What is NeuroAffective Touch?

NeuroAffective Touch (NAT) is a professional psychobiological approach that integrates the key elements of somatic psychotherapy, attachment and developmental theory, and affective and interpersonal neurobiology. Polyvagal-informed, it uses intentional, mindful touch to bring the unconscious memories held in the body into conscious awareness. Through offering direct communication and support to the body at the nonverbal level, where we all receive our first imprints, NeuroAffective Touch treats lifelong emotional traumas to reconnect us to the wholeness of our relational matrix.

Early relational wounds or experiences where our need for safety, care, or connection was not fully met, can become “held” in the body. NAT slowly and gently helps release these patterns, restoring a sense of safety, connection, and belonging. It supports emotional regulation, eases feelings of isolation, and addresses attachment wounds that words alone may not reach.

For many people with early trauma or complex trauma, there can be an internal conflict: a deep longing for connection, yet a fear of closeness because early relationships were experienced as unsafe. NAT offers a safe, gentle way to explore this tension. By working directly with the body and nervous system, it helps uncouple this “bind,” allowing individuals to feel safer in relationships and in themselves.

NAT fosters self-awareness, resilience, and a renewed capacity for authentic connection, both with oneself and with others. It provides a supportive space where healing can happen at the pace the body and mind are ready for, helping people move from patterns of tension or hypervigilance toward a greater sense of ease, presence, and emotional freedom.

By addressing what to do when there are no words, when words are not enough, or when words get in the way, NeuroAffective Touch® transcends the limitations of talk therapy for healing early relational wounds.

The touch provided in NATouch sessions can involve the use of pillows and props, as well as hands-on touch. Sessions are conducted fully clothed, with you either seated or lying down, depending on what feels most comfortable for you. This approach honours your boundaries, fostering a space where healing can naturally unfold.

Although it is possible to work online NAT works best in person.