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How “The Body Keeps the Score” Is a Core Element of Treatment at Highlands in Bloom

The Body Keeps the Score Residential Treatment at Highlands in Bloom

The The Body Keeps the Score residential treatment model stands as a core element of our program at Highlands in Bloom. We actively integrate the principles from The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk into how we treat trauma, mental health, and chronic health conditions.

We do not treat this work as a concept, we build it into the structure of each day. Our clinical team uses it to guide how clients regulate, process, and heal.

Why This Work Is Central to Our Program

This book highlights a clear truth. Trauma lives in the body. It impacts the brain, the nervous system, and the immune response.

Many clients come to Highlands in Bloom with:

  • Trauma and chronic stress
  • Anxiety, depression, or burnout
  • Autoimmune conditions and inflammation
  • Nervous system dysregulation

Talk therapy alone does not resolve these patterns. The body must be part of the treatment.

How We Make This a Core Element of Care

We do not reference this work. We operationalize it.

Daily Somatic Movement Is Required

We include 1.5 hours of somatic movement every day. This is not optional.

Clients learn how to:

  • Release stored stress
  • Increase awareness of physical sensations
  • Shift out of fight, flight, or freeze states

This creates real change in how the body responds to stress.

We Prioritize Nervous System Regulation

Clients must feel safe in their bodies before they can process trauma.

We build that safety through:

  • Breathwork and grounding practices
  • Consistent daily structure
  • Calm, supportive environments

This allows deeper clinical work to land.

Our Clinical Team Applies Trauma-Informed Modalities

We use evidence-based therapies that align with these principles:

  • EMDR
  • DBT
  • CBT
  • Psychodynamic therapy

Each session supports both emotional processing and physiological regulation.

We Treat the Body Alongside the Mind

We address the physical side of trauma and stress.

Our program includes:

  • Whole-food, vegetable forward nutrition
  • Complementary wellness modalities
  • Structured routines that support circadian rhythm

This helps reduce inflammation and stabilize energy.

Why Clients Respond to This Approach

When clients understand that their symptoms connect to the body, they shift their mindset.

They stop asking, “What is wrong with me?”
They start asking, “What does my body need?”

This leads to:

  • Stronger emotional regulation
  • Less reactivity
  • Improved physical symptoms
  • More sustainable healing

Who Benefits Most

This model supports individuals who:

  • Have not improved with traditional therapy alone
  • Experience both mental and physical symptoms
  • Carry unresolved trauma
  • Need a structured, immersive setting

We designed Highlands in Bloom for this population.


Highlands in Bloom

Residential Treatment Center for Autoimmune + Mental Health

Agoura Hills, California

(805) 892-6313

www.highlandsinbloom.com

Licensed by CDSS • Certified by DHCS • JCAHO Accredited

Admissions Process

Our admissions team will verify insurance, take care of paperwork, and guide you through each step with ease.

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