for Adults

Many adults are unable to achieve their goals, get rid of unwanted habits, be productive on the job, or feel a measure of personal satisfaction. In fact, nearly three quarters of all adults now say they have moderate to high levels of daily stress, and nearly half report that their stress is increasing. Anxiety and depression, too, are on the rise.

If you have been struggling with any of these issues, it’s likely you’ve already been looking for ways to gain control over your life and you’ve probably tried counseling and different therapies but still struggle. Now there is a new healing path to consider: somatic therapy. In the last two decades, brain research and empirical studies have shown us that to heal our mental and emotional states we must consider the whole person to make meaningful change in our lives — we are a triad, our brain function (ability to learn, think, and make decisions), our visceral body sensations, and our emotions.

Two lower regions of the brain, which reside outside of our conscious mind, have a profound impact on how we think, what we feel, and the way we behave: the limbic system manages memory, motivation, emotions, and behavior, and the brain stem regulates our vital functions, including breathing and heart rate, and processes incoming sensory information. These two brain areas store neural signals from the world around us in neurobiological networks within our nervous system, contributing significantly to how we experience life.

A more recent field of study is the vagus nerve and how it plays a huge role in how we respond to challenges, stress, and threats in our life. It is the largest nerve in the body and runs from the cranium down through the throat, chest, and into the abdomen, connecting to most of our internal organs through a network of nerves that resemble a long root with branches. Neural patterns of stress and trauma can be held in this vagal system and may be the source of anxiety, depression, over-reactive behaviors (triggers), social and relationship difficulties, and fears. To learn more, read my article The Power of the Vagus Nerve: Renewal, Regeneration, and Connection.

While we may consciously understand why we are struggling and what some of the underlying causes of our distress are, the conscious mind is limited in resolving our emotional and behavioral problems because of the neurobiological patterns held within the body..

In order to create complete and lasting change — in our thoughts, feelings, and behavior; how we perceive the world; how we navigate the stressors of life; and how we maintain health — we must change the neurobiological patterns throughout our system. Using body-focused somatic therapy, I can assist you in accessing the lower regions of your brain and the neural patterns in your vagal system that need realignment. Then, together, we can alter old neural patterns of behavior and emotions, regardless of their source or how long they have been in place. We can rewire these neural patterns and lay down healthy new ones to create meaningful, lasting change. For a more detailed explanation: read How Your Body Can Heal You. Somatic therapy is an easy, effective method for managing stress, overcoming trauma, building self-esteem, and achieving your desired goals in life. Learn more about my approach: The Highpoint Method of Somatic Therapy.