(That You’ll Find at Highlands)
When it comes to autoimmune conditions, healing requires more than medications and symptom management. At Highlands in Bloom (HiB), we believe the most powerful path forward is through whole-person healing addressing the body, mind, and nervous system together. Our residential program in Agoura Hills, California integrates a trauma-informed approach with evidence-based holistic therapies that help reduce inflammation, regulate the immune response, and restore balance from within.
Here are the top 5 holistic therapies we use every day at Highlands to support autoimmune healing:
1. Somatic Movement Therapy
Each day includes a 1.5-hour somatic movement session, a cornerstone of our healing model. Somatic therapy uses breath, movement, and awareness to help clients reconnect with their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and release trauma stored in muscle tension and posture patterns.
Research supports this approach: movement-based somatic practices have been shown to improve vagal tone, lower cortisol, and reduce inflammatory markers over time (Porges, 2011; Van der Kolk, 2014). By improving nervous system regulation, clients with autoimmune diseases often see reduced flares, better sleep, and improved emotional stability.
2. Mindfulness and Breathwork
Highlands in Bloom incorporates mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), breathwork, and grounding practices into daily routines. These tools help downshift the stress response and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is critical in managing autoimmune flare-ups.
Studies have shown that mindfulness and conscious breathing can significantly reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and improve outcomes in autoimmune populations (Creswell et al., 2012; Black & Slavich, 2016). Our clients practice these skills in both structured sessions and informal daily integration.
3. Hydrotherapy, Cold Plunge, Sauna
We offer intentional exposure therapy using sauna, hydrotherapy, and cold plunge sessions. Each modality is tailored to a client’s individual comfort level and readiness. Sauna and cold exposure help activate the vagus nerve, enhance mitochondrial health, and reduce inflammation, while hydrotherapy soothes the nervous system and supports lymphatic circulation.
According to research from the European Journal of Applied Physiology, cold water immersion can reduce muscle soreness, regulate immune function, and support mood stability through norepinephrine release (Tipton, 2013). For clients with autoimmune conditions, these practices offer powerful tools for nervous system regulation and energy restoration.
4. Therapeutic Bodywork
Touch-based therapies play a crucial role in trauma-informed healing. At Highlands in Bloom, we offer integrative bodywork that focuses on restoring balance, relieving pain, and encouraging emotional release through safe, attuned contact.
Massage and craniosacral techniques improve lymphatic drainage and circulation while decreasing cortisol. Studies show that therapeutic touch can reduce perceived stress and pain, especially in patients with chronic or inflammatory disorders (Field, 2014).
5. Nutritional Therapy Based on the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP)
Unlike programs that rely on supplements, Highlands in Bloom emphasizes food as medicine. We integrate and take inspiration from the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), a science-backed dietary approach that removes common inflammatory triggers and focuses on nutrient density to support gut healing and immune balance.
Our chef-prepared meals are designed to nourish at a cellular level with ingredients that reduce systemic inflammation, such as grass-fed proteins, organic vegetables, bone broth, and healthy fats. Clients receive education on how to continue whole food, vegetable forward-aligned habits post-discharge.
Why These Therapies Work Together
Each therapy at Highlands is intentionally chosen for how it interacts with the nervous, immune, and digestive systems. Autoimmune conditions are deeply connected to stress, trauma history, and systemic inflammation. When you address these roots with a layered, whole-body approach, the results are often transformative.
Rather than treating autoimmune disease in isolation, we help our clients reconnect with their bodies, release stored tension, and restore balance through consistency, community, and compassionate care.
Begin Your Healing Journey at Highlands in Bloom
If you’re ready for a new approach to healing that goes beyond managing symptoms, Highlands in Bloom offers a trauma-informed, immersive residential experience that honors the full complexity of autoimmune and chronic health challenges. Our blend of clinical expertise and holistic therapies is designed to restore resilience from the inside out.
Come experience a community where we listen to your body, honor your story, and support your healing every step of the way.
References:
- Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation.
- Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.
- Creswell, J. D., et al. (2012). Mindfulness-based stress reduction training reduces loneliness and pro-inflammatory gene expression in older adults. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
- Black, D. S., & Slavich, G. M. (2016). Mindfulness meditation and the immune system: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.
- Tipton, M. J. (2013). The physiological responses to cold water immersion and their implications for safety. European Journal of Applied Physiology.
- Field, T. (2014). Massage therapy research review. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice.
Highlands in Bloom
Residential Treatment Center for Autoimmune + Mental Health
Agoura Hills, California
(805) 892-6313
Licensed by CDSS • Certified by DHCS • JCAHO Accredited