Somatic Tools for Well-Being
If you’ve participated in classes, trainings, or coaching through the Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership, you’ve probably noticed that we focus a lot on the importance of emotional self-regulation. This means being able to notice and work with your own emotional responses.
February 20, 2025
At verywellmind.com, emotional self-regulation is defined as the ability to:
- Pause before acting
- Support yourself through a challenge—and seek support from others
- Act in ways that are consistent with your values
Emotional self-regulation takes practice.
And it’s one of the most important things you can do as a child welfare worker or kin, foster, or adoptive family member. Remember that the young people you care for and work with often attune with you—so your well-being also has a good chance of increasing their well-being. And when you model emotional self-regulation techniques and explain what you’re doing, children and youth notice–and then they are better able to start practicing these techniques themselves.
One way to work on emotional self-regulation is by using somatic practices.
Somatic practices are activities that focus on body awareness, perception, and reflection to help settle your nervous system and increase your awareness of not only your body, but also of your mind and spirit.
Take a look at the articles below to see what might resonate for you and those in your care. Not every technique will be a good fit for every person—this is especially important to keep in mind for those with trauma histories. Check in with your child’s team (and, depending on their age and development, with the child themselves) about what resonates with them. Many of us benefit from having a toolbox of sorts—knowledge about a variety of techniques that might support us during stressful moments.
Starting with you:
In this article from Somatic Therapy Partners, “Somatic Techniques for Children and Parents,” you might consider your own history from a somatic lens. You’ll also learn about a variety of ways to connect with the children and youth in your life in ways that help to regulate you both.
Nurturing somatic awareness:
Through this post from The Embody Lab, “5 Ways to Nurture Somatic Awareness and Self-Regulation in Children,” you’ll learn how play, curiosity, and more contribute to self-awareness and self-regulation.
Some techniques to try:
This post from Johns Hopkins, “Somatic Self Care,” shares several techniques, some of which are only five minutes long, to either calm or activate your nervous system.
- Caregiver Training & Resources – Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership
- Podcast Library – Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership
- Trauma Informed Practice/Parenting – Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership
- Adoption – Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership
- RPC + – Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership
- VT-CWTP Publications, Annual Reports, and Newsletters – Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership
- On-Line Learning – Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership
The point about attunement really stands out – that the young people we care for often regulate through us is such a good reminder that investing in your own body awareness isn’t selfish, it’s one of the most direct ways to support children’s well-being too. Starting with something as simple as a body scan or a breath check before a difficult interaction can make a genuine difference, both for the caregiver and the child.
even small somatic practices are vital when navigating stressful moments like financial decision fatigue which can so easily disrupt our ability to stay regulated. It’s a powerful reminder that modeling these practices doesn’t just help the children in our care but it also preserves our own metabolic health as well.