So today when we use the term self soothing we basically mean calming and comforting yourself when distressed. So while clients may find particular sensations very disturbing, they're also likely to find other sensations very soothing and it's important to spend time on this. Explore with your clients what sensations are soothing for you. Are there particular things that you like to look at or smell or touch or taste or feel against your skin or do that you find soothing. So spend a bit of time with your clients exploring what they find soothing, activities they find soothing and encourage clients to build these self soothing activities into their life.
In addition, it's good to have them create a self soothing box that they can turn to when they're really overwhelmed or shut down. Inside that box, can put any number of things that can help the client to soothe themselves. It might be something they can smell. It might be something they can eat. It might be a form of hand cream that they can massage into their skin.
It might be a list of favorite movies they like to watch or books they like to read or music they like to listen to. The value of this is that when you're really overwhelmed or shut down, it's almost impossible to think of self soothing activities. But with the box there at hand, well, now you know what to do.