The Benefits of Grounding Strategies in Emotion and Arousal Regulation

Abstract

In this article, the author discusses the benefits of grounding strategies in modulating arousal and emotion. These essential resources are reminders of the present and are well-used in trauma therapy, temporary or persistent affect and arousal dysregulation, and crisis interventions. Grounding strategies foster emotional and physiological stabilization by focusing on the present environment and anchoring oneself in the here and now. Furthermore, they restore a sense of calmness and safety, promote a sense of control, and decrease the risk of dissociation in trauma treatment. The author analyzes from a Jungian perspective the impact of a patient’s dissociative manifestation and how to mitigate it using a compensatory grounding strategy.