Emily Flaherty Advanced Triple Vagal Method® (TVM®) practitioner
Why Healing Trauma Begins in the Body.
Trauma doesn’t exist only in our thoughts—it lives in the body as a survival response that never had the chance to fully resolve. The trauma is stored in the nervous system, muscles, and connective tissues. When these responses remain unfinished, the body stays in a constant state of protection—fight, flight, or freeze. This ongoing activation can show up as chronic stress, emotional overwhelm, pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and physical health challenges.
True healing can’t happen through insight alone. The body must feel safe enough to complete and release what was interrupted. That’s why TVM™ works from the bottom up—using the body as the pathway to lasting mental and emotional freedom.
Healing Through Nervous System Care
More people are beginning to recognize how deeply unhealed experiences influence our emotions, relationships, and sense of self.
You may notice yourself wondering why safety feels elusive, connection feels difficult, or fulfillment seems just out of reach. The nervous system learns from early experiences and key life events, shaping how it responds to the world. When these responses are rooted in survival, they can take over automatically—pulling you out of conscious choice and into patterns that keep you stuck.
Trauma doesn’t only live in the mind. It can surface as anxiety, low mood, hormonal disruption, chronic health challenges, self-doubt, or emotional cycles that prevent peace and closeness. Healing, however, is not only possible—it is supported by science. Through neuroplasticity, the brain and body can learn new pathways, allowing regulation, connection, and wholeness to return.
What is The Triple Vagal Method® (TVM®)
The Triple Vagal Method® (TVM™) emerged from over seven years of applied research and thousands of documented experiential sessions, integrating neuroscience, somatic intelligence, and embodied healing practices.
The Triple Vagal Method® is a bottom-up, somatic trauma transformation modality that supports deep healing by gently releasing trauma held within the body. By increasing vagal tone and completing incomplete stress and trauma cycles, the method restores nervous system regulation, resolves dissociation, and reestablishes a felt sense of safety and coherence within the body.
TVM™ offers a rapid, safe, and effective pathway for resolving trauma and chronic stress, guiding the nervous system back into balance, resilience, and optimized functioning.
Through this work, trauma is not only healed but transmuted—allowing individuals to return to a state of greater wholeness. As the nervous system becomes liberated from survival patterns, clients often experience expanded capacity for joy, love, connection, and embodiment, living more fully in bodies free from persistent physical and emotional pain.
When the nervous system is restored to a regulated and harmonious state, many individuals report improvements in mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. This can include the easing or reversal of certain symptoms, regenerative effects within the body, and a renewed sense of vitality, fertility, and optimism toward life.
TVM™ operates beyond the limitations of language, cognition, and age, making it effective across a wide spectrum of populations. The modality has been successfully applied with children, adolescents, and adults, and may also extend to certain mammals* such as cats, dogs, and horses, reflecting the universal language of the nervous system.
The method utilizes a precise, patented process that intentionally interfaces with the autonomic nervous system through targeted vagus nerve activation. This process facilitates the discharge of stored, incomplete survival responses—commonly understood as trauma—while stimulating the release of therapeutic levels of oxytocin. Oxytocin acts as both a neural regulator and a protective buffer, temporarily softening sympathetic nervous system activation and allowing the body to safely complete unresolved trauma cycles. Through this process, the system naturally returns to balance, integration, and embodied presence.
Oxytocin, Fascia & the Vagus Nerve
Oxytocin: The "Love Hormone"
Oxytocin, often referred to as the "love hormone," is a neuropeptide known for its role in social bonding, trust, and attachment. Traditionally associated with labor and lactation, oxytocin is now recognized for its involvement in a broader range of physiological and psychological functions. Recent research has revealed that oxytocin influences social behaviors, empathy, stress regulation, and even wound healing. It also behaves as a natural pain killer for both physical and emotional trauma and distress.
Fascia, a pervasive and intricate web of connective tissue, is present throughout the body, enveloping muscles, organs, and nerves. Previously thought of as a passive support structure, fascia is now understood to be a dynamic and highly responsive system. It provides structural integrity, transmits forces, and plays a crucial role in movement, coordination, and proprioception.
The vagus nerve, one of the longest cranial nerves, plays a vital role in regulating many aspects of our physiology, including heart rate, digestion, respiration, and emotional responses. Often referred to as the "wandering nerve," it connects the brain to numerous organs and tissues, serving as a two-way communication channel between the brain and the body. The vagus nerve also acts as a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting rest, relaxation, and recovery.
The Vagus Nerve: The Body's Information Superhighway
Fascia: The body's Connective Tissue Network
How Oxytocin Connects Fascia and the Vagus Nerve
Recent research suggests a meaningful link between oxytocin, fascia, and the vagus nerve. Oxytocin receptors have been identified in fascial tissues, indicating direct interaction that may influence fascial tension, elasticity, movement, posture, and body awareness. Oxytocin also modulates vagus nerve activity by promoting the release of acetylcholine, supporting relaxation, stress regulation, and emotional balance.
Together, these findings highlight an intricate connection between neurochemistry, connective tissue, and the autonomic nervous system. Continued research may enhance our understanding of human health and inform therapeutic approaches that support both physical and emotional well-being.
The Vagus Nerve & Polyvagal Theory
The vagus nerve functions as a central regulator of the body, shaping heart rate, digestion, immune response, hormonal balance, and emotional regulation.
According to Polyvagal Theory, we continuously move between three core nervous system states:
When trauma limits access to the Ventral Vagal state, our capacity for joy, intimacy, creativity, and vitality is diminished.
TVM™ works directly with the autonomic nervous system, gently engaging the vagus nerve to release stored survival energy. This process supports the body in settling out of heightened stress responses and restoring a felt sense of safety.
The benefits of TVM
Helps Shift the body from fight-or-flight (sympathetic) into rest-and-digest (parasympathetic) mode, helping reduce feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, and panic.
Enhances the ability to respond rather than react, can reduce emotional reactivity, irritability, and stress sensitivity
Encourages slow, diaphragmatic breathing. Improves heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of resilience and stress tolerance
Helps reconnect with bodily sensations, a powerful aid for people who dissociate, feel “disconnected,” or are stuck in their head
Has been proven to helpful to improve sleep issue such as Insomnia, racing thoughts and night terrors.
Because the vagus nerve connects to the gut TVM supports deeply in stress-related digestive issues. Supports overall nervous-immune balance
TVM can also help with:
PTSD
Fibromyalgia
Anxiety
Depression
ADHD
Chronic Fatigue
Insomnia
IBS
And so many more benefits!8
Testimonials
Shared experiences of the Triple Vagal Method
Kelly
"Wow! What an amazing practitioner Emily is! I had my first ever Somatic Therapy session with her and I felt safe and cared for the entire time: before (during the intake), during and after the session.
She has a soothing quality that allowed me to relax completely in the moment and it felt nice to be taken care of by her. She is so sweet and cares a lot for her clients, making sure we feel alright at any time with any of the protocols that we were about to go through. She explains very well what we were about to do and in moments of tears I could feel her heartfelt compassion. I did a total of 2 sessions with her so far and I absolutely loved the experience and the aftermath. Thank you Emily for opening your heart and gifts to guide other people along the way. You are a star!
"I had a series of Triple Vagal Method sessions with Emily, she held a beautiful space that really allowed me to go very deep into the process and feel safe to open to my vulnerability. I had many deep releasing experiences and felt under no pressure to rush away when recovering from particularly intense sessions. Highly recommend the process and Emily."
"I've recently been having TVM with Em. I'm doing 1 session a week to help reset my nervous system and release trauma i've stored up.
i've only had 3 sessions so far and know I may need extra as i've been in a state of survival for so long, but with 3 sessions down i'm feeling calmer. I have found myself more present and feeling less heavy with my inner emotions. I can see how shut off I have been and feel so hopeful that a few more sessions of TVM are exactly what I need. Ems always a message away, she gets it and that's what makes it so easy to do this journey with her.
I cannot recommend this treatment or Em enough!"
Ian
Toni
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
Offerings
Healing sessions and retreats designed to soothe your nervous system and uplift your spirit!
1:1 Advanced Triple Vagal Method Sessions
New Clients are required to block book an initial 3 sessions.
Beyond The Bounds Retreats
Once a Year we host a 7 Day Embodiment retreat. Watch this space for Updates on New events...
Get in Touch
Reach out to start your healing journey today.
