NeuroAffective Touch® (NATouch)
Sometimes, the hardest parts of our story live in places that words can’t reach. NeuroAffective Touch® (often called NATouch™) offers a way in—through gentle, attuned touch and presence—so your body can begin to speak what’s been silent.
What is NeuroAffective Touch?
At its heart, NATouch sees the body as an essential storyteller—not just a vessel. Developed by Dr. Aline LaPierre, it blends somatic therapy, attachment theory, developmental science, and neuroscience to support healing at levels talk therapy can’t always touch.
“NATouch” emphasizes two dimensions:
- Neuro: Because touch doesn’t just skim the skin—it communicates through nerve receptors in muscles, organs, connective tissues, and more. These signals carry meaning into the brain.
- Affective: Because touch is deeply emotional. Many people say it’s like touching their emotions. It invites what’s been held beneath awareness into the compassionate gaze of presence.
In short, NATouch invites your body, mind, and emotions into a quiet dialogue—one that is gentle, relational, and responsive.
How a NATouch Session May Feel
Picture this: You settle into a comfortable space, fully clothed, supported with blankets or pillows. I invite you to sense into your body—not to fix anything, but to listen. With your permission, I may offer light, attuned touch—on your back, arms, or wherever your system allows.
That touch becomes a kind of relational signal: “You are not alone. I’m here.” Through that contact (which is always consent‑based), your nervous system can begin to soften, letting down tension, shifting held patterns, and opening toward new possibilities.
As you and I move together through moments of somatic awareness, heart, and curiosity, we’ll invite understanding—bodily, emotional, and cognitive—to emerge side by side. Somewhere in that space, the lines between body and mind begin to blur, and healing finds a way in.
What You Might Notice or Experience
Clients often describe NATouch as a surprising mix of subtle and powerful. You may feel a gentle release, a wave of calm, or simply notice yourself taking a deeper breath. Sometimes a long‑held tension softens, or an emotion rises that had been tucked away. Other times it’s more quiet—a sense of finally being met, or of feeling safe in your own body.
Each experience is unique. Memories or emotions may surface, or you may simply feel more grounded and present. Whatever shows up, you set the pace and remain in control of the process.
Who NATouch Tends to Help
Many people come to NATouch when they’ve already tried talking about their struggles and still feel something missing. It can be especially supportive if you:
- Feel like words don’t capture what’s really going on
- Carry chronic tension, numbness, or a sense of being disconnected from yourself
- Notice old relationship wounds that feel too deep for talk therapy alone
- Sense that healing needs to include your body, not just your mind
- Long for a more relational, embodied path of therapy rather than techniques alone.
Safety, Boundaries & What You Should Know
- I will always ask before offering touch—it’s never imposed
- Touch is optional. We can always slow down or step away
- This is trauma‑informed work; your comfort, pacing, consent, and ongoing feedback matter
NATouch is not massage or manipulation. It’s relational, attuned, and grounded in respect for your autonomy and boundaries.
How NATouch Fits Into Our Work Together
NATouch isn’t a replacement for talk therapy—it’s a companion to it. Think of it as another doorway: if your body has something to say, NATouch offers a respectful way to listen.
Session Logistics & What to Expect
- Sessions last 50-60 minutes
- You remain fully clothed
- We begin with grounding and connection before considering touch
Many people feel meaningful change even in a few sessions; some choose ongoing work depending on your goals
Learn More
If you’d like to explore more about NeuroAffective Touch® from its founder, you can visit the official site:
Reach Me
Jennifer DiGennaro MA LPC
1324 Lake Drive Suite 8
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506
Tel: 616.446.6728
E-mail: Jen@NourishedEnergy.com
Schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation with Jen