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.