Nervous System Basics
Which nervous system state is associated with safety, connection, and social engagement?
Ventral vagal
What does it mean to work within the “window of tolerance”?
Supporting regulation so the client is neither overwhelmed nor shut down
What does R.A.I.N. stand for?
Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture
What is a somatic resource?
Anything that helps regulate the nervous system and communicate safety, strength, or support
A client becomes explosive and defensive in intimate relationships. Which nervous system response may be driving this?
Sympathetic fight response
A client feels foggy, numb, heavy, and low energy. Which nervous system state is most likely active?
Dorsal vagal shutdown
Name one somatic strategy that helps a client stay within their window of tolerance.
Slowing down / pendulation / titration / resourcing / co-regulation / tracking SIBAM
In somatic therapy, what does it mean to “Investigate”?
Exploring present-moment sensations, emotions, thoughts, images, and impulses
What does it mean to anchor a somatic resource?
Amplifying and stabilizing pleasant or supportive body sensations using SIBAM
Why can understanding the nervous system reduce shame for trauma survivors?
It reframes reactions as survival responses rather than personal failure
Fast speech, agitation, and restlessness most commonly indicate which nervous system activation?
Sympathetic activation
Why do somatic sessions generally move at a slower pace?
To help clients notice subtle body sensations and cues without becoming dysregulated
What is somatic processing?
Working with issues through present-moment body sensations, images, emotions, and movement
Which somatic resources are especially helpful for dorsal vagal shutdown?
Movement, standing, grounding, emphasizing the inhale
What is the primary purpose of the integration phase at the end of a somatic session?
To reflect, consolidate insights, and support carryover into daily life
What system continuously scans for cues of safety and danger outside of conscious awareness?
Neuroception
What is titration in somatic therapy?
Working in small, manageable increments to prevent overwhelm
Why is “Nurture” an essential step in R.A.I.N.?
It provides support, compassion, and regulation after exploring difficult material
Why might a therapist mirror a client’s posture or gestures?
To convey empathy, attunement, and bring awareness to the client’s body
When might you recommend a client keep a pain diary?
To increase awareness of patterns, triggers, and contributing thoughts, emotions, and behaviours
Why might a trauma survivor shift rapidly between sympathetic activation and dorsal vagal collapse?
Trauma disrupts nervous system flexibility, causing difficulty returning to regulation after threat
Why might a therapist work with only a “sliver of a memory”?
To reduce overwhelm and keep the client within their window of tolerance
Which awareness framework tracks Sensations, Images, Behaviours, Affect, and Meaning?
S.I.B.A.M.
What is the purpose of a “little experiment” in somatic therapy?
To create a corrective or empowering present-moment experience
How does somatic therapy support nervous system change over time?
Through neuroplasticity and new embodied experiences that reshape regulation patterns