Samantha Eastwood Counselling

Samantha Eastwood Counselling Person-Centred, trauma informed therapist. More info ↘ https://linktr.ee/samanthaeastwoodcounselling

'Neuroception' (coined by Stephen Porges), describes how our nervous system quietly scans for signs of safety or danger ...
16/09/2025

'Neuroception' (coined by Stephen Porges), describes how our nervous system quietly scans for signs of safety or danger beneath our awareness.

For people who have experienced trauma, this sense can be especially sensitive. What might seem to others like an “overreaction” is, in fact, your body’s wise attempt to keep you safe—drawing on past experiences to protect you both physically and emotionally.

Over time, though, some of these protective patterns may no longer serve us. By gently noticing our neuroception—recognizing the moments that spark safety (our glimmers) and those that stir unease (our triggers)—we can begin to guide the body toward a new understanding: one that distinguishes between old patterns and present reality. In this way, we slowly rediscover safety, calm, and connection.

If you're feeling stressed or anxious, activating your vagus nerve can signal safety to your nervous system. In turn, yo...
14/09/2025

If you're feeling stressed or anxious, activating your vagus nerve can signal safety to your nervous system. In turn, your parasympathetic nervous system slows your heart rate, steadies your breath, and slows down your stress hormones.

This isn't a cure all, and it won't remove the stressors. But it can help you feel calmer and more able to take on those challenges.

Practicing these exercises regularly, even when you're feeling OK, may improve the responsiveness of your vagus nerve, strengthening your resilience in times of stress.

Try one now and see what difference it makes to how you feel. As always, listen to your body and stop if anything makes you feel unsafe. Let me know how you got on the comments!

Coming soon... Single Session Therapy.If you're struggling with a particular issue, you're ready to make changes but nee...
08/09/2025

Coming soon... Single Session Therapy.

If you're struggling with a particular issue, you're ready to make changes but need clarity and support to make those moves, single session therapy (SST) could be for you.

SST is solution focused and goal oriented. We take time to discuss the issue, what the preferred outcome is, and how we can utilise your strengths and capabilities to take steps to get there.

This type of therapy is great for people who can't commit to regular therapy because of time or cost. It may identify things in your life that could use further exploration too.

If this sounds like something you need, drop me a message at

📧 info@samanthaeastwoodcounselling.co.uk
Or
☎️ 07783 334565

For further information.

How can we use polyvagal theory to aid healing? The first step is to start noticing. Pay attention to how your body feel...
08/09/2025

How can we use polyvagal theory to aid healing?

The first step is to start noticing. Pay attention to how your body feels, and what's happening in your mind. This might not feel easy, particularly for people who are used to intellectualising their feelings or disconnecting themselves in some way.

That's why, to begin with, we try to notice what's happening in the easier moments.

• What are the bodily sensations that cue that things are ok or positive?
• How do the thoughts in your mind respond to those feelings?
• Who are you with in these moments?
• What are you doing?
• Where are you?
• How can you seek out, or replicate those moments to bring more glimmers into your day?

This can feel really hard to begin with, as often when we're dealing with high levels of stress or trauma, we want to disconnect from any discomfort in our body. But that means we also disconnect from the comfort.

How do you know when you're feeling good? Let me know in the comments! 👇🏻🥰

Polyvagal theory suggests that at any given time, we might be in one of three nervous system states. A healthy nervous s...
06/09/2025

Polyvagal theory suggests that at any given time, we might be in one of three nervous system states.

A healthy nervous system needs all three, and has the resilience to move through them and come back to the ventral vagal state after any kind of threat has passed and we can feel safe again.

If we spend too long in either the sympathetic or dorsal vagal state, perhaps by enduring long term stress or trauma, the body can get stuck there. Our bodies do this as a kind of protective pessimism... always expect the worst and be ready for it.

The good news is, we don't have to stay stuck. Learning how to feel safe, connected and grounded is possible. It takes dedication and continuous practice, but we can exercise our nervous system and make it stronger and more resilient to stressors.

Let me know if you've ever tried any exercises that have helped you ❤️

Polyvagal Theory (developed by Stephen Porges and applied in practice by Deb Dana - check out their work for more in dep...
05/09/2025

Polyvagal Theory (developed by Stephen Porges and applied in practice by Deb Dana - check out their work for more in depth information) is something I loosely hold in mind in my trauma informed work and can be a really useful tool to help clients understand their state of being.

We work on finding what puts the foot on the accelerator, what slams the foot on the brake, and what keeps them at cruising speed.

We need all three states, it's how we survive and thrive; but if we slam the brakes or accelerator too much, they can get jammed, and our nervous system becomes more sensitive to cues of danger than is helpful.

There are lots of vagal toning exercises that can help strengthen your nervous system resilience.

Watch this space for more 👀

Trauma informed therapy works on regulating your nervous system and developing your inner wisdom to know that whatever y...
04/09/2025

Trauma informed therapy works on regulating your nervous system and developing your inner wisdom to know that whatever you're feeling, however uncomfortable, you'll be ok.

Please don't mistake this for learning how to tolerate the intolerable. Uncomfortable feelings are an inevitable part of life. Staying in intolerable and uncomfortable situations is not.

Trauma informed therapy helps you to reclaim your power and autonomy, to know that you are no longer helpless, and that you can choose change.

When you're feeling anxious, depressed or stressed, it's easy to feel stuck, lost and helpless. Sometimes the choices yo...
02/09/2025

When you're feeling anxious, depressed or stressed, it's easy to feel stuck, lost and helpless.

Sometimes the choices you face feel impossible.

Stay in the uncomfortable situation you're in (what is?) or face the unknown discomfort of change (what if?)?

Part of the work of therapy is to uncover where the discomfort is coming from. It may not be immediately obvious, and the solutions may not be easy. Sometimes there are things that can't be changed - and then the work is in finding acceptance and peace.

Here's the thing though: nothing changes, if nothing changes. So... which discomfort will you choose?

The Good Girl Paradox is that the more we show up as 'the good girl' in our relationships, the more harm we do to oursel...
26/08/2025

The Good Girl Paradox is that the more we show up as 'the good girl' in our relationships, the more harm we do to ourselves.

Women are far more likely to suffer from all kinds of chronic illness, and one explanation could be that we spend so much of our lives suppressing our own wants and needs in service of others, that our body is subjected to constant low level stress that we might not even be aware of, leading to higher levels of inflammation and stress hormones that then impact our immune system.

My own (anecdotal) experience has been that learning how to express my needs has reduced the symptoms of my chronic illness and allowed me to live a more satisfying life.

If you feel ready to shift the Good Girl narrative and find your authentic voice, therapy can be a good place to start.
Tap my linktree in bio to get in touch.

When you're primed for the worst, letting your guard down and allowing a feeling of safety to come in can, conversely, f...
25/08/2025

When you're primed for the worst, letting your guard down and allowing a feeling of safety to come in can, conversely, feel unsettling and even scary.

When you've had the power over your own body, mind and emotions hijacked by trauma, illness and chronic stress and anxiety, it can take time to feel faith in a feeling of wellness.

You can take back your power by finding safety resources to come back to time and again, allowing a little in at a time, and by consistent repetition of the small acts that promote a healthy balance of feelings.

If you're ready to make change, do get in touch to see how I can help.

Linktree in bio for all my contact details.

Healing from chronic stress, anxiety and trauma is not an easy task. There are no quick fixes. It takes time, patience a...
23/08/2025

Healing from chronic stress, anxiety and trauma is not an easy task. There are no quick fixes. It takes time, patience and a daily commitment to doing things differently.

Choosing yourself doesn't always come easily either, especially if your life experiences have shown you that your needs are not a priority.

However, making that commitment to yourself can lead to real change, and a life that feels safer, more loving, and full of possibility.

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