A structured clinical framework for nervous system regulation, grounded in contemporary neuroscience.
What Is Embodied Regulation Therapy?
Embodied Regulation Therapy (ERT) is a somatic modality developed to address nervous system dysregulation across the full range of clinical presentations, including trauma, PTSD, anxiety, addiction, and chronic stress. It was developed by Thomas Klepper, MA, RYT-500, drawing on over a decade of clinical work at the intersection of somatic therapy, yoga therapy, and addiction treatment.
ERT provides a structured, reproducible framework for body-centered clinical work, organized around four neurobiological pillars that together account for how the nervous system receives, processes, and integrates experience.
The Four Pillars
Interoceptive Awareness The capacity to accurately perceive internal body states is foundational to regulation. ERT builds interoceptive skill systematically, developing the client's ability to notice, name, and work with sensation as a primary therapeutic resource.
Autonomic Regulation Drawing on Polyvagal Theory and the Window of Tolerance model, ERT addresses the flexibility of the autonomic nervous system, building the client's capacity to move fluidly between activation and rest rather than remaining fixed in hyperarousal, hypoarousal, or cycling unpredictably between both.
Cerebellar Integration Often overlooked in somatic approaches, the cerebellum plays a central role in timing, coordination, prediction, and the body's sense of safety in movement. ERT incorporates cerebellar-informed interventions to support integration at this level of nervous system function.
Prefrontal Engagement Sustained regulation requires the development of reflective awareness and the capacity for self-direction. ERT supports prefrontal engagement as a late-stage clinical target, building the client's ability to observe their own experience and make conscious choices in the face of activation.
ERT and HATP
ERT was developed in close relationship with the Holistic Addiction Treatment Professional (HATP) certification program, a specialized training for addiction treatment professionals in mind-body and somatic approaches to recovery. The two frameworks share a neurobiological foundation and are designed to complement each other in clinical application. [Learn more about HATP: link coming soon]
The Evidence Base
ERT is grounded in peer-reviewed research across several intersecting fields, including trauma neuroscience, interoceptive processing, autonomic nervous system function, cerebellar neuroscience, contemplative psychology, and somatic clinical practice.
The framework integrates established theoretical models including Polyvagal Theory, the Window of Tolerance, and current findings in predictive processing and embodied cognition. It was developed through iterative clinical application across mental health, addiction treatment, and somatic therapy settings.
A full bibliography and clinical manual are available for clinicians and researchers upon request.
Experiencing ERT at West LA Somatic
ERT is integrated into individual sessions at West LA Somatic alongside foundational somatic methods. Sessions are paced to the individual client's nervous system capacity and adapted to their specific clinical presentation.
Work is available in person in West Los Angeles and via telehealth throughout California, the US, and worldwide.
For prospective clients: If you're curious about whether ERT is a good fit for what you're working with, reach out to schedule a free consultation.
For clinicians and referral sources: To discuss a referral or learn more about the ERT framework, get in touch directly. Inquiries about future training and certification opportunities are also welcome.
Who ERT Is For
ERT is appropriate for individuals experiencing:
Trauma and PTSD, including single-incident and complex presentations
Anxiety, panic, and chronic stress
Substance use and behavioral addiction
Emotional dysregulation
Somatic symptoms without clear medical cause
Difficulty with presence, embodiment, or felt sense of self
ERT is also well-suited as a structured somatic adjunct within multidisciplinary treatment teams. Clinicians interested in incorporating ERT-informed approaches into their own practice are encouraged to reach out. Formal training and certification programs are in development.