Regulating Touch
A Gentle, Somatic Approach to Nervous System Healing
Our bodies hold stories - memories, emotions, and patterns shaped by our life experiences. Sometimes, especially after stress or trauma, the nervous system gets stuck in cycles of dysregulation, making it difficult to feel fully present, grounded, or at ease. Regulating Touch, developed by Kathy Kain, is a gentle, hands-on approach designed to help restore balance and bring the body back to a state of deep safety and connection.
What is Regulating Touch?
Regulating Touch is a somatic therapy that works directly with the body’s autonomic nervous system, using subtle and intentional touch to support self-regulation, relaxation, and healing. Since touch is our first language at birth, this kind of mindful, attuned touch can be especially supportive for those who have experienced early life or developmental trauma. This approach can help:
Ease chronic stress and anxiety
Support trauma recovery by creating a sense of safety in the body
Release stored tension and overwhelm
Deepen connection to self and body awareness
Cultivate a foundation of inner resilience and stability
Unlike traditional massage or bodywork, Regulating Touch isn’t about manipulating muscles or tissues. Instead, it provides a nourishing and attuned presence, helping the nervous system find its way back to equilibrium - gently and at its own pace.
How It Works
Regulating Touch can be a primary focus or simply one of the tools we use within a session, depending on your needs. When working with Regulating Touch, you are fully clothed, resting in a comfortable position while I use light, steady touch to support areas of the body that hold tension or dysregulation. The touch is subtle, non-invasive, and deeply attuned, always guided by your comfort and consent.
This work is particularly helpful for those who:
Feel stuck in “fight-or-flight” mode or chronically stressed
Experience emotional overwhelm or shutdown
Have a history of developmental or relational trauma
Struggle with sleep, rest, or relaxation
Experience digestive or auto-immune issues
Experience anxiety and chronic tension
Want to feel more present, embodied, and at ease
A Gentle Path to Healing
Regulating Touch offers a way to soften the edges of stress and trauma, allowing your body to settle into a deeper sense of peace and presence. Whether used as a standalone practice or integrated with other therapeutic approaches, it provides a safe and nurturing way to support whole-body healing.
If you’re curious about how Regulating Touch can support you, I’d love to connect and answer any questions. If you’d like to connect for a free 15-minute consultation or if you’d like to book an initial session, contact me and I will get back to you to set up a time.
