Resourcing, Pendulation, and Titration: The Core Concepts of Somatic Therapy

By: Adam Carney, Co-Founder Institute For Integrative Trauma

In trauma therapy, there are many different techniques and approaches, each with its own set of tools. Yet, among all the disciplines and techniques, all (properly guided) somatic therapy stands on a few deceptively simple foundational principles.

Three of these concepts—Resourcing, Pendulation, and Titration—are central to the practice of somatic therapy, particularly Somatic Experiencing, a therapeutic approach developed by Dr. Peter Levine.

For practitioners new to this territory, understanding and applying these concepts can transform the healing process, moving it beyond the limitations of conventional talk therapy and into a realm where the body’s natural responses become pathways to recovery.

Resourcing: Building Stability Before Diving In

Imagine the body as a ship braving turbulent seas. To endure the journey, it needs anchors, and tools to stabilize and restore a sense of safety in the midst of the storm.

Resourcing is the idea that before we can fully process trauma, we need to feel grounded and somewhat regulated. It refers to the level of stability, empowerment, and comfort a person has in any given moment. Resourcing recognizes that our “resource” level is shaped by various aspects of our lives, such as financial security, relationships, physical health, and emotional well-being. A good somatic therapist knows that they can only push someone into their trauma to the extent that they have resource; otherwise, they risk retriggering trauma.

In somatic therapy, Resourcing is the first step in building that stability. It involves helping clients identify and develop sources of internal and external strength they can turn to when they feel overwhelmed. This might be a memory of a place where they felt safe, a person who brought them comfort, or even a sensation that reminds them of being grounded. These “resources” act as mental and physical anchors, giving clients something solid to hold onto when emotional waves rise.

For example, a client may struggle with panic attacks triggered by certain memories. A therapist might guide them to remember a peaceful place, like a quiet forest or a beach, where they feel calm and centered. Through gentle prompting, the therapist helps the client tune into the sights, sounds, and sensations of this memory, gradually fostering a sense of safety. The goal is to build a resource they can access anytime, creating a foundation of calm that can counterbalance intense emotional states.

Practically, therapists can incorporate Resourcing by having clients explore grounding exercises, such as feeling their feet on the floor, focusing on a supportive memory, or simply noticing sensations that bring a sense of comfort. Over time, Resourcing becomes a powerful tool clients can use independently to find stability in everyday life.

Pendulation: The Dance Between Comfort and Discomfort

If Resourcing is the anchor, Pendulation is the gentle sway, the rhythmic movement back and forth between states of ease and discomfort, calm and tension.

Pendulation is the principle that healing requires a balance of moving toward difficult sensations and then retreating back to a place of comfort. The process of “pendulating” helps clients build tolerance to uncomfortable emotions or memories without becoming overwhelmed, much like how stretching a muscle can increase flexibility over time without causing strain.

Consider a client dealing with the physical sensations of anxiety—tightness in the chest, a racing heart. A therapist using Pendulation might invite the client to notice these sensations for a brief moment, simply observing without judgment. Then, the therapist guides the client back to a resource or a sensation of calm, like focusing on their breathing or feeling their feet grounded on the floor. This gentle “pendulation” between tension and release helps the nervous system regulate itself, avoiding the pitfalls of becoming flooded by emotion.

In practice, Pendulation involves pacing. Therapists can observe when a client is beginning to feel dysregulated and introduce a resource or grounding technique to bring them back to a state of calm. This oscillation between activation and relaxation helps clients process trauma gradually, allowing them to integrate difficult experiences without becoming overwhelmed.

Titration: Small Steps for Big Changes

If healing were a journey up a mountain, Titration would be the steady, incremental ascent. Each step is small and manageable, yet each one brings the climber closer to the summit.

Titration, in somatic therapy, is about working with trauma in small, controlled doses. Instead of diving headfirst into a traumatic memory or sensation, therapists guide clients to approach these experiences slowly, in tiny increments, ensuring that the nervous system isn’t flooded all at once. This careful approach reduces the risk of re-traumatization, enabling clients to build resilience bit by bit.

Imagine a client who experiences intense flashbacks after a traumatic event. Rather than asking them to recount the entire experience in one session, a therapist using Titration might start by inviting the client to notice a single sensation related to the memory, such as a slight feeling of pressure in the chest. They’ll observe this sensation briefly, then use Resourcing to help the client return to a sense of calm. This small, controlled engagement with the trauma, without diving into the full emotional intensity, allows clients to process their experiences gradually.

In practice, Titration means “going slow.” A therapist might break down traumatic memories or sensations into manageable parts, addressing each piece over several sessions. This approach enables the body to process trauma incrementally, leading to deeper healing without overwhelming the nervous system.

How These Concepts Come Together

Each of these core concepts—Resourcing, Pendulation, and Titration—serves a specific purpose in somatic therapy, yet they are interconnected. Resourcing provides the safety net, Pendulation creates a rhythm of engagement and retreat, and Titration ensures that clients progress at a pace their nervous system can handle. Together, these principles allow therapists to work with trauma more effectively, honoring the body’s natural rhythms and capacity for healing.

Take, for example, a client who has endured chronic stress from a difficult childhood. Through Resourcing, the therapist might help them find a comforting memory or sensation to ground them in moments of anxiety. Using Pendulation, they could explore the client’s feelings of discomfort in brief intervals, followed by moments of calm, helping them build tolerance. With Titration, the therapist breaks down these memories or sensations into small parts, processing each one gradually. Over time, these techniques can help the client move through and resolve long-held trauma without becoming overwhelmed.

A New Path in Trauma Recovery

For practitioners, the core concepts of somatic therapy represent a profound shift in how we approach trauma recovery. Traditional talk therapy emphasizes cognition, logic, and reflection, but somatic therapy shows us that moving into emotions is a subtle process that requires mastery. When we support clients in Resourcing, Pendulating, and Titrating their experiences, we honor the natural intelligence of the nervous system, guiding it toward recovery on its own terms.

At the Institute of Integrative Trauma, our Core Skills Trauma Training goes beyond the basics, offering mental health practitioners a chance to master these techniques and gain practical skills for working with the body’s own healing mechanisms. With our training, you’ll be equipped to guide clients through the transformative process of somatic therapy, helping them access resources they didn’t know they had and navigate their traumas with newfound resilience.

For therapists ready to explore the future of trauma recovery, this journey begins with the body.