The essence of Somatic Science©
​The aim of our approach is to enjoy life; no more and no less.​
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Somatic Science© is a neurocognitive framework developed over years of clinical research in individual and group settings. The framework yields an approach that relates to the experiences of the body via a humanistic understanding and application of the Polyvagal Theory. The approach has proven clinically effective in resolving the maladaptive threat response cycle (mTRC)—a persistent autonomic condition in which defensive states continue despite the absence of actual threats. While the adaptive mammalian threat response cycle (TRC) supports short-term survival, the mTRC locks the nervous system into outdated responses, impairing metabolic vitality, relational presence, and sustainable wellbeing.
At the heart of the mTRC are three interrelated fixations:
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Autonomic fixations: chronic visceral-muscular tension, bracing, or collapse
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Behavioral fixations: patterned motor strategies of avoidance or appeasement
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Cognitive fixations: rumination and looping imaginal narratives organized around threat
When reinforced by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), these fixations often consolidate into persistent defensive parts or character structures. While originally formed to protect the system during external relational rupture, these parts now operate from memory-driven dorsal dominance, reactivating whenever stimuli resemble past danger. Their function is to suppress sympathetic arousal and block the emergence of ventrally-mediated relational engagement, which would otherwise “update” the individual through new patterns of co-regulation and connection.
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The diagram below illustrates in the most minimal fashion how the transformation of fixations as the mTRC can take place:
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Methodology Summary:
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a. Locate our experience inside the body: Discover and explore the qualities of our experience that indicate that we are alive, at the implicit and explicit levels.
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b. Locate our experience outside the body: Experience how as a result of being alive, our biology has evolved a procedural mechanism to achieve safety.
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c. Blend the experiences inside and outside of the body via aperception and metacognition: Discover the simplicity of the experience of the present moment without reference to concepts (thinking).
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d. Refer our blended experiences to our face: Re-boot the relational mechanisms in the vagus nerve by mobilizing incomplete motor expressions in the face (and other body areas).
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e. Restart the attitude of curiosity via the facial present-moment sensors: Use exploratory orienting to detect the external environment and become open to discovery of new experiences.
A NonDualistic, NeuroCognitive approach to Healing, WellBeing & Happiness​
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NonDualistic: In philosophical and spiritual contexts, dualism is the concept that the mind and body are distinct and separate entities. Non-dualism posits that the mind and body -the BodyMind- are not separate but are interconnected aspects of the same entity. This perspective emphasizes the interplay between physiological, cognitive and essential health, recognizing that changes in one can significantly impact the other.
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NeuroCognitive: A neurocognitive approach involves understanding the neural substrates of cognition and behavior and leveraging this knowledge to devise strategies for improving mental and physical health.
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Healing, WellBeing & Happiness: These terms represent the objectives of the approach. “Healing” pertains to the process of recovery from physical or psychological distress. “Wellbeing” denotes a state of overall health and contentment, encompassing both physical and mental health. “Happiness” refers to a state of contentment, joy, or satisfaction with one’s life.
A NonDualistic, NeuroCognitive approach to Healing, WellBeing & Happiness​