About me
I’m Lauren Bond,
Lauren Bond
Nervous System Regulation Specialist and Trauma-Informed Therapeutic Coach and offer sessions in person and online.
I help people understand what their nervous system is doing and why. Once they understand that, they can stop fighting their own biology and start working with it.
For over a decade I've supported individuals, families, schools and organisations through chronic stress, burnout, anxiety, emotional dysregulation and the after-effects of trauma. I also host the MindBody Mechanics podcast.
My approach: Biology, not Pathology
Much of what people experience as "something wrong with me" is a nervous system doing exactly what it learned to do to keep them safe. My work draws on an integrative approach of my extensive training in psychology, anthropology and psychoneuroimmunology. These are the sciences of how safety, stress and the immune system shape the way we think, feel and behave.
I teach this through MindBody Mechanics, my framework built on a car metaphor. Your autonomic nervous system is the engine. Your symptoms are the dashboard lights. Your capacity to cope is the idle range. Sessions combine autonomic mapping and practical regulation tools. Where helpful, I also use the clinically developed listening protocol, Rest and Restore Protocol to enhance heart rate variability and emotional and mental resilience. The aim isn't to label or fix you. It's to help you understand your own system well enough to look after it independently.
Who I work with
People who feel stuck, overwhelmed, foggy-brained, reactive or numb. This is often after long periods of stress, burnout or difficult life experiences. Many of my clients are also neurodivergent or highly sensitive. I work with couples, families and teams as well as individuals.
My work complements medical and psychological care rather than replacing it. Where something sits outside my scope, I'll help you find the right support.
Where this work comes from
I grew up in South Africa and began my career in prisons, crisis centres and communities affected by gang violence. There I saw how environmental and relational trauma lives in the body, and I have my own lived experience of it too. Studying psychoneuroimmunology was the turning point. It explained the biology behind what I'd seen, and it shapes everything I do now.
Experience
Trauma recovery and group work in prisons, townships and crisis centres in South Africa
Implementation Lead on Randomised Controlled Trials improving behaviour support in schools (Education Endowment Foundation)
Designing and delivering Behaviour Intervention Hubs for children at risk of permanent exclusion
Trauma-informed and Biology of Behaviour training for NAHT conferences, NHS and private medical events
Trauma-informed CPD for therapists
Wellbeing, performance and communication training for businesses across the UK
Training & qualifications
Psychology & coaching
BA (Hons) Psychology, Stellenbosch University
ICF-accredited Therapeutic Coaching Certification
Postgraduate diploma in Psychoneuroimmunology, MindBodyFood Institute
Areas of expertise
Trauma
ADHD
Anxiety
Chronic Stress
Burnout
Depression
Couples communication
Behaviour and staff support in schools
Wellbeing in the workplace
Conflict resolution
Clinical Grade Sound Therapy
I help people to understand the complexities of the mind-body connection, to identify stress and anxiety in the body and to expand tolerance levels.
Environmental & relational trauma
My experience growing up in South Africa taught me a lot about how environmental and relational trauma affects the body. I experienced trauma personally through my relational experiences and professionally through my work in prisons and with people experiencing gang-related violence.
A lot of approaches I tried, both personally and professionally, didn’t seem like a good fit until I studied Psychoneuroimmunology. When I became aware of how my life experiences affected my neurochemistry and shaped how I think and behave, it all made sense, and it was an incredibly liberating moment.
I am extensively trained in Psychology, Neurology, Psychoneuroimmunology and Sound Therapy. I use sound as a therapeutic tool to slow the heart rate down and help people navigate out of anxious, stressed and depressive states.
Group/CPD sessions
I provide Trauma Informed CPD for therapists.
I deliver group sessions and provide workplace training in various settings (see options in Services).
My MindBody MOT is a model I created from a blend of my extensive training to help those I work with understand thoughts and behaviour in a more accurate way. When you understand the why then the how to improve mental and physical well-being and optimise performance will be more effective and sustainable. I provide training in this approach at conferences and events across the country.
With extensive experience in trauma-informed support, stress management and performance coaching, I plan for the most inclusive outcomes for immediate and long-term goals in every setting.
Experience
Individualized and Group work in prisons and townships in South Africa.
Trauma recovery work within crisis centres in South Africa.
Facilitating Trauma-Informed and Biology of Behaviour training within various schools, NAHT (National Association of Headteachers) conferences, and NHS and private medical events around the UK.
Developing and delivering Behaviour Intervention Hubs for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties at risk of permanent exclusion nationwide.
Implementation Lead of Randomised Control Trials to improve behaviour support across the country. Funded by the Education Endowment Fund.
Developing and delivering Wellbeing and Performance Training events for businesses across the UK.
Developing and delivering Constructive Communication training to various care companies and hospitality industries.
Qualifications
BA (Hons) Psychology | Stellenbosch University
Holistic Coach and MindBody Practitioner Diploma | MindBodyFood Institute
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner Training | Peter Levine
ICF-accredited Therapeutic Coaching Certification
Clinical Application of the Polyvagal Theory | Dr. Stephen Porges
Trauma & Attachment: Critical insights into the neurobiology of healing trauma and Attachment during times of stress | Dr Stephen Porges & Pat Ogden
Clinical Applications of Polyvagal Theory in Trauma Treatment: Integrating the Science of Safety, Trust, Self-Regulation and Attachment | Stephen Porges & Deb Dana
Safe & Sound Protocol Certification | Unyte iLs
Rest & Restore Protocol Certification | Unyte iLs
Facial Rejuvenation Massage Diploma |
Gateway Workshops
Accreditation
