Somatic Snacks: Practical Nervous System Tools for Clinicians

This experiential, one-hour lunch & learn introduces clinicians to Somatic Snacks—small, accessible, body-based practices designed to support nervous system regulation in real time.

Grounded in somatic theory and informed by polyvagal and mind-body approaches, this workshop focuses on simple, effective tools that can be seamlessly integrated into sessions, between sessions, or within your own daily rhythm as a clinician.

Rather than overwhelming you with complex interventions, we’ll focus on brief, impactful practices that support regulation, awareness, and connection—both for you and your clients.

Participants will explore a range of “somatic snacks,” including:

• Orienting and environmental awareness to support safety and presence
• Interoceptive tracking to build emotional awareness and tolerance
• Gentle movement and vestibular input for regulation
• Eye-based practices to shift autonomic states
• Sound and vocalization for vagal activation and release
• Self-holding and deep pressure techniques to create safety
• Bilateral stimulation for integration and processing
• Simple ways to complete the stress response cycle
• Breathwork and temperature-based tools for quick state shifts

These tools are designed to be flexible, approachable, and adaptable across clinical settings and populations.

The workshop will include brief teaching, guided experiential practice, and space for reflection on how to ethically and effectively integrate these tools into your work.

Participants will leave with:

• A practical “Somatic Snacks” toolkit for everyday clinical use
• Increased confidence bringing the body into therapy
• Tools you can use in-session, between sessions, or for your own regulation
• A deeper understanding of how to support nervous system shifts in real time