Restoring Wellness After Long COVID: How the Rest & Restore Protocol
As a psychologist, I’ve supported many individuals through a variety of health and life challenges—but few have been as complex and enduring as the effects of long COVID. Clients describe months, sometimes years, of chronic fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and a nervous system that feels stuck in overdrive. Many have tried medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes with only partial relief. That’s why I now offer the Rest & Restore Protocol by Unyte Health—an evidence-informed approach that directly supports the nervous system in its journey back to balance, healing, and resilience.
Long COVID is more than a lingering illness. It affects the entire body-mind system. Research and clinical experience suggest that dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system—the system responsible for managing stress, rest, and recovery—plays a central role. When this system is constantly activated or imbalanced, it can amplify symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, insomnia, anxiety, and even physical pain. This is where the Rest & Restore Protocol becomes a powerful tool.
The Rest & Restore Protocol is designed to calm and regulate the autonomic nervous system through gentle, science-based auditory stimulation and mindfulness-based interventions. By engaging the vagus nerve and supporting parasympathetic activation (the “rest and digest” mode), this protocol helps clients exit a chronic stress state. For individuals with long COVID, this can mean fewer flare-ups, deeper rest, and more consistent energy throughout the day.
In my work with long COVID clients, I’ve witnessed significant improvements after incorporating this protocol. Many report better sleep quality and more stable moods, which are crucial first steps in overall healing. Others describe a reduction in the “wired but tired” sensation—a hallmark of autonomic dysregulation—and an improved ability to focus and think clearly. These changes may sound subtle, but for someone who has been in survival mode for months or years, they are life-changing.
What’s particularly exciting is how the protocol gently reconditions the nervous system over time. This isn’t a quick fix or a high-intensity intervention. It’s a restorative, body-centered practice that supports the nervous system in learning how to feel safe again. Safety is the foundation for all healing. When the body feels safe, inflammation can decrease, immune function can improve, and energy can be conserved rather than depleted by chronic stress responses.
Clients often tell me they feel more “in their body” again—less disconnected, less reactive, and more empowered. For those dealing with the isolation and unpredictability of long COVID, this sense of internal stability can make a profound difference in daily life. As symptoms gradually ease, many begin to re-engage with the world, their relationships, and their goals with a renewed sense of hope and clarity.
From a therapeutic perspective, the Rest & Restore Protocol is a perfect complement to talk therapy. It creates a regulated foundation that allows us to explore emotions, process grief or trauma related to the illness, and rebuild confidence in the body’s ability to heal. It is one of the most compassionate and effective tools I’ve integrated into my work.
If you or someone you love is struggling with long COVID and feels stuck, depleted, or dysregulated, please know that there is hope. The Rest & Restore Protocol offers a gentle, guided path back to wellness. Contact my office today to learn how we can work together to support your recovery—body, mind, and nervous system. Healing is possible, and you don’t have to do it alone.