The PEACE Protocol A Somatic Therapy Approach
Trauma anxiety and stress are not only experienced in thoughts. They are lived in the body and nervous system. Many people in McKinney Texas seek support because they feel overwhelmed emotionally reactive or disconnected and find that traditional talk therapy alone does not fully address their experience.
The PEACE Protocol, developed by Dr. Pat Ogden founder of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, is a somatic approach designed to help the nervous system regulate stress build resilience and support healing. This protocol is used within somatic therapy to help individuals work with nervous system activation and grounding through body awareness and embodied resources rather than focusing only on thoughts or narrative content.
At our McKinney Texas therapy practice we integrate the PEACE Protocol with somatic psychotherapy techniques to support clients in developing present moment awareness nervous system regulation and greater emotional stability.
What Is the PEACE Protocol
The PEACE Protocol is a five step somatic resource framework used to help individuals modulate bodily activation and strengthen resilience. It supports nervous system regulation and integration through embodied attention and mindful engagement with the environment.
PEACE stands for:
Pause
Embody
Acknowledge
Concentrate
Engage
Each step invites present moment attention to physical sensations and the felt experience of the body.
Pause in Somatic Therapy
The first step is Pause. In this step clients are invited to stop what they are doing and notice what is happening in their body. This includes sensing muscle tension breathing patterns heart rate or any internal signals of activation or calm. Recognizing these bodily signals helps the nervous system move toward regulation.
In somatic therapy sessions in McKinney Texas this step supports clients in developing awareness of their body’s responses before moving into deeper regulation work.
Embody a Somatic Resource
Once aware of bodily signals, the next step is to Embody a somatic resource that feels supportive in the body. A somatic resource may be grounding through the feet lengthening the spine orienting to the environment soft breathing or self touch depending on what feels safe in the moment.
This step is about connecting to physical experiences that provide a sense of support calm or steadiness.
Acknowledge What Shifts in the Body
After embodying a supportive resource the next step is to Acknowledge what has shifted. This means noticing changes such as a slower breath softer muscles less tension or a sense of steadiness. Acknowledging somatic changes is a way of training the nervous system to notice safety and calm.
In therapy this step often helps clients recognize internal cues of regulation that they might not otherwise notice.
Concentrate on the Experience
The fourth step is to Concentrate attention on the positive effects of the felt resource for 15 seconds or more. This sustained attention helps reinforce the nervous system’s capacity to shift toward regulation and create new neural pathways associated with safety and ease.
This step supports deeper integration of the embodied experience.
Engage with the Environment
Finally, the Engage step invites shifting attention outward toward the environment with an embodied sense of calm and presence. This might include noticing sights sounds and sensations around you orienting visually to the space or engaging in simple mindful actions that connect body and surroundings.
Engagement bridges internal regulation with everyday living and supports integration beyond the therapy session.
Video and Printable PEACE Resource
To support your journey we have included a guided video explanation of the PEACE Protocol and a printable PEACE handout that you can use between sessions. These resources provide step by step guidance on each component of the PEACE Protocol so you can practice somatic awareness and regulation at your own pace.
Somatic Therapy in McKinney Texas
At our McKinney Texas counseling practice we offer somatic therapy, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and related body centered techniques to support people experiencing trauma anxiety stress relational challenges and life transitions. Somatic therapy helps clients develop present moment awareness of bodily sensations and supports nervous system regulation in ways that traditional talk therapy alone may not address.
Using the PEACE Protocol in therapy helps clients build skills for self regulation grounding nervous system awareness and resilience so they can respond to stress with greater choice and balance.
Work with an Integrative Somatic Therapist in McKinney Texas
If you are looking for trauma informed somatic therapy techniques in McKinney Texas learning the PEACE Protocol can be a powerful step toward regulation and healing. You do not have to relive difficult experiences to find peace. Healing begins with safety curiosity and the embodied wisdom of the nervous system.
