Treating Trauma Through the Autonomic Nervous System

At Musculoskeletal Specialists (MSK), we offer the Bookwright Neural Reset, a manual therapy approach designed to help individuals experiencing tension and discomfort associated with stored trauma. Modern research suggests that the nervous system can retain responses to past experiences, influencing physical and emotional well-being.

Our approach is based on the understanding that the body and brain communicate through electrical signals. When the brain perceives a threat, whether from a past injury, emotional stress, or unknown source, it may trigger a fight-flight-freeze response, leading to muscle tension, discomfort, and heightened stress levels.

Practitioners use a hands-on approach to stimulate the cranial nerves during a stress response loop, disrupting the body's habitual reaction and allowing for a reset. This process momentarily confuses the nervous system, interrupting the repetitive signaling that keeps the body in a heightened state of alert. A stress response loop happens when the brain continuously signals the body to stay alert or tense, even when the original cause is no longer present. While one practitioner introduces this loop through manual pressure on an old injury, the other applies additional inputs at the cranium, overwhelming the brain’s ability to multitask. This interference forces the brain to drop the loop and recognize safety, allowing the old stress signal to dissolve. By interrupting this cycle, the body moves from a state of fight, flight, or freeze into a calmer, more connected state. This process is based on polyvagal theory, which explains how the nervous system adapts to stress and safety.  

A Whole-Body Approach to Supporting Nervous System Regulation

Our 90-minute MSK Neural Reset session involves a thorough, hands-on assessment and response process, covering:

• Areas of muscular tension and nerve sensitivity

• Skull and spinal regions linked to nervous system responses

• Sites of past physical injuries, scars, or surgeries

• Physical responses related to stress triggers

This treatment is not psychological therapy or counseling—it focuses solely on physical responses within the body. Clients are not required to discuss past experiences, as we work with objective nervous system responses.

Commonly Reported Experiences Following a Session:

• Greater sense of relaxation and calmness

• Reduction in general muscle tension

• Improved breathing and postural ease

• Enhanced mobility and flexibility

• Feelings of emotional balance and clarity

• Reduction in stress-related discomfort

• A greater sense of overall well-being

Individual experiences may vary. This service is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.

How Does the MSK Neural Reset Work?

Our method has been developed through over 10 years of research and hands-on practice in musculoskeletal care. It is based on principles of neuromuscular response, nervous system signaling, and applied manual therapy techniques.

The session includes:

• Recognizing and Locating Trauma Loops – Practitioners identify areas where the nervous system is “stuck” in a trauma signal, causing muscle guarding and heightened stress responses.

• Interrupting the Loop Through Manual Techniques – Using hands-on methods, practitioners confuse the trauma signal in a way that forces the brain to reinterpret and reset the response.

• Allowing the Signal to Normalize – Once the trauma loop is disrupted, the nervous system naturally relaxes, allowing the muscles to release and the body to shift out of a heightened state.

This approach is one of the closest non-verbal techniques to NLP in how it works with the nervous system to break trauma-based response cycles. Rather than using language to reframe a thought pattern, we use physical input to reframe a neurological response.  

Session Details

Session Length: 90 minutes (with two trained practitioners)

Learn More About Nervous System Regulation & Trauma Response

For further insights into how stress and trauma may influence the body, explore these resources:

• Waking the Tiger – Peter Levine

• The Polyvagal Theory – Stephen W. Porges

• The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel A. van der Kolk

If you are seeking a gentle, hands-on approach to disrupting trauma loops and resetting your nervous system, contact Musculoskeletal Specialists today.

The Bookwright Neural Reset technique is named after two MSK mentors, Mark Bookhout and Lee Cartwright. Mark Bookhout taught us how to navigate the nervous system and recognize neurological patterns of muscle guarding, while Lee Cartwright was a pioneer in addressing psychosomatic issues. His groundbreaking work laid the foundation for techniques that effectively integrate mind and body healing. Both men dedicated their lives to helping thousands of people and left a lasting impact on the field of neuromuscular therapy.