The Roundedness of Healing: Education as Repair
When clients begin their “healing” journey, many arrive carrying stories or beliefs about themselves that were never fully named, let alone understood. They’ve felt:
“too much” or “too sensitive” or “not enough”
What they didn’t know was that their nervous system was simply doing its best to protect them.
This is where education becomes repair.
I don’t just offer tools or the good ol’ coping skills. I offer much more.
I offer the language and comprehensive guidance. I teach nervous system education and understanding like it’s a beloved friend. I draw, show photos, and use made up, weird metaphors to explain to clients why their body responds to certain stimuli. I invite clients to understand their patterns not as a textbook definition, but as a personalized understanding of who they are.
When we name what’s happening inside us, we begin to soften the shame around it. AND when we understand our nervous system responses, we stop blaming ourselves for survival strategies.
When we learn the language of regulation, we start to feel choice again.
Take, for example, the individual who carries the belief, “I’m too much.” Over time, they may begin to see that their reluctance to raise a hand in class was not simply a matter of shyness, but a response shaped by a memory, of another student once saying, “Let someone else answer for once, you suck up.” The moment left a lasting impression, leading them to worry they were taking up too much space.
Similarly, someone who identifies as “too sensitive” might notice their pattern of apologizing after crying to a partner. This isn’t just a habit, but a response learned by their nervous system, a belief that crying is somehow wrong. They may recall how their parents, who truly did their best, would often say, “Stop crying, you’ll be alright.” In reality, their body needed only to express emotion, without judgement, and let the tears flow.
Some may consider these examples trivial or minor, but they are not. Trauma is not defined by the event itself, but by how the body responds to and processes dysregulating experiences. These seemingly insignificant examples can leave lasting effects.
Education in therapy isn’t just cognitive…it’s emotional. It’s relational. It’s a way of saying: You’re not broken. You’re brilliant. Let’s learn your rhythm together.
Locating the Client in the Science
In my practice, nervous system education isn’t just about teaching—it’s about remembering. I introduce clients to The Polyvagal Theory, often starting with the basics: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. We explore how the autonomic nervous system responds to stress, safety, and connection. I reference the work of Deb Dana and others who’ve helped make this science feel human, accessible, and deeply validating.
But the real work happens when we begin to locate the client inside the theory.
We talk about their own survival strategies, when they’ve used them, what they look like, how they’ve served them. We tell stories. Stories of pain, of protection, of joy. Of moments when their body said “no” before their mind could. Of times they felt safe enough to soften. This isn’t just education; it’s co-creation. It’s helping clients see that their responses make sense, that their body has always been trying to protect them.
And once that understanding lands, something shifts. Clients begin to feel less broken, more whole. They begin to trust their inner rhythm.
This work isn’t about fixing, it’s about witnessing.
Education isn’t about performance, it’s about empowerment.
When clients understand their inner world, they begin to trust it. And that trust becomes the soil for everything else: embodiment, attunement, and spiritual integration.
I invite you to:
Think of a moment when your body responded before your mind could catch up. What was it trying to protect you from—and what might it need now to feel safe?
Meet Mallory
Written by Mallory Tedrick, LISW, psychotherapist and founder of her private practice in Cleveland, Ohio. Mallory helps individuals navigate life transitions, cultivate resilience, and rediscover clarity through therapy.
If Mallory’s words resonate with you, she invites you to take the next step toward your own healing journey. Schedule a free consultation today and explore how therapy can support you in moments of uncertainty and growth.