SPIN Therapy: A Groundbreaking Approach for Veterans and Adults Living with PTSD, Trauma, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A Body-Based Approach to PTSD, Trauma, and TBI Treatment for Veterans in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore

A Body-Based Approach to PTSD, Trauma, and TBI Treatment for Veterans in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore

Trauma changes not only how we think and feel, but how our bodies respond to the world around us. Healing begins when we can safely reconnect with ourselves, body and mind, not one without the other, and trust that the present is no longer the battlefield of the past.

For veterans and adults living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma, or a traumatic brain injury (TBI), life can feel like a constant uphill battle. You may have tried everything, medication, talk therapy, traditional occupational therapy, yet the anxiety, hypervigilance, brain fog, insomnia, and emotional volatility still linger. 

The reality is that, in many traditional healthcare settings, treatment focuses on symptoms without addressing the root cause, how injury, repeated stress, or trauma can rewire your nervous system to stay locked in a constant state of alert. Until that underlying dysregulation is resolved, genuine relief can feel like a moving target, leaving you trapped in the cycle and wondering if you’ll ever feel 'normal' again."

That’s where the SPIN program, short for Somatic Program for Integrative NeuroBalancing, comes in.

What Is SPIN and Why Is It Different?

SPIN is an advanced occupational therapy method that works from the ground up, starting with nervous system regulation.

Where traditional Occupational Therapy (OT) for PTSD or TBI often focuses on restoring daily function and adapting to limitations, SPIN goes deeper, using a body-based approach to rewire the brain and regulate the nervous system at its source, helping you feel calmer in your body, sharper in your thinking, and more in control of your reactions and daily life. This kind of therapy is especially critical for veterans and trauma survivors, whose bodies and brains have learned to operate 24/7 in survival mode.

Nervous system regulation is the bedrock of:

• Cognitive clarity and memory recall

• Emotional stability and resilience under stress

• Restorative sleep and reduced hypervigilance and reactivity

• Fully participating in family, work, and daily life without living in constant tension or being hijacked by triggers.

  
  

How SPIN Works for PTSD, Trauma, and TBI

As Bessel van der Kolk explains in his book The Body Keeps the Score, trauma isn’t just a memory stored in the mind—it’s embedded in the body, in muscle tension, posture, breathing patterns, and the nervous system’s constant state of readiness. 

For many veterans with PTSD, that stored trauma fuels ongoing hypervigilance, emotional reactivity, and physical discomfort—sometimes described as feeling like you’re ‘crawling in your skin.’

SPIN’s somatic approach works directly with the body, using movement, sensory input, and hands-on techniques to help release that stored trauma and retrain the nervous system toward safety and regulation. These techniques work through the body to influence the brain and can include:

• Rhythmic movement and sensory-motor activities to retrain how the brain processes input, improving your ability to handle daily stressors and participate fully in life.

• Proprioceptive and vestibular work, exercises that help you understand where your body is in space and time, improving your sense of balance so you can move more confidently and safely in daily life.

• Deep pressure and myofascial release to ease stored tension and calm an overactive nervous system that’s stuck in the moment of trauma instead of recognizing the safety of the present.

• Breath work to restore natural breathing patterns, regulate the nervous system, and increase resilience under stress.

• Reflex integration with cold laser support to release primitive reflexes that may still be active, helping to improve coordination, focus, and emotional regulation.

• Polyvagal-informed techniques to gently shift the body out of survival states and into a state of safety and connection.

• Auditory integration with The Listening Program (TLP) to improve communication between the brain and body, supporting attention, language, and emotional balance.

These techniques help shift the body out of “fight-or-flight” mode and into a regulated state where healing can happen.

Why Veterans and Trauma Survivors Respond Well to SPIN

Veterans and adults with trauma often face:

• Heightened startle responses to noises, crowds, or sudden changes

• Sleep disruption and nightmares

• Difficulty focusing or managing everyday stress

• Chronic muscle tension and physical pain are linked to stress patterns

  
  

By starting with the nervous system, not just the mind, SPIN creates a foundation for other therapies and life changes to take root. Many clients report:

• Lower baseline anxiety levels

• Better quality sleep

• More patience in high-stress moments

• Feeling “present” instead of disconnected or always on edge

  
  

SPIN vs. Brain Balance: Why Adults Need a Different Approach

Many adults living with PTSD, trauma, or TBI explore a variety of brain-based programs, including Brain Balance, which combines physical exercises, cognitive activities, and nutrition support to promote overall brain function. SPIN takes a different approach: designed specifically with trauma-affected adults and veterans in mind, it uses targeted, somatic-based techniques that directly address nervous system regulation—a critical component in recovery from trauma and injury—helping restore calm, focus, and resilience.

Key differences:

• Adult-specific focus: Exercises and protocols tailored to adult nervous system patterns and challenges

• Trauma-informed care: Therapists trained to work with PTSD and trauma triggers safely

• Integration with other treatments: Can be combined with MeRT (Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy) for enhanced results in brainwave optimization

Trauma-Informed Support: Local, Accessible, and No Waitlists

• Convenient locations in Ashburn and Alexandria, Virginia with virtual appointments available

• Serving Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore

• No waitlists—because waiting months for care isn’t an option when you’re ready to get your life back

• Affordable: Your initial SPIN evaluation covered by TRICARE for eligible veterans and military families, for cash pay patients, it is just $200 and can be superbilled to insurance, or

  
  

Getting Started: Your SPIN Evaluation

Your journey begins with a personalized assessment designed to understand how trauma or injury has affected your body and brain. This includes:

• Comprehensive evaluation by our in-house occupational therapist to assess how nervous system dysregulation may be impacting your daily life, mood, focus, and physical comfort

• Targeted screenings for visual tracking, balance, and reflex patterns that may be disrupted after TBI or prolonged stress

• Lifestyle and nutrition review to identify factors that may be contributing to inflammation, poor sleep, or energy fluctuations

• Identification of your sensory and motor regulation needs , including how your body responds to triggers and stress

• A tailored treatment plan with measurable goals focused on helping you regain calm, focus, and control in your everyday life

  
  

Your Next Step Toward a Calmer, More Connected Life

You’ve carried the weight of PTSD, trauma, or TBI long enough. SPIN could be the turning point you’ve been searching for, helping you reconnect with your body, calm your mind, and reclaim your daily life and relationships.

Our Ashburn and Alexandria, Virginia, locations proudly serve families across Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. An initial SPIN evaluation is just $185 and can be superbilled to insurance, making it an affordable first step toward lasting change. Schedule your assessment today by calling 703-857-2560 and start your journey toward calmer, more connected living.