At Flourish!, the vagus nerve is the connector between our treatment models in psychotherapy and our nutritional services and programs. By working with clients to develop vagal tone so they can regulate their cognitive, emotional and social behavior response they can accept the body’s anxious response—rather than resist it—ensuring healthy communication and processing during stressful times. Eating the right foods to ensure healthy digestion and elimination also plays a big role in developing vagal tone.

The body not only keeps the score but it also keeps a calendar. My entire body knew an anniversary of a terrifying event was coming up and this anniversary was approaching at a time when there were several stressors happening in my life. My internal protectors knew before I did that I did not have the strength or capacity to be with all I was holding and, thankfully, dropped my nervous system in a dorsal vagal state so I could get by on the bare minimum until I had more capacity on board to deal with all the things that were happening in the here and now.

Social health refers to the quality of our relationships and our sense of community. It's more than just having friends or family; it's about feeling connected, supported, and valued in meaningful ways. Social connectedness is essential for our emotional and psychological well-being, and it can also significantly impact physical health. Research shows that these connections are not merely beneficial but are as essential as other basic needs.

The more we ignore and dismiss the stress that we are experiencing under the hood, the more likely we are to get sick, withdraw from others, or cannot find a way to relax and enjoy the holiday spirit.

We encourage you to give yourself gifts that are not objects but can fill you with nurturing, compassion, gratitude and connection. YOU are just as important as everyone else on your gift list!

Stay true to your inner most desires and set intentions. You will be pleasantly surprised with what you accomplish and where it leads you.

While therapy that brings awareness and tools that can be applied to your physiological state our four legged canine friends can help you regulate your nervous system outside of the therapy room.    Their unconditional love for their caretakers, their non judgemental presence and the joy they can bring from just watching them do something endearing can shift your nervous system, even if it is a brief shift, into parasympathetic, where there is a sense of ease and calm.