Neurobiology trainings build understanding and compassion for human experience

Please reach out to Ruby Jo Walker, at swtraumatraining@gmail if you are interested. 

In this training series, participants will deeply explore Post-Traumatic Growth from a nervous system and trauma-informed approach. This training will incorporate the newest neurobiological perspectives that facilitate somatic trauma resolution and embodied personal growth and resiliency. This training has a true non-pathologizing approach to neurobiology, recognizing that adaptations are connected to neurobiology and experiences—and based on our humanness.

​This training is for the practitioner who wants their own growth to provide the container for supporting growth in their clients. Clients can generally only go as far as the practitioner, so the practitioner’s ability to be mindful of their own patterning—with its strengths and limits—will be a soft focus, making each practitioner feel more effective and supported. Using self to support growth and possibility will be a cornerstone of this method.

Developmental wounding’s impact on core beliefs and neurobiological trauma states can get in the way of post-traumatic growth. This training will deepen practitioners’ understanding of attachment adaptations, emotions, nervous system states, and how they all relate to supporting post-traumatic growth. With this understanding, participants will increase their ability to work with clients' nervous systems and their own.

The workshop will have presentations, demonstrations, videos, experiential exercises, and practice, all aimed at helping participants learn how to use these skills with themselves and others. In addition to the topics listed, each module will build from previous material and skills and promote greater understanding, skillfulness, and confidence.

This training pulls from Steven Porges and Polyvagal theory, as well as Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, Dr. Dan Siegel, Dr. Allan Shore, Dr. Rick Hanson, Diane Poole-Heller, Ron Kurtz, Peter Levine, Pat Ogden, Paul Erkman, Bonnie Badenoch, Bruce Ecker, and other leaders in the trauma neurobiology field.

Each module is 16 hours, and a 2-hour Supervision Group is also included in the training. Total 66 hours of training.

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MODULE 1

Neurobiological Foundations of Post Traumatic Growth

• How to create the conditions for Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG).

• The neurobiology of trauma and resiliency.

• How disrupted physiology connects to ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale).

• How to have and develop a skillful presence that promotes and signals safety in others.

• How to identify important nervous system states and what they most need to move towards growth.

• The phases of Post-Traumatic Growth.

• How to support the nervous system by working with different trauma motor plans in the body for shifting nervous system arousal patterns.

• How to identify and understand one’s own biology in a non-judgmental way.

• Understanding the biology of deactivation of the nervous system.

• Learning attunement skills to promote safety.

MODULE 2

Neurobiology of Attachment

• Continued deepening and integration of material from the previous module.

• How to recognize the connection between state change and trait change in developing resiliency.

• Understanding the neurobiology of attachment through the lens of polyvagal theory.

• How to recognize indicators of the 4 attachment adaptations in client presentation.

• The most effective ways of working with each attachment adaptation.

• How attachment adaptation affects working with clients, as well as how to self-identify the practitioner’s attachment adaptation for increased effectiveness.

• Have a deeper understanding of the biology of regulation: auto-regulation, co-regulation and self-regulation.

• Learning attunement to self with mindfulness and self-compassion.

• How to utilize mindfulness principles and other neural exercises to support post-traumatic growth and resiliency.

MODULE 3

Neurobiology of Personality Development

• Continued deepening and integration of material from previous modules.

• The neurobiology of developmental wounding and core beliefs.

• How developmental wounding creates blocks to PTG.

• The personality characteristics that are developed as an adaptation to each stage of development through the lens of the nervous system.

• The strength and relational adaptations of each kind of developmental wounding.

• How to work with core beliefs and how these connect to nervous system states of polyvagal theory.

• Understanding how trauma identity forms as part of core beliefs.

• How the practitioner’s core beliefs affect work with others and how to broaden the scope of the practitioner as it relates to their own developmental wounding.

MODULE 4

Deepening and Integration of Somatic Post Traumatic Growth

• Continued deepening and integration of material from previous modules, including practices.

• Applying chaos theory to trauma states--leading to a more organized nervous system and growth.

• Continued development of skills in working with the nervous system responses of fight, flight and freeze, using the polyvagal theory lens.

• Learning indicators for identifying freeze/dorsal vagal states and skills to support coming out of freeze state.

• How “stuck” biological states can contribute to delaying or blocking PTG.

• How to integrate post-traumatic growth qualities in ourselves.

• The biology of shame and how it can block PTG as well as skills for increased effectiveness with shame.

• How to use the neurobiology of compassion and self-compassion to alleviate symptoms of shame.

• How to support shifts in “victim thinking” and finding meaning after trauma.

A 2-hour Supervision Group is included in the price of this training with Ruby Jo Walker.

80 CEUs total

Each module requires attendance at previous modules. To receive certification, students must attend all 4 modules or make arrangements with the instructor.

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