Alyssa Buschert

Before I hold space for others, I have to come home to myself.

My rituals:
• Deep, paced breaths
• Brief prayer/intention
• Affirmations for presence and clarity
• And sometimes, floor time 😌

Therapists have nervous systems too.

What grounds you before vulnerability?

Winter energy is slower, and nothing is wrong with you for feeling it. ❄️

Small supports that can help:
• Light
• Movement
• Warmth
• Connection
• Permission to rest

Your pace can match the season.
Let your nervous system move with the season, not against it.

Which one feels doable today?

nervousystemregulation playfulhealingtherapy healingjourney youarenotalone

“Talking” in therapy is never just talking.

Words carry history.
Silence carries weight.

Patterns emerge in the space between us.
Relational therapy notices how we are together.

Do I feel heard?
Do I pull back?
Do I rush to please?

Over time, this shared noticing opens a new possibility:
to try relating differently.

And when it feels safe here,
it becomes possible out there too.

Internal Family Systems reminds us:
You are not “too much”, you are many.

Protector parts, such as managers and firefighters, keep you safe.
Managers try to prevent hurt by keeping everything under control.
Firefighters jump in during emergencies.
Exiles hold the hurt.
Your Self leads with compassion.

All parts are welcome here. Which one is loud today?

We heal in relationship, not in isolation.

Belonging is a biological need.

You deserve people who delight in you, not just depend on you.

What kind of support feels nourishing, not draining?

Tag someone who feels like safety. 🤍

# traumainformedcommunity # playfulhealingtherapy

These coping strategies didn’t come from nowhere. They came from survival.

✨ Perfectionism → “If I do everything right, I’ll be safe.”
✨ People-pleasing → “If you’re okay with me, I’m okay.”
✨ Procrastination → “If I avoid it, I can’t fail.”

They were brilliant and helpful once.
Now your system is inviting something gentler.

Which P shows up most for you?

A gentle four-step practice:
1️⃣ Acknowledge what’s here
2️⃣ Accept the emotion without judgment
3️⃣ Release what doesn’t belong to you
4️⃣ Reclaim your voice, power, softness

Try it with one small moment or “sticky thought” from today.

Let me know how it felt. 🫶

Sometimes our nervous system just needs a little help feeling okay.

A Dopamenu is a list of small things that can spark joy, movement, or calm: e.g. a warm drink, jumping on a trampoline, making art, hugging a pillow, dancing to one song.

It’s not about fixing, it’s about tending.

When energy is low or everything feels too much, try ordering off the Dopamenu. 🍓

Start small. Stay gentle. Let your energy meet you where you are.

Sensory regulation is self-care.

Glimmers are the opposite of triggers.
They’re tiny moments your nervous system experiences as safe.

The sun on your skin. A kind look. Your favourite song. A warm drink.

You don’t need a big breakthrough to feel better.
Sometimes you just need a glimmer.

Today, I’m noticing mine.

✨ what’s one glimmer you felt today?

Children grow through stages of play, from exploring alone to building stories together.

Sometimes, a child revisits earlier stages.
This isn’t failure, it’s healing.

Regression means the nervous system is circling back, repairing what was missed, practicing again with safety and support.

✨ Every stage has its own gifts. Every stage has something to say.

Play is the language of children, and when we listen, we help them heal.