If you have read about the vagus nerve online, you have probably seen bold promises about instant calm. The reality we work from in Bend therapy is more grounded. The vagus nerve matters, but the goal is not a quick fix. It is learning reliable nervous system regulation over time, so anxiety and depression become easier to manage.
At BCB Therapy (Bend Counseling and Biofeedback), we use vagus-nerve-focused strategies as an adjunct to evidence-based therapy, not a replacement for counseling or medical care. One way we support regulation in session is through the Hoolest device, a noninvasive form of vagus nerve stimulation that helps the nervous system access calm and recovery during treatment.
What the Vagus Nerve Does and Why It Matters for Anxiety and Depression
The vagus nerve is a significant communication pathway between the brain and the body. It influences heart rate, breathing, digestion, immune signaling, and the parasympathetic “rest and digest” response. When this system is active, the body can downshift out of threat mode.
For anxiety, improved regulation can mean fewer false-alarm sensations such as a racing heart, a tight chest, or dizziness. For depression, it may look like better sleep quality, steadier energy, and less shutdown. Stress does not disappear, but the nervous system gains more capacity to move through it without getting stuck.
It is essential to clarify that we do not provide implanted vagus nerve stimulation at BCB Therapy.
- Implanted VNS is a medical treatment that requires surgery and is managed by medical specialists.
- Noninvasive VNS, sometimes called transcutaneous VNS, is applied externally. The Hoolest device falls into this category and is the option we use as a supportive tool within therapy.
Our work remains therapy-led. The device helps create physiological conditions that make therapy skills easier to access and apply.
How We Use the Hoolest Device in Bend Therapy
The Hoolest device is used selectively to support nervous system regulation during treatment. Depending on the client, it may be used to help downshift before emotionally demanding work such as trauma processing, exposure practice, or skills integration.
In some cases, it helps clients recognize what a regulated state feels like so they can build that state independently using therapy skills outside of session. The framing is always realistic. It is not a cure, and it is not meant to replace therapy. It is one tool that can reduce nervous system noise, so counseling work can land more effectively.
Clients often notice changes such as:
- A calmer physical baseline with less tension or adrenaline-like surges
- Easier wind-down and improved sleep quality
- Less reactive thinking under stress
- Better follow-through with coping strategies
- Greater ability to stay present during difficult conversations
Why Nervous System Regulation Works Best with Therapy
Body-based regulation helps, but it does not automatically change the thought patterns that maintain anxiety and depression. Rumination, avoidance, and rigid coping strategies often require cognitive and behavioral work.
In Bend at BCB Therapy, we commonly integrate:
You can think of regulation tools as helping calm the water, while therapy helps change the direction of the boat. When the body is steadier, it becomes easier to interrupt rumination, tolerate discomfort, and respond differently to symptoms.
For clients who want to support vagus nerve function at home without a device, we often recommend simple, repeatable practices such as slow-exhale breathing, rhythmic walking, gentle humming, and consistent sleep and nutrition routines. Consistency matters far more than intensity.
Begin Anxiety and Depression Therapy in Bend, Oregon with BCB Therapy
If anxiety or depression is interfering with sleep, work, relationships, or your ability to enjoy life, it may be time to seek support. Adjunctive nervous system tools can help, but the larger goal is learning how to respond differently to symptoms so they stop running your life.
If you live in Oregon and are looking for Bend therapy, BCB Therapy (Bend Counseling and Biofeedback) offers evidence-based counseling paired with physiology-first strategies to support anxiety, depression, and trauma recovery.
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Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. We do not provide implanted VNS at BCB Therapy. If you have health conditions or concerns, consult a qualified medical professional.