You’re Closer than You Think: Trusting the Nervous System’s Path

Through tears, he said, “I did it! It’s gone. The fear is gone. I never thought that was possible.”

A few weeks later, a text arrived that filled me with an awe at his courage to trust the process and see it through. The paralyzing fear had not returned. No need for regulation skills. No emergency anxiety medication. Nothing to manage, because there was nothing left to manage. The fear simply wasn’t there.

This was extraordinary, especially considering just a few sessions earlier, he had sat across from me, exhausted and terrified, saying,

“This can’t be normal! Why is this so hard for me? I don’t think I can ever fully heal from this. Do other clients struggle like this too? Or am I too broken?”

I paused. Heat rushed from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Before I could think, the truth landed and the words found their way out:

“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.

The most transformative healing happens when I fully embody what it means to be a guide. A guide prepares you for the journey, maps the route, helps you find your way when things feel confusing, offers guardrails when the terrain gets rough, and points out the remarkable moments along the way.

If you’re longing for relief, if fear or overwhelm feels unrelenting, or if part of you wonders whether healing is even possible, I want you to know this: trust the process; you’re closer than you think, and you don’t have to walk this trail alone.