Co-regulation

The process through which children develop the ability to soothe and manage distressing emotions and sensations from the beginning of life through connection with nurturing and reliable primary caregivers.  Co-regulation involves various types of responses, including but not limited to: a warm, calming presence and tone of voice, verbal acknowledgement of distress, modeling of behaviors that can modulate arousal, and the provision of a structured environment that supports emotional and physical safety.  Responsive caregivers pay close attention to the shifting emotional and physiological cues of their children, while also regulating their own emotional state.  When caregivers are able to demonstrate attunement and provide supportive, consistent responses in the midst of arousal, children develop a growing capacity for self-regulation.  The human need for co-regulation evolves throughout childhood and adolescence and remains throughout the lifespan, although for those with healthy early development it decreases incrementally as youth internalize the skills supported in relationship and learn to self-soothe.

People impacted by complex trauma often struggle significantly with self-regulation throughout life, and complex trauma treatment calls for a focus on co-regulation in the therapeutic relationship. A therapist in the role of co-regulator monitors their own window of engagement and strives to be attuned to the moment-to-moment regulatory needs of the client. For example, an individual who is triggered by an overwhelming memory in therapy and demonstrating hyperarousal may need the therapist to shift his tone and speed of voice to lead them to a calmer, grounded state. Alternatively, a client who has a history of feeling invalidated and is telling a painful story in a dismissive or nonchalant manner may need the therapist to increase the intensity of her emotional response and embody a higher level of energy in the room. The timing and pacing of therapeutic intervention are relevant to co-regulation, as trauma therapists seek to structure treatment in a way that increases an individual’s window of tolerance over time.