trauma, anxiety, chronic stress, and other mind-body conditions. Here, we’ll explore the benefits of somatic therapy, supported by peer-reviewed studies, to help you determine if it’s the right approach for you or your loved ones.
Understanding Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy integrates principles from psychology, neuroscience, and physical therapies, supporting clients in connecting with bodily sensations to access deeper emotional experiences. Techniques include mindfulness, body awareness, and gentle touch, which allow clients to become aware of where they may hold tension or unresolved emotions in the body. Research shows that this approach can be especially effective for trauma survivors, as trauma often manifests physically within the body (Van der Kolk, 2014).
Healing Trauma Through the Body
One of the most significant benefits of somatic therapy is its ability to support trauma recovery. Trauma researcher Bessel van der Kolk, in “The Body Keeps the Score”, highlights that traumatic memories are stored not only in the mind but also in the body, often in the nervous system. This concept is echoed in a study by Payne, Levine, & Crane-Godreau (2015), which found that Somatic Experiencing, a specific somatic modality, can reduce trauma symptoms by helping clients process and release physically stored trauma. By focusing on bodily sensations, clients can begin to integrate past trauma into their current experience, reducing the intensity of trauma responses.
Reducing Stress and Building Emotional Resilience
Somatic therapy also helps clients regulate their nervous systems, which is crucial for managing stress. According to a study published in Frontiers in Psychology, somatic practices like deep breathing and grounding techniques can improve vagal tone and lower cortisol levels, both of which are indicators of a calm nervous system (Gerritsen & Band, 2018). This allows individuals to move from a heightened stress response into a state of relaxation, ultimately building emotional resilience. When clients learn to regulate their bodily responses to stress, they often experience improved emotional balance and can better manage challenging situations.
Enhancing Mind-Body Connection and Self-Awareness
Somatic therapy fosters a strong mind-body connection, allowing clients to gain deeper self-awareness. A study on mindfulness and body awareness practices in somatic therapies found that tuning into the body’s sensations fosters a greater sense of agency and self-understanding (Mehling et al., 2011). This heightened awareness allows individuals to recognize their needs and boundaries, leading to healthier relationships and an enhanced sense of self-confidence. Becoming more attuned to bodily signals also helps clients respond more authentically to their emotions, a key aspect of emotional health and well-being.
Supporting Physical Health and Reducing Chronic Pain
Many clients who experience chronic pain or psychosomatic symptoms report benefits from somatic therapy. Research published in “Pain Medicine” suggests that somatic interventions can address emotional factors contributing to physical pain, reducing symptoms and improving quality of life (Price et al., 2007). Techniques such as gentle touch and mindful movement help clients release tension patterns, potentially relieving physical symptoms associated with stress and unresolved trauma.
Effective for Anxiety, Depression, and PTSD
Somatic approaches have proven especially effective for conditions like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A meta-analysis published in Journal of Traumatic Stress indicates that therapies integrating somatic methods, such as Somatic Experiencing and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, help reduce PTSD symptoms and enhance emotional regulation (Langmuir, Kirsh, & Classen, 2012). These therapies provide clients with tools to remain present and grounded, which can reduce anxiety and depression by helping individuals manage overwhelming emotions more effectively.
Somatic therapy offers a unique and powerful pathway to healing by incorporating the body into the therapeutic process. This approach is invaluable for those who have experienced trauma, high levels of stress, or chronic pain, as it allows individuals to connect with and release bodily-held emotions. With growing research supporting its effectiveness, somatic therapy presents an empowering way for clients to experience greater emotional balance, self-awareness, and resilience.
If you're interested in learning more about how somatic therapy could support your journey, please feel free to reach out. I would be honored to help you explore the potential benefits of this transformative approach.
References
- Gerritsen, R. J., & Band, G. P. (2018). Breath of life: The respiratory vagal stimulation model of contemplative activity. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 1901.
- Langmuir, J. I., Kirsh, B., & Classen, C. C. (2012). A pilot study of body-oriented group psychotherapy: Adapting sensorimotor psychotherapy for the group treatment of trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 25(4), 409-416.
- Mehling, W. E., Wrubel, J., Daubenmier, J. J., Price, C. J., Kerr, C. E., Silow, T., Gopisetty, V., & Stewart, A. L. (2011). Body awareness: a phenomenological inquiry into the common ground of mind-body therapies. Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine, 6(1), 6.
- Payne, P., Levine, P. A., & Crane-Godreau, M. A. (2015). Somatic experiencing: Using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 93.
- Price, C. J., McBride, B., Hyerle, L., & Kivlahan, D. R. (2007). Emotional awareness and regulation training: A pilot study of a somatic-based therapy for women in substance use disorder treatment. Substance Abuse, 28(3), 43-53.
- Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. Viking Press.