The Nudge Under the Table
My friend kicked me under the table.
On purpose.
It was an intentional nudge that said, “Did you notice that too?”, something understood between us that couldn't be said out loud in the shared company of others.
In that small moment, I felt a surprising sense of warmth. Someone else saw what I saw. Someone else understood what I was thinking. No explanation was needed. No debrief. Just a gesture that said it all.
We regulate, heal, and make sense of the world through connection with others. When something strange, awkward, funny, or uncomfortable happens around us, there is safety and comfort in knowing we are not the only one noticing it or feeling it.
We form relationships and communities not only for companionship, but also for safety and regulation. When we reconnect with others and establish a sense of safety, we begin to take control of our own nervous system. This is the key to healing trauma.
Loneliness often doesn't arrive with a dramatic announcement. It shows up quietly in the shape of: fewer conversations, less movement, less contact with the world outside the routine.
And here's the paradox: when we feel lonely, our instinct is often to withdraw even more.
What our nervous system actually needs in those moments is a safe connection.
That small connection might be:
asking the barista how their day is going
walking in a park and saying hello to someone with a dog
exchanging a smile with another person on the path
These brief moments matter more than we think. They remind the body that we are part of a shared world.
Psychologist Abraham Maslow wrote about this in his hierarchy of needs: after our basic survival needs, humans require belonging and connection. It is not optional. It is essential.
So if you find yourself feeling a little stuck or alone this season, consider this a gentle nudge under the table.
You're not the only one noticing.
And you don't have to walk through life alone.
Metaphor of the month
Visiting my favorite tree in the park, I noticed a shape on the trunk. It was so easy to place a hand in this space and feel a connection or a sense of harmony. What happens when we keep our eye out for moments of attunement? Most likely, we feel grounded, heard, and seen. We feel love and attention in a soft and innocent kind of manner.
Featured Trail
Positive Strides in the Community
This month, I had the honor to speak at the Mental Wellness Summit with Jewish Educational Services about the importance of integrating nature into schools to help students better regulate their nervous system.
Our therapists are here to provide meaningful support and education tailored to your group's needs.
Feel free to reach out for a free consultation.
I'm pleased to share that I'll be teaching as part of an upcoming Somatic Training Series hosted by Leading Edge Seminars. This is a multi-session clinical training designed for therapists working with trauma, nervous system regulation, and embodied approaches to care.
This series brings together eight of today's somatic leaders offering complementary somatic perspectives, with the goal of deepening practical application and integration across approaches.
In my session, I'll introduce nature-based and walk-and-talk somatic strategies that enhance engagement, reduce client resistance, and support regulation through movement and environment.
For a limited time, we're offering 50% off the Somatic Training Series before it begins.
Regular price: $949
Special series rate: $479
Save $470
You can view the full series and registration details here:
https://leadingedgeseminars.org/somatic-training-series
I hope to see you there.
Warmly,
Jen
Book News
audiobooks.com is now offering a Spring sale on “Walk and Talk Therapy”.
Now through the end of March, the audiobook is 50% off.
