Blog
You’re Closer than You Think: Trusting the Nervous System’s Path
“You’re so close.”
In that moment, I anchored into a truth I’ve witnessed over and over again: healing is absolutely possible, and it becomes reachable the moment we lean into the process.
Even after 20 years in this field, I’m still humbled by what becomes possible when we work through the nervous system. The powerful blend of EMDR and Somatic Experiencing continues to amaze me. Trusting the process isn’t just something I ask of those seeking healing; it’s a commitment I make, too. Just like we trust a hiking trail to lead us somewhere beautiful, I trust the nervous system to guide us toward what it needs.
You’re Not Broken – You’re Wired for Survival
Our nervous system learns how to react to keep us safe based on our past experiences. A history of trauma or chronic stress shapes our nervous system to become overprotective, and this leads to misreading neutral, or even safe moments, as threatening. This causes symptoms like hyper-vigilance, dissociation, startle responses, lashing out, etc. But these are not defects. They’re signals that your nervous system is trying to protect you – even if the danger isn’t actually there.
Healing Trauma with the Power of EMDR and Polyvagal Theory
We use the Polyvagal lens to help you feel safe and regulated before and during EMDR sessions. This might look like grounding exercises, gentle movement, breathwork, or just building strong therapeutic connection. When your nervous system feels safe, EMDR is more effective—and less overwhelming.
And here is the beauty of it: As EMDR helps you process past trauma, your nervous system naturally starts to shift out of survival mode.
The Shame–Anger Loop (And How to Step Out of It)
Shame and anger. Two emotions that can’t decide if they’re mortal enemies or co-conspirators. One burns. One pulls. Together? They’re the cinematic mash-up you didn’t want but can’t look away from — Carrie meets Hereditary, playing in your nervous system on repeat.
What is Drama Therapy?
I’m Lauren and I’m a drama therapist at Rooted Compassion. Usually when I say this I am met with a confused look and the question,“What’s drama therapy?” Sometimes people think I am saying “trauma therapy,” or assume that drama therapy must be only for actors (not the case, although actors are of course welcome!). I find that once I explain drama therapy those confused faces turn into excited ones and that people are eager to share an example of a time they could have benefited from a creative alternative to talk therapy.
Teaching Your Child Their Body Clues: A Polyvagal-Informed Invitation
Polyvagal theory gives us a compassionate lens: our nervous systems shape our responses long before our thinking brain catches up. Before a child says “I’m mad,” their heart is pounding. Their hands are tense. Their belly is fluttery. These are what we call body clues, the early signals that tell us we’re drifting from safety and connection.
So often, we teach children to say “I’m sorry” or “use your words,” but what if we also taught them to notice what their body was feeling?
The Hidden Side of Anger: A Tool for Emotional Clarity and Parental Connection
Anger is often the messenger, not the root issue. It can be a mask for fear, sadness, or shame. When children (or adults) haven’t developed the tools to recognize and express those more vulnerable emotions, anger steps in as a protector. It feels stronger. It feels safer. This is where emotional regulation becomes essential. Teaching children how to identify their emotions, name them, and respond rather than react is the foundation of healing. And this work doesn’t start with the child alone—it starts with the parents, too.
When Tire Tracks Feel Like Bears: Reclaiming Calm and Connection
If you feel your system is confusing the bear with a dropped bowl of cheerios, or you want to try to prevent that confusion from happening, try some small moments of metabolization and release. For me, that looks like pausing at my desk and taking one of those deep, slow, cleansing “breathe from your feet” kind of breaths where I can hear my own slow inhale and exhale. For days when I need a little extra help, I attune to the natural rhythm of my breath, and picture it coming and going like the waves of the ocean; or I look outside to notice the ease with which the tree sways and leaves dance with the wind. Sometimes as I’m walking up the steps to greet my next client, I remember the crunch of the leaves under my feet and the fresh smell of rain in the mountain air from our last family adventure.
The Workplace and Our Mental Health
Given the increased need for mental health support in all areas of our lives, Rooted Compassion Counseling and Consulting has stepped forward to support businesses and employees in healing and growth. Each human deserves to have a meaningful and fulfilling purpose to live and fulfill. Businesses only benefit from partnering with employees to accomplish shared goals.
Healing Grief with ART: A Personal Journey
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) is an innovative and powerful therapy designed to help people process trauma, grief, and distressing memories more quickly than traditional therapeutic approaches. ART combines various techniques, drawing from methods such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), psychodynamic therapy, gestalt therapy, and guided visualization. The aim of ART is to help individuals reframe traumatic experiences, reduce emotional intensity, and ultimately find empowerment and peace.
The Importance of Attachment Style Awareness in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Attachment theory, pioneered by John Bowlby and further developed by Mary Ainsworth, identifies four
primary attachment styles: secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized. These styles represent the
patterns we develop in how we seek closeness, handle conflict, and express emotional needs.
Supporting Kids Through Holiday Gatherings
The holidays are filled with moments that make us smile—kids laughing with cousins, the cozy feeling of family gathered around a table, and memories that linger long after the last cookie is eaten. But the holiday magic can come with a lot of sensory overload for our little ones. Big groups, noisy environments, and routines thrown out the window can quickly disrupt their sense of calm. If you’ve ever found yourself chasing a sugar-fueled child through a crowded living room, or trying to soothe big tears over a toy dispute, you know the holidays aren’t always as peaceful as they seem.
From Glimmer to Glow: Polyvagal Theory and Pet Loss
For those of you who have lost a beloved pet, their loss brings immense grief and intense pain and sorrow. Know that I recognize and hold you and your loved one’s special and irreplaceable bond in my heart. In this blog, I want to share with you all an exercise that has helped me to actively celebrate his life and tap into a powerful source of ventral vagal energy.
Cincinnati Therapist Discusses Our Journey Through Childhood Wounds and Core Beliefs
Rediscovering your true self is a process of compassionate excavation. It’s not about adding something new but peeling away layers that have accumulated over time. It involves revisiting early experiences with curiosity and kindness. What beliefs did you form as a child? How have these beliefs shaped your current self?
Cincinnati Therapist Discusses Dancing to the Rhythm of Relationships: Syncing Through Polyvagal and Emotion-Focused Therapy
Cincinnati therapist, Nicole Kreutzer, MA, LPC, Discusses Dancing to the Rhythm of Relationships: Syncing Through Polyvagal and Emotion-Focused Therapy
Cincinnati Therapist Discusses Trauma Responses in Learning
Cincinnati therapist, Kimber Andrews, MA, LPC, Discusses Understanding Trauma Responses in Learning
Cincinnati Therapist Discusses Self-Compassion in Parenting: Nurturing Yourself and Your Child
Cincinnati therapist, Keri Perdrix, MA, LPC, Discusses Self-Compassion in Parenting: Nurturing Yourself and Your Child
Cincinnati Therapist Discusses Healing and Growth of Childhood Trauma through the Transformative Benefits of EMDR Therapy
Cincinnati therapist, Kara O’Toole, MA, LPC, discusses healing and growth of childhood trauma through the transformative benefits of EMDR Therapy
Cincinnati Therapist Discusses Harnessing Anger: The Polyvagal Theory in Action
Cincinnati therapist, Brandon Mueller MA, LPC, discusses Harnessing Anger: The Polyvagal Theory in Action
Cincinnati Therapist Explains the Hand Model of the Brain: Understanding your Emotional Responses
Cincinnati therapist, Amy Sullivan, MA, LPCC-S, Explains the Hand Model of the Brain: Understanding your Emotional Responses