NeuroAffective Touch® Training

NeuroAffective Touch® (NATouch™) is a neurologically informed psychotherapy that uses somatic and body-centred approaches as vital psychobiological interventions. Designed to integrate the disciplines of psychotherapy and bodywork, the training uses the key elements of developmental theory, relational psychotherapy, somatic psychology, and bodywork. By highlighting the primary role of the body and emphasising its equal importance to the mind, NeuroAffective Touch® addresses emotional, relational, cognitive, and developmental deficits that cannot be reached by verbal means alone.

The video clips below show a samples of lecture and the start of a NATouch class demonstration.

We address what to do when there are no words, when words are not enough, or when words get in the way. We transcend the limitations of talk therapy for healing core relational wounds. We explore how to proceed when clients suffer from nonverbal or preverbal distress reflected in their difficulty with:

• Experiencing themselves and knowing they exist
• Soothing themselves and developing self-regulation
• Identifying and communicating their needs
• Feeling trapped in negative states of self-judgment, shame and guilt

“We transcend the limitations of talk therapy for healing core relational wounds.”
Dr. Aline LaPierre, Creator of NeuroAffective Touch®

Bringing compassionate presence to the body is essential to address the neural numbing, muscular bracing, and autonomic disorganisation that are the physiological correlates of grief, shame, anger, and fear.

In NeuroAffective Touch®, we use a variety of body-centred techniques to work bottom-up with implicit procedural behaviour, posture, and movement, and top-down with trauma-based thoughts, beliefs, and identifications.

Therefore, healing from the emotional traumas sustained in relationships with parents and caregivers requires a body-mind approach. The mind must learn to decode the sensory language of emotionally shocked tissues, organs, and body systems. We believe that in its own way, the body’s intelligence is equal to the mind’s and we facilitate their collaborative partnership.

For example, pressures on the cranial base and brain stem, respiratory diaphragm, heart, or digestive system reflect and maintain the emotional injuries of abandonment, neglect, abuse, and betrayal. Thus, the ability to address chronic emotional shock goes hand in hand with nurturing a dysregulated physiology. NeuroAffective Touch enables the release of fear and tension in the musculature and organs and cultivates the heart connection that supports post-traumatic growth.

The training addresses psychobiological development from conception to birth and through the identity-forming phases of separation and individuation. It connects the development of self-image and identity to the individuation of the body.

We are aware that psychotherapists who are new to body-centred work may not develop their expertise in working with the body as extensively as bodyworkers. Similarly, most bodyworkers will not develop their verbal and psychological skills as extensively as mental health practitioners.
Nonetheless, we believe that integrated healing requires skills in both talk and bodywork. This combined use of verbal skills and body-centred work is crucial to working with developmental issues because the developmental progression moves forward within the integrated growth of mind and body – thinking, feeling and sensing develop as an interdependent unified whole.

Mind-Heart Dialogue

“The heart was so tenuous in approaching the mind because of this assumption that the mind was going to be dismissive and detached.”

This training gives special attention to the personal somatic development of the practitioner. NATouch™ recognises that to work with a client’s body, therapists must know their own. The training therefore includes a focus on personal psychobiological awareness to help practitioners develop an embodied presence that heightens their capacity for sensory attunement and resonance in their clinical work.

Participants are encouraged to carefully define their training goals and are invited to work their edge and focus their practice time on building the particular skills they wish to develop. Faculty and teaching assistants are available to support each student’s learning needs.

To enhance your clinical outcomes by integrating body and mind in the resolution of attachment trauma and emotional/relational deficits.

• Develop the key somatic and bodywork skills necessary for working with attachment deficits
• Access preverbal and nonverbal states
• Move beyond the traditional psychodynamic understanding of identity as residing in the mind by working simultaneously top-down with the mind and bottom-up with the body
• Use neuroception, interoception, and proprioception to work with implicit procedural memory and resolve dissociative states
• Teach clients practical self-care touch exercises to stabilise their nervous system

The Hybrid Training in Detail

To support the integration of NeuroAffective Touch® principles and skills into your clinical work the training comprises an Online Program of three x 3-day modules, and one x 5-day Touch Intensive Masterclass, for a total of 75 hours.

With a mix of theory and practice, the training format consists of lectures, guided group exercises, demonstrations, practice with fellow participants, questions & answers and directed readings. A comprehensive training manual is provided.

Visit the Curriculum for a complete overview of the training and learning objectives.

Upon completion of each NATouch™ component a participant will receive the relevant Certificate of Completion. After completing both the Online Program and the Touch Intensive Masterclass a Certificate of Completion is issued for the NeuroAffective Touch Foundation Training. There is the option to complete additional requirements to achieve NeuroAffective Touch® Practitoner Certification.

Each online module comprises 3 days (5 class hours per day). The training material will be presented and integrated in a variety of ways including live-streamed lectures and Zoom community meetings with breakout dyad exercises. NATouch™ assistants will be present throughout the day.

Check-in, Opening Lecture

• Check-in and community building.
• Opening lecture with an overview of the training and orientation to the module.

Lectures and Demonstrations
As many practitioners are now doing more sessions online, the content will bring an enhanced focus on self-touch and self-care protocols for clients, as well as guidance for establishing a somatic contemplative practice. This will give you in-depth interoceptive experience of your own body and help you teach your clients how to work with their bodies.

• Introduction to the anatomy/physiology/psychological functions of body areas.
• Demonstration of touch skills.
• Self-touch exploration and somatic contemplative practice.
• Demonstration sessions that are either pre-recorded with real-time commentary, or real-time online using a live-stream system with 4 cameras to cover all angles.
• Zoom community meetings with breakout exercises and Q&A.

NOTE: If you are not able to attend a lecture at its delivery time, your live-stream link allows you to watch it at a time of your choice.

Course Materials

• Video links to all the lectures and demos to review in your own time for 5 years.
• A comprehensive 200-page Manual; printed in black & white and a pdf of the coloured version.
• Access to the lecture Keynotes power point slides.

Dates have been scheduled for early 2022 but these can only be confirmed when CoVid travel restrictions are lifted and it is possible to come together.

Touch Intensive Masterclass: In-Person
The 5-day module is spread over 6 calendar days. There is a half-day on days 1 & 6 to ease travel arrival and departure arrangements. This helps ensure no-one misses out on any attendance class time!

• Day 1: meet & greet between all participants and the team followed by an afternoon class.
• Days 2 – 5: four full days with a focus on hands-on touch practice and protocols plus a review of lecture content.
• Day 6: morning class only.

Experiential Exercises – table or chair ?
Experiential practice will be in dyads with Aline and teaching assistants available to support each student’s learning needs and answer queries.

For each practice participants may choose to work on either a chair or a table. A “chair corner” will be provided with an assigned assistant to show how to adapt the work for working in chairs. Ideal for those who cannot work on tables due to licence/association requirements or for clients who prefer to sit in a chair rather than lie on a table.

“NeuroAffective Touch® has helped me build on the skills I already have, giving me a framework and language for effectively working with the relational traumas that become part of the therapeutic encounter.”: Karen Bauman, MA, NMT, SEP

Study Groups
The 3½ hours Study Group offers a combination of Q&A with clinical discussion, new material with presentation of hands-on techniques, and a live session demonstration followed by a debrief period. The focus is on deepening the understanding of NATouch™ principles and methods.
- a choice of attending 'live' online or viewing the videos of previous study groups.
- the study groups will count towards the optional NATouch™ Practitioner Certification.

A complimentary set of three Nurture To Heal™ Therapeutic Pillows will be provided for each participant. The application and use of the pillows will be demonstrated in the experiential practices.

Nurture To Heal™ Therapeutic Pillows are a therapeutic comfort resource that enhances somatic awareness, supports self-regulation and encourages soothing self-care. Psychotherapists, bodyworkers and those who can benefit from some tender self-care or who struggle with nervous system regulation have found them useful. The pillows may be used in a sitting position or lying down. All Nurture To Heal™ Therapeutic Pillows are made of luxurious deep red stretch velvet. Filled with food grade organic flax seeds, they are soft and malleable. They can be warmed in the microwave or cooled in the freezer.

The Round is the all purpose pillow. Originally designed to soothe those anxious gut feelings, the Round has a great comforting weight and presence. Whether used on top of an area to protect and soothe, or underneath to support, it is helpful on all parts of the body. Try it under your wrists, knees, neck, ankles.

The Long can be placed over your chest and belly for midline support. For spinal support, lie on your back on top of the Long. Spread the seeds evenly or bunch them in specific areas for extra support. Centre your spine on the pillow from your tailbone to the base of your cranium.

The Mini was originally designed for the eyes but it is also nurturing when placed on or below the clavicular joint, on the hyoid (Adam’s apple) and thymus gland, on the forehead, and on various places on the abdomen while lying face up. It can also lend its gentle relaxing presence to the top of shoulders while seated.