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

“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

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.