When delving into the realm of trauma, you'll quickly realize that top psychologists view trauma as primarily rooted in biology rather than psychology.

 

This belief has led to the development of numerous "somatic therapies" aimed at addressing the biological aspects of trauma. These "hands-off" approaches were born out of necessity since psychologists are not licensed to provide physical touch.

​

This is where we have an obvious advantage.

​

As therapists, when we physically engage with clients, we're also delving deep into their psychology, often uncovering unfortunate events in the process.

 

Understanding trauma and knowing how to effectively treat those experiencing it are essential skills we must possess. After all, we never truly know who will be stepping onto our table or what experiences they carry from their past.

 

Unfortunately, many of these past issues can hinder our ability to help them move forward from their physical pain.

​

Recognizing the signs of trauma in our patients enables us to adapt our treatments accordingly, even if they aren't fully aware of it themselves. These adjustments alone can propel many of our toughest cases forward, leading to significant progress and relief.

​

​

 

Making the body and especially the nervous system feel safe should be your top priority as a therapist because without it, any improvements in pain are simply out of reach. But what exactly does that entail, and are there additional ways to influence it through touch?

​

Typically, when we talk about the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the focus is mainly on the vagus nerve and techniques to improve vagal tone. Much like in the world of  trauma, many of these techniques have been developed due to limitations in physical touch. 

Again we have an advantage. 

​

In this part of the class, we'll dive into RAPID protocols designed to address and treat the ANS as a whole—not just the vagus nerve, but beyond, aiming to restore a sense of safety in the body.

 

By tapping into this system in depth, we can massively improve our success rates once again in alleviating pain.

​

We'll also explore common disruptors of the ANS and how many of the symptoms our patients experience are often just manifestations of this disruption.

 

Restoring balance to the ANS is often all it takes to alleviate the many of these symptoms in our clients.
 

 

We often talk about “blisters” in the body, but one of THE most significant ones—head injuries—has been fairly overlooked until now.

​

It's safe to say that everyone has experienced a significant bump to their head at some point. What we haven't fully grasped are the long-term effects this has on not just the brain, but the entire nervous system.

​

While addressing concussions is important, it's just a small part of what we'll be covering. The broader issue at hand is the neuroinflammation that occurs as a result of every head injury.

​

By understanding this, we can also consider other conditions impacted by neuroinflammation, such as MS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Long Covid, Migraines, Lyme Disease, trauma, fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain, and various mental health issues like PTSD, depression, and anxiety.

​

We'll also explore other causes of neuroinflammation beyond concussions, including injuries to the dura like epidural and dural punctures, spinal compression and coccyx falls and injuries.