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Research

The science of
healing through play

Evidence-based interventions grounded in neuroscience.

The Key Insight

Calm the body first

Trauma dysregulates lower brain regions. Cognitive interventions won't work until the body feels safe.

We use bottom-up regulation: sensory and breath-based tools that activate the parasympathetic nervous system before engaging higher cognition.

Survival Brain

Brainstem

Fight/flight/freeze responses

Feeling Brain

Limbic

Emotions & attachment

Thinking Brain

Cortex

Reasoning & planning

Our Framework

Four regulatory layers

CALM

Vagal brake activation

BubblesPinwheels
GROUND

Proprioceptive input

Therapy puttyClay
CONNECT

Safe emotional distance

PuppetsPlush objects
THINK

Executive function

GamesMandalas
Download

Research white paper

Full citations and evidence for each intervention type.

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