02/20/2025
Because the nervous system is so complex, we created a part 2 to our series “The Nervous System and Therapy.” In therapy, we often focus on the autonomic nervous system, which is part of the peripheral nervous system. When we meet someone in the therapy room who has been struggling, we know that their symtomps are a result of the processes the body has engaged in to signal cues of activation or immobilization in response to a threat. The autonomic nervous system is so important for us in the therapy room because therapists focus on supporting clients in recognizing these cues, and beginning to explore ways to get back to a ventral vagal state - the body’s responses when feeling safe and relaxed.
You may wonder, why do we focus on all this in therapy? When we begin to understand our body’s nervous system, and how it functions, we can slowly begin to shift between the shut down (dorsal vagal) and fight/flight (sympathetic) responses, to our ventral vagal state where our body experiences safety, connection, relationships, joy, and healing.
We love sharing about the nervous system, and educating ourselves on all things healing from the body. Stay tuned for a final part 3 - where we will share more about ways we might help clients begin to slowly shift between states!
