Tools

Welcome to the tools of this educational resource hub!

Here, you’ll find a collection of practical, easy-to-use resources designed to help you incorporate exercise and body-based approaches into your trauma-informed counseling sessions. These tools are crafted to support both you and your clients by promoting healing through movement, mindfulness, and somatic awareness. Explore below to deepen your understanding and expand your toolkit for trauma recovery that honors the connection between mind and body.

Physical Activity Readiness Q'naire Plus (PAR-Q+)

💡Understanding the PAR-Q+ for Mental Health Clinicians

Originally designed for use in general fitness and health settings, the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire Plus (PAR-Q+) is a brief screening tool used to identify clients who may need medical clearance before starting or increasing physical activity. For mental health therapists integrating exercise into trauma treatment, the PAR-Q+ helps ensure that movement recommendations are safe and appropriate, taking into account clients’ physical health and reducing the risk of harm. It supports trauma-informed care by guiding conversations about clients’ readiness to engage in exercise while promoting overall well-being.

Access the PAR-Q+ using this link:

https://eparmedx.com/

💡How Can Mental Health Clinicians Use the PAR-Q+ Ethically and Effectively?

Use as a Screening Guide, Not a Diagnostic Tool: Therapists should recognize that the PAR-Q+ is a screening tool, not a substitute for a full medical evaluation. It helps identify when a referral to a medical professional is appropriate.
Obtain Informed Consent: Explain the purpose of the screening to clients, emphasizing that it’s to promote their safety and well-being. Ensure clients understand that sharing accurate health information is important.
Respect Client Autonomy: If a client expresses discomfort or concerns about exercise, therapists should honor their preferences and adapt recommendations accordingly.
Collaborate with Healthcare Providers: When the PAR-Q+ indicates potential risk factors, therapists should encourage clients to consult with their primary care providers or specialists before starting new exercise routines.
Integrate Trauma Sensitivity: Combine the PAR-Q+ with trauma-informed assessment practices by asking clients about their feelings related to movement and exercise, ensuring recommendations align with their comfort and safety.

Physical Activity Guidelines (PAG)

💡Understanding the PAG for Mental Health Clinicians

Regular physical activity plays a vital role in enhancing the health of individuals and communities alike. Grounded in the most current scientific research, the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (ages 3 and odlder) serves as a leading resource for health professionals and policymakers. It offers evidence-based recommendations for incorporating physical activity into daily life to promote overall well-being. Discover strategies to help individuals recognize the value of physical activity and integrate it into their everyday routines.

Access the Physical Activity Guidelines provided by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion using this link:

https://odphp.health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/physical-activity-guidelines

💡How Can Mental Health Clinicians Use the PAG Ethically and Effectively?

Use PAG for psychoeducation, not prescriptions. Stay within your scope by using the guidelines to educate, not to create exercise plans.
Start with safety and consent. Always ask permission before introducing movement-related topics or suggestions.
Frame movement as a tool for emotional regulation. Emphasize benefits like stress reduction, improved sleep, and mood stabilization—not fitness or weight loss.

Focus on function, not performance. Highlight how gentle, everyday movement can promote grounding, embodiment, and nervous system regulation.
Apply the FITT framework (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type) to help clients explore movement in a structured, flexible, and personalized way.
Normalize “small wins.” Reinforce that even light activity (e.g., 5–10 minutes/day) is beneficial—“some is better than none.”
Collaborate with other professionals. Refer to trauma-informed personal trainers or physical therapists as needed for structured exercise programs.

Use the PAG as a conversation starter. Ask reflective questions like, “Are there any forms of movement that feel safe or helpful to you right now?”
Document clearly. Record how movement is being used, ensure client consent, and clarify that exercise is an adjunct to—not a substitute for—therapy.
Honor body autonomy and trauma history. Avoid pressure, performance metrics, or movement that could feel unsafe or dysregulating.

Therapist Aid

💡What is Therapist Aid?

Therapist Aid provides free, evidence-based tools to support mental health professionals in their work. Resources include worksheets (such as the Mental Health Benefits of Exercise Worksheet), psychoeducation guides, interactive tools, professional articles (check out the Using Exercise in Mental Health Article) and therapy activities designed to enhance the counseling process. All materials are created by professionals and grounded in current psychological research and best practices.

Access the Therapist Aid website using this link:

https://www.therapistaid.com/

Chair Yoga as a Clinical Tool

💡Supporting Trauma-Informed Care Through Accessible Movement

Chair yoga is a gentle form of yoga that can be practiced while seated or using a chair for support, making it accessible to individuals with limited mobility, chronic pain, or those who may feel unsafe engaging in traditional forms of movement. For trauma survivors, chair yoga offers a structured and grounded experience that supports regulation of the nervous system, cultivates mindfulness, and reinforces the mind-body connection in a safe and adaptable way.

💡Why Chair Yoga in Therapy?

Research supports the integration of somatic practices like yoga as adjunctive treatments for trauma. Chair yoga can be easily implemented within counseling sessions without requiring a yoga mat or private gym space, making it an ideal tool for clinicians working in office settings, schools, hospitals, or telehealth environments. This modality emphasizes gentle stretching, breath awareness, and mindful movement, which can foster emotional safety and support trauma recovery.

A Trusted Source For Yoga Education:

Tummee is a comprehensive online platform designed to support yoga professionals by providing detailed information on thousands of yoga poses, sequences, and teaching tools. The platform serves as a valuable resource for clinicians interested in incorporating trauma-informed yoga practices—such as chair yoga—into their work.

Access the foundational Chair Yoga sequences on their website using this link:

https://www.tummee.com/yoga-sequences/chair-yoga-sequences

Polyvagal Exercises

💡The Voo Sound

The Voo Sound method -used in Somatic Experiencing (SE) and created by Peter A. Levine- helps trained practitioners observe clients’ body sensations, behaviors, and self-soothing patterns. Its goal is to regulate bodily responses and prevent nervous system overwhelm.

By focusing on natural calming behaviors, the technique promotes comfort during anxiety and encourages self-regulation using one’s own resources. Vocal sounds and vibrations can help soothe the body and release nervous system activation.

Be gentle with yourself—if the exercise feels uncomfortable, pause and allow your body to settle.

💡Steps for The Voo Sound

Choose a space where you feel safe and uninhibited to use your voice.
Settle into a relaxed posture—sitting comfortably on a chair or the floor works well.
Take a moment to tune into your body and notice your current sensations.
Gently shift your focus to your breathing, allowing yourself to breathe slowly and deeply.
Picture the deep, steady sound of a foghorn—low and resonant.
Take a full breath in, then exhale while making a “voo” sound, allowing the vibration to travel through your chest and abdomen.
Once you’ve finished the exhale, let your next breath come in naturally. Stay with the feeling of the vibration for a few more breaths.
If the experience feels calming, try repeating it a few more times, and pay attention to how your body feels after each round.

💡Self-Soothing Touch

The Self-Soothing Touch technique-used in Somatic Experiencing (SE) and created by Peter A. Levine-helps monitor bodily sensations, movement patterns, and natural calming behaviors. Its goal is to regulate bodily responses and prevent nervous system overload by focusing on self-soothing actions the client may already use during anxiety.

This method teaches individuals to calm their nervous system using their own resources, particularly through touch to foster physical and emotional ease. Approach the exercise gently—if distress arises, pause and give yourself time to settle.

💡Steps for Self-Soothing Touch

Choose a quiet, comfortable place where you can sit in a chair or lie down on the floor without distractions.
Cross your arms by placing one hand beneath the opposite armpit and resting the other hand on the upper arm, between the shoulder and elbow, as if gently embracing yourself.
Shift your focus to the feeling of being held or supported by this position.
You can imagine that you’re giving yourself a comforting hug.
Notice the bodily sensations that arise in the areas where your hands make contact.
Pay attention to the hand under your armpit—observe any warmth, pressure, or other physical details.
Turn your awareness to the sensations in the upper arm that’s being held—feel the surface of the skin and the underlying muscle.
Tune into what it feels like to have your arms resting across your chest.
Allow yourself to become aware of any emotional response this posture creates—perhaps a sense of safety, grounding, or containment.
Continue observing your physical and emotional state, staying with any comforting or pleasant sensations that emerge.

💡The Shake It Off Technique

The "Shake It Off" technique -used in Somatic Experiencing (SE) and created by Peter A. Levine- involves observing a client's physical sensations, movement patterns, and natural self-soothing behaviors. Its purpose is to regulate bodily responses and prevent nervous system overload by focusing on calming actions the client may already use, especially during anxiety.

This method helps individuals access their own coping resources to soothe and calm the nervous system. Just as animals instinctively shake to release stress-induced energy, this technique encourages the body to engage with that trembling response to restore balance. If at any point the exercise causes discomfort or distress, it’s important to pause and allow the body to settle.

💡Steps for the Shake It Off Technique

Choose a space where you feel safe and at ease to begin shaking.
You can do this exercise either standing or lying down.
Allow movement through your body by shaking your legs and feet.
Continue by shaking out your arms and hands to release energy.
Visualizing the act of brushing off sand after a beach visit may help enhance the experience.
Try any additional movements that feel naturally comforting to your body.
When you're ready, return to a resting position—either seated or lying down.
Finish by practicing a calming breathing technique to restore balance.

💡Anchor Breathing

Anchor breathing, when done with mindful awareness of bodily sensations and breath, can stimulate the parasympathetic branch of the nervous system through the vagus nerve. This process supports a sense of calm and safety, aligning with the principles of polyvagal theory, which emphasizes nervous system regulation. By focusing attention on the act of breathing, individuals send a signal to the body that they are safe and grounded in the present moment—an effect that can help reduce stress and anxiety.

💡Steps for Anchor Breathing

Begin by visualizing yourself on a boat, feeling relaxed, secure, and at ease.
Picture an anchor attached to the boat, holding it in place—keeping it steady, safe, and just where it needs to be.
Just like the boat has an anchor, the human body has natural anchor points that help bring focus and stability. These include the belly, chest and lungs, and the area around the nose and mouth.
Place your hands gently over your chest and take a slow, deep breath in.
Exhale gradually and with control.
Notice the movement of your ribs as they expand and contract with each breath.
If your thoughts begin to drift, calmly return your focus to your chosen anchor point in the body.

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