Alongside my clinical training in psychodynamic therapy and mindfulness-based approaches, I also studied holistic nutrition at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York. That training expanded my view of how deeply interconnected the mind and body really are.

By using calming techniques and fostering social connection, we can return to a state of calm and reestablish balance in our nervous system. Polyvagal Theory suggests that these responses are governed by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), specifically the vagus nerve, which regulates physiological states of arousal. The theory posits that our ANS operates on a continuum from safety to danger, and the body shifts between states of calm and activation based on perceived threat