The Somatic Science® Approach- Part 1
Somatic Science® is a neurocognitive & nondual wisdom approach. It supports our nervous system to become regulated, relaxed and harmonized with itself & the external environment. This helps us to develop a basic capacity for self-attunement and self-regulation, which are essential for satisfying relationships with our self and others. This approach fills the void left by Science and Spirituality yet embraces both, which ignore the great importance of Nervous System Regulation in our lives.
Introduction
The aim of the Somatic Science® approach is to offer new insights to bridge the gap between scientific and spiritual understanding. If you are reading this, you are likely motivated by a desire or wish to enjoy your life. This approach is exclusively designed to re-discover our capacity to enjoy life with great happiness; no more and no less. It is not to focus on diagnoses, understanding our problems or spending many years analyzing them. When we are happy, we are simply BEING the present moment. Psychological, scientific, technological, philosophical, spiritual, energetic or metaphysical problems DO NOT EXIST within essential peace and tranquility. There might be challenges, and in being presence, we can resolve them with responsibility and care.
From the Somatic Science® perspective, happiness is simply the absence of suffering, and for our nervous system, suffering means that a threat response cycle (TRC) is active regardless of present-moment safety, comfort or otherwise pleasing circumstances. We call this the maladaptive TRC.
Many of us have met all our basic needs yet remain fundamentally anxious, depressed or ill at ease with the sense that "something" is wrong. That "something" lies deep within our Autonomic Nervous System.
The wisdom pointed to by ancient spiritual traditions and modern science resides within us yet remains inaccessible if we remain tightly bound to our habitual behaviors, cognitive patterns and emotional reactions. No matter how much theoretical knowledge or practice we engage in, true transformation and the experience of being whole cannot occur as long as dysfunctional nervous system patterns dominate us. Somatic Science® emphasizes how we can use a novel relational dynamic to access the most evolved, modern part of our nervous system - the Ventral Vagal Complex (VVC). We then use a new dialectical model to relationally engage the highly evolved yet more ancient parts in the Dorsal Motor Complex (DMC) which use up a large part of our metabolic and nervous system energy to conserve it in case of possible threats.
This approach seeks to show that our well-being at its root is NOT a spiritual, energetic or psychological matter. Without a baseline of nervous system regulation, we have no access to the benefits that these approaches might provide us.
Somatic Science® offers a new lens through which we can understand these reactive fixations and importantly, how we can transform them into what they really are: joyful, exuberant aliveness.
Western science and spirituality both overlook an essential component: the state of regulation within our nervous system. A nervous system that is overwhelmed by activation and out of balance cannot effectively perceive or respond to our innate & deeper realities. For our essential potential to unfold, our nervous system needs to experience a baseline of calm, safety, and openness—self-regulation. These are physiological requirements which allow for a genuine connection to our conscience—the deep, intuitive knowledge that each of us is a part of something vast and boundless.
Somatic Science® is an approach that seeks to eliminate the superstitions held by Scientific reductionism and Spiritual transcendence.
Somatic Science® is based on the clinical and scientific evidence that our nervous system plays a central role in how we experience life, and how we relate to self and others. It introduces a dynamic approach to healing the maladaptive Threat Response Cycle (mTRC), which leads to chronic unhappiness when it goes unchecked. As we learn to self-regulate, we can step out of this dysfunctional cycle to rediscover a state of calm and well-being that isn't dependent on external circumstances or past outcomes.
Brief Summary of the Threat Response Cycle
The threat response cycle (TRC) in humans is the physiological sequence with which our Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) responds to perceived existential danger, ensuring survival. Somatic Science® describes how it is triggered by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and then develops into a dysfunctional mTRC (maladaptive TRC). The TRC unfolds in three primary stages:
1. Detection and Activation - : A part of the brain identifies a threat, triggering the ANS to activate the sympathetic branch, leading to a surge of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Physiological changes occur as increased heart rate, heightened senses and preparation for immediate action—either fighting, fleeing, or immobilization.
2. Resolution and Recovery - : Once the threat subsides, the parasympathetic nervous system engages to downregulate the stress response. This includes slower breathing, reduced heart rate, and the restoration of bodily functions like digestion. Behavioral signals, such as sighing or shaking, may help complete this transition.
3. Integration and Adaptation - : The individual processes the experience, storing it in memory. Depending on the outcome, this can lead to adaptive learning or maladaptive patterns (e.g., trauma responses if the cycle is interrupted or unresolved).
Understanding this cycle highlights a new possibility to trace the signals that our nervous system generates and which we experience as nervousness, curiosity, fear or contentment. Somatic Science® very closely studies the implications of the effects of incomplete TRCs as mentioned in the Integration & Adaptation phase above.
The mTRC is a new understanding of how humans respond to inescapable relational threats over time. There is substantial clinical evidence that this is the primary cause of existential trauma, unhappiness, dis-ease and many chronic syndromes.
When the TRC is incomplete due to tonic immobility—a state of involuntary metabolic shutdown under extreme stress—the individual remains in a dorsal vagal state, governed by the parasympathetic nervous system's "tonic immobility" response. In this state, the nervous system prioritizes conservation of energy and emotional numbing overactive engagement. The effects are:
1. Physical Symptoms: Low energy, fatigue, shallow breathing, and a sense of heaviness or constriction in the body. The individual may appear withdrawn or sluggish.
2. Emotional and Cognitive Impact: Feelings of disconnection, numbness, or apathy dominate, with limited emotional range. Cognitive functions such as memory, focus, and problem-solving may be impaired.
3. Functional Limitations: The person may perform necessary tasks but lacks vitality or initiative. Their actions are often habitual and effortful, with little spontaneity or pleasure.
4. Self-Relational & Interpersonal Challenges: Relationships can feel distant or strained due to difficulty in connecting emotionally or expressing needs.
This state represents survival in a minimalistic sense—"functioning" like a robot in over-ride despite unresolved high activation. Healing requires completing the interrupted mTRCs with specific relational interventions developed specifically by Somatic Science®.
In part 2 of this blog, we review further theory and application of these principles developed over several decades of study and application in group and individual clinical settings. Below is a summary of the major implications of the above text.
Somatic Science® approach Implications
We need Embodiment Practices More than Cognitive Analysis
The focus shifts from analyzing problems to engaging the body and nervous system directly through somatic awareness practices.
By addressing maladaptive TRCs, individuals can unlock states of ease and vitality that are otherwise inaccessible through cognitive or behavioral processing alone.
Therapeutic Reorientation
Clinicians and practitioners are encouraged to prioritize nervous system regulation as a foundation for emotional and cognitive healing.
Early Intervention
Identifying and addressing nervous system dysregulation early—especially in children with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—could prevent the development of chronic maladaptive patterns.
Shifting the Definition of Happiness
This perspective challenges the notion of happiness as dependent on external circumstances, reframing it as the absence of internal threat activation.
Logically, this suggests that well-being is attainable for anyone, regardless of life circumstances, provided their nervous system is regulated.
Universal Relevance:
Nervous system regulation is a universal need, cutting across cultural, spiritual, and individual differences.
This approach is applicable to diverse populations, from trauma survivors to those seeking greater life satisfaction.
Empowerment Begins with Self-Regulation
Self-regulation offers a universal path to well-being, where individuals learn tools to manage their internal states rather than relying solely on external experts.
This aligns with the logic that autonomy and self-efficacy are critical for sustained transformation.
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