Transforming Touch® is a gentle, trauma-informed therapeutic approach developed by Stephen J. Terrell, focused on supporting the nervous system — particularly when early developmental trauma or stress has disrupted its healthy functioning.
It’s based on the idea that many emotional, physical, and relational difficulties are rooted in early experiences (including those we can’t consciously remember) that shaped how our bodies learned to respond to the world. These experiences can leave the nervous system in a persistent state of hyper-vigilance or shut-down.
During a Transforming Touch session:
The practitioner uses light, supportive touch at specific points on the body. This touch communicates safety and stability to the nervous system. Over time, it can help the body shift out of survival states (fight, flight, freeze) into a more regulated, balanced state.

Clients often describe feeling calmer, more grounded, and more connected — not just in the session, but in daily life. The work is subtle but can be deeply transformative, especially for people who have tried talk therapy alone and still feel “stuck.”