Trauma and the Senses: Polyvagal-Informed Practices as Embodied Resources

Arielle Schwartz, PhD is a clinical psychologist and author of six books: The Complex PTSD Workbook, The Practical Guide to Complex PTSD, EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology, The Post Traumatic Growth Guidebook, The Complex PTSD Treatment Manual, and Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery.

Dr. Schwartz is an accomplished teacher who guides therapists in the application of EMDR, somatic psychology, parts work therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions for the treatment of trauma and complex PTSD. She has a depth of understanding, passion, kindness, compassion, joy, and a succinct way of speaking about very complex topics.

She is the founder of the Center for Resilience Informed Therapy in Boulder, Colorado where she maintains a private practice providing psychotherapy, supervision, and consultation. Arielle is a certified Kripalu yoga instructor and teaches at the Polyvagal Institute where she offers a course on Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga along with Dr. Stephen Porges. With over twenty years as a therapeutic yoga teacher, Dr. Schwartz believes that the journey of trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart.

Trauma and the Senses: Polyvagal-Informed Practices as Embodied Resources

Traditional psychotherapy can often leave clients knowing about their symptoms but unable to change them. Polyvagal theory bridges that gap between knowing and changing by attending to the dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. Whatever approaches you use, polyvagal-informed interventions can be woven into them. In this set of master classes, you’ll learn how to use simple yogic-based breath and movement practices to help clients recognize their dysregulation, take steps to cultivate a regulated ventral vagal state and begin moving toward greater physiological balance and psychological wellness.

Education Goals:

• Learn to recognize and track autonomic cues of stress and signs of safety and intervene appropriately
• Increase clients’ emotional and physiological resources through embodiment practices
• Teach clients vagus nerve stimulation techniques for enhancing nervous system health

Trauma and the Senses: Polyvagal-Informed Practices
as Embodied Resources
with Arielle Schwartz, Ph.D.

Course Agenda

Session Content:

• Discuss the continuum of traumatic events and the impact that trauma has on the nervous system (15 minutes)
• Explore applied polyvagal theory concepts such as neuroception, tiered response to threat, and co-regulation (30 minutes)
• Practice Interventions for Psychobiological Regulation (30 minutes)
• Discussion and Q & A (15 minutes)

Live Online Zoom Session 2: Trauma and the Senses: Polyvagal-informed Practices as Embodied Resources – Friday, May 31st, 2024 – 9-10:30am PDT/12pm-1:30pm EDT – 1.5 hours – 1.5 CEs

Overview: Within this session, we deepen into applied polyvagal theory through a discussion of heart rate variability, vagal tone, and vagal efficiency. We will apply core concepts of positive neuroplasticity. Through experiential practice, we will apply yogic-based conscious breathing and movement integration practices to support the brain’s sensory processing systems in trauma recovery.

Session Content:

• Discuss the impact of trauma on the brain and the science of neuroplasticity (15 minutes)
• Engage in yogic based conscious breathing practices for nervous system regulation (30 minutes)
• Engage in embodiment practices for reflex integration and trauma recovery (30 minutes)
• Discussion and Q & A (15 minutes)
  

Trauma and the Senses: Polyvagal-Informed Practices as Embodied Resources
with Arielle Schwartz, PhD. 

Learning Objectives

Live Session 1:

1. Identify two ways that trauma impacts the autonomic nervous system.
2. Distinguish the neuroscience of trauma from a polyvagal perspective.
3. Identify three benefits of co-regulation and the social engagement system.

Live Session 2:

1. Name the three key components of positive neuroplasticity.
2. Describe Heart Rate Variability, Vagal Tone, and Vagal Efficiency.
3. Apply two yogic-based embodied strategies for brain integration and nervous system regulation.

For intermediate mental health professionals including Psychologists, Social Workers, LPCs, and LMFTs.

Continuing Education

This program offers limited Live CEs/Contact Hours.

Continuing education credit/Contact hours are awarded on a per-session basis, with full attendance required for the entire 90-minute duration.  There is no additional charge for the CEs.  Application forms and other required CE materials will be available to participants by the Academy of Therapy Wisdom.

NOTE:  To receive continuing education credit, applicants must complete all CE materials, comply with attendance regulations, and submit an evaluation form for the session attended.  It is the responsibility of the attendee to determine if CE credit/contact hours offered by Academy of Therapy Wisdom meet the regulations of their state licensing/certification board.  

Psychology:  This course does NOT provide CEs for Psychologists.

Counseling:

Academy of Therapy Wisdom has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7370. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Academy of Therapy Wisdom is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.  This program is approved for 1.5 CE Credit Hours for each live session for a possible total of 3 CE Credit Hours.

NY State Mental Health Counselors: Academy of Therapy Wisdom is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0285.

Marriage/Family Therapy: See below for CAMFT information.

This course is $97 per month or $997/year. You can purchase it here.