Scientific advancements have helped us better understand how the nervous system and brain work in conjunction with one another. Various research studies have given us greater insight into what’s happening in the brain and bodies of those who experience systematic overwhelm including all levels of traumatic occurrences

The known fact that the brain is able to change in response to sensory stimulation, an ability known as Neuroplasticity, is now so widely accepted.

 The Firefly Method® incorporates the principles of Neuroplasticity. The methodology provides gentle and specific Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS) in order to activate the neural pathways used in the processing of sensory information. Neuronal connections in these pathways are strengthened and new connections are established through repeated sessions of multisensory input via the Vagus Nerve.

We Prime, Learn, Consolidate, Reinforce, and Repeat over and over again until it becomes our dominant hardwiring and autonomic.

Firefly Somatics™ programming have been designed and created upon Polyvagal Theory (PVT). Also known as, the “science of feeling safe”. PVT is a key research advancement that helps us better understand the nervous system and human behaviours. Developed by world-renowned researcher and Scientific Advisor, Dr. Stephen Porges, PVT offers a foundational framework for non invasive ways to support nervous system healing. PVT focuses on what is happening in the body and the nervous system. It explains how our sense of safety, or danger or threat, can directly impact our behaviours and thoughts, feelings and emotions, perceptions and sensations, as well as inform the functioning of various neurobiological systems including the neuroendocrine and immune systems. Understanding PVT gives us a scientific framework that can be applied through physiological, or “bottom-up” approaches, to help reverse engineer how we feel in our bodies, think and connect with others.

The brain and body are connected through the Vagus Nerve, which is the longest nerve in the autonomic nervous system, stretching from the brainstem all the way to the colon. It is our internal control centre, allowing the brain to monitor and receive information about many of our bodily functions. The Vagus Nerve helps to regulate many critical aspects of human physiology, including our heart rate and HRV, breathing rate, blood pressure, sweating, gag reflex, digestion, speaking, hormonal and immune responses, to name a few.

As the body takes in information automatically through Neuroception (which runs outside of the conscious awareness), the Vagus Nerve processes the neuronal and sensory signals and cues from the world around us and, in turn, determines how we react or respond through three physiological states (as shown below on the PVT Bell Curve). See Our brain and nervous system are a sponge, constantly taking in information from the world around us, helping us to assess if we are safe or in danger. This is Neuroception. Every input is assessed through this unconscious lens — what we see, what we hear, and what we experience – absorbed via our senses. A harsh threatening voice, an unexpected sound or unwelcome situation. Our body senses it, takes it all in, and responds automatically. Our nervous system is constantly making decisions outside of our conscious awareness, and much of human behaviour is reactive based on these neuronal and sensory cues and signals, tat move us into involuntary action. Especially for those who are stuck in dysregulated systems, generally the case is that the nervous system is misinterpreting the cues and presents a “danger” response when in reality, no real danger is present – the body still responds as though there is a threat

We all process cues and signals from the world around us differently, dependant upon how our nervous system was attuned from early developmental years. Some of us may naturally feel more calm and spend more time in a ventral vagal state while others, due to early conditioning and misattunement, traumatic experiences, ancestral lineage of trauma, and/or genetic makeup, may feel more threatened or endangered and default to sympathetic (mobilised) or dorsal vagal state (freeze and immobilisation). This is especially true for souls who have experienced the overwhelming, systematic effects of trauma to both the central and peripheral nervous system, and most certainly for those with conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, autism, PTSD. Stimulating the Vagus Nerve and providing neuronal cues of safety can enable the nervous system to reset and change your physiological state. Through VNS we can access our ventral vagal state and through regular stimulation and toning, re parent our internal threat detector, thereby teaching the system that it is safe which allows the body to calm from heightened physiological states and symptoms.

Though Neuroplasticity in alignment with Vagal Nerve Healing we can retrain the nervous system to be more aware, regulated and resilient where you can feel safe, calm, healthy and at peace in your body. Giving you agency to better respond to life’s challenges, nourishing the nervous system to enable meaningful and lasting changes in physiological state.

Expanding your quality of life

Allowing you to live rather than merely surviving