Ruby Jo Walker, LCSW

POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH SOMATIC THERAPY™ TRAINING - FOUNDATIONS

Join Us as We Synergistically Work with the "Maps" of Nervous System Regulation, Relational Capacity, and Core Belief Transformation.

This training offers a unique and powerful skill-set for working with clients and deepening your therapeutic practice.

“

I am so grateful for the professional growth I have experienced during my association with Ruby Jo and the investment she has made in me as a fellow human. Her life experience resonates with her ability to be direct yet compassionate and her loving sense of humor. Trainings are filled with laughter, reflection, and aha moments.

– Michelle Trosclair, LPC, CHT, New York

”

Reconnect, Regulate, and Restore Resilience:
A Holistic Approach to Trauma

Why THIS Training?

Join us as we synergistically work with the "Maps" of Nervous System Regulation, Relational Capacity, and Core Belief Transformation. Read more to learn why stepping into this unique training course offers you a broad and powerful skill-set for working with trauma and deepen your therapeutic practice.

The Nervous System as the Foundation

In applying Polyvagal Theory, the nervous system serves as the foundation for understanding trauma and healing because it regulates our physiological and emotional responses. When an individual experiences trauma, the nervous system can become dysregulated (see chart below). This dysregulation affects physiology, behaviour, emotions and relational capacity.

By recognizing the the role of the nervous system, therapy can begin to address the underlying nervous system functioning to move beyond "managing" to actually shifting the physiological state. The shifting of physiological state is the portal into deeper changes in all areas of life, leading to symptom reduction, as well as growth and a a sense of wholeness. This training offers many different pathways to deactivate the nervous system, leading to regulation and capacity for resilience and potential post-traumatic growth.

Polyvagal Theory Chart of Trauma Response

SWTT's Polyvagal Chart SIMPLIFIED VERSION. See full version

Applied Polyvagal Theory is the foundation of advancing therapeutic work, utilizing the the synergy of the nervous system, relational capacity, and core beliefs. Using the lens of the nervous system, the practitioner learns the attunement skills to identify the targeted deactivation pathways needed to bring the nervous system back to a regulated state; this regulated state includes access to the green zone (see above Polyvagal Chart of Trauma Response) and is the underpinning of resilience and post-traumatic growth. When the underlying regulation is available, it leads to the platform for expansion and increased resilience. This expansion supports the client into becoming more themselves–leading to being in one’s Essence, or true self, without conditioning and limits.

Interventions include several deactivation pathways that shift states from being stuck in the dysregulation (the red and yellow zones). Learning to employ deactivation pathways to access the green zone can include general nervous system regulation, as well as relational and co-regulation capacity, and core beliefs. These polyvagal-informed neurobiological interventions lead to regulation and set the stage for assisting clients in being their true self, or in their Essence. These distinctive processes taught in this training can deepen the healing process.

Relational Capacity

Relational Capacity refers to an individual’s ability to form healthy and satisfying relationships. By applying insights from the neurobiology and co-regulation capacity, practitioners can help clients recognize patterns in their relationships that may stem from earlier experiences. Therapeutic techniques based on Polyvagal Theory can be tailored to enhance co-regulation capacity leading to more reciprocity, ease, and nourishment from relationships.

Core Beliefs

Core beliefs are the underlying perceptions we hold about ourselves, others, and the world; they are often shaped by early experiences. Although core beliefs are often formed as an adaptation to get through a difficulty, they get in the way of fully living. Learning to identify these core beliefs and skillfully supporting changing them can create new patterns. Because these limiting beliefs are formed in a threat state in the nervous system, it is critical to apply nervous system techniques for more long-lasting changes.. Using Polyvagal Theory-informed interventions, beliefs can be reworked more fully on a nervous system level, creating new ways of being with oneself, others, and the world.. This creates profound transformation.

The nervous system lays the foundation for understanding both human struggles, and it is the path towards growth and healing. Nervous system regulation is a key component for the most effective therapeutic interventions. In addition to helping to understand trauma responses, it also is the avenue towards learning to effectively apply strategies that shift nervous system physiology. This shift in nervous system physiology enhances relational capacity, reshapes core beliefs, and leads to more of one’s inherent wholeness. This approach takes the therapeutic work further and deeper. This integrated method leads to more resilience, and sets the stage for expansion to be in one’s true Essence. It also lays the groundwork for post-traumatic growth, as clients become the best versions of themselves.

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As a therapist, my learning from Ruby Jo Walker's Post-Traumatic Growth Somatic Therapy training has been immense. I have grown as a person and therapist in ways that I had not imagined. I am not only more confident in practicing somatic therapy, but I actually have renewed my passion for the work and am finding myself more engaged and less burned-out as a result! Ruby Jo's teaching and facilitation style is amazing and is the perfect platform for my learning style. I leave the trainings feeling inspired, energized, connected, and not overwhelmed or exhausted. It has also been amazing to connect with other professions and build community through the practices and activities we engage in. I feel confident in this model of therapy and have seen it to be healing and effective with my clients!

– Aaron Belson, LCSW

”

How Will This Training Influence You and Your Practice?

This training course is very thorough, and will immediately start to transform and take your work with trauma to the next level.

Be Up to Date with the Latest Changes in the Field

Polyvagal Theory is the game-changer in the treatment of trauma and is the most effective lens to shift trauma states that cause dysregulation. We now know the nervous system has a major role in trauma presentations and struggles in life as it created the dysregulation. Shifting physiology leads to not having to just manage a behavior, but to change it in a way that it no longer needs managing. This shifting of neurobiological states is the pathway to support deeper change beyond management. Learning how to apply Polyvagal Theory provides a road map in supporting others more effectively for trauma resolution, as well general nervous system regulation.

Be More Effective and Knowledgeable in Treating Trauma

By participating in this training, you will significantly enhance your effectiveness and knowledge in treating trauma through a comprehensive approach that integrates the latest insights from Polyvagal Theory and somatic-oriented methods.

With a deeper understanding of the Nervous System, you’ll be able to recognize your clients’ physiological states and identify what can help them shift out of their existing patterns that keep them in an aroused state. Once you help them downregulate their nervous system, they can reconnect with their true selves, removing limitations and allowing them to engage with life more fully. The course will also enhance your ability to support clients in strengthening their relational attachment capacity, fostering deeper connections. Additionally, as you explore Core Beliefs, you’ll learn how to address the deeply rooted patterns from the past, supporting clients in transforming these beliefs for healthier functioning.

Be More Nourished in Your Work

The training itself offers a field of acceptance and loving-kindness to support the deepest learning and integration as possible, promoting a nourishing experience for students. You are supported in finding ways to bring your own authentic essence to trauma work. And you can further find yourself deeply nourished in your work as you witness the remarkable transformations of your clients unfold right before your eyes.

This training emphasizes the importance of bringing one's authentic essence to trauma work, allowing practitioners to connect with their own genuine selves while supporting others. By fostering deep presence and gentle awareness, participants learn to view client responses through a compassionate lens, recognizing them as human experiences rather than pathological behaviors. This compassionate approach not only enhances the therapeutic relationship but also encourages practitioners to hold both themselves and their clients with kindness and understanding.

Furthermore, the training provides a supportive network of peers, creating a community that embodies acceptance and loving-kindness. This nurturing environment promotes the deepest learning and integration possible, allowing practitioners to grow both personally and professionally. Many students describe their time in the training as transformative, noting how it helps them feel more whole and connected. They also love the growth they have, as a parallel process to their clients. The supportive community encourages personal growth and healing, leaving participants with a sense of renewal and empowerment. Ultimately, this training cultivates a fulfilling experience for students, empowering them to embrace their roles with renewed passion and compassion in their trauma work.

Three Foundations Training Modules:
What We Will Cover

Ruby Jo Walker, LCSW, Neurobiology Trainings

Module 1

Overview of Applied Polyvagal Theory in Treatment

Resilience and Post-traumatic Growth as Neural Platforms

Phases of Treatment

Attunement and Presence

Co-regulation and Attachment

Completion of Fight/Flight Response

Ruby Jo Walker, LCSW, Consultation Groups

Module 2

The Neurobiology of Developmental wounding,
part 1

Offering Reparative Experiences

Working with Shame

Self-Compassion

Creating the Coherent Narrative

Change and the Continuum of Embodiment

Module 3

The Neurobiology of Developmental Wounding,
part 2

Pendulation

Working with Freeze Response

Event Trauma

Rupture and Repair

Integration

Frequently Asked Questions

ARE THERE FOLLOW-ON TRAININGS AFTERWARDS?

Yes, in Post-Traumatic Growth Somatic Therapy™ Training - FOUNDATIONS, we provide the groundwork for effective trauma treatment. After you learn this work in the Foundations Training, you can continue to work with us to develop your skills in the Advanced Training.

Ruby Jo also facilitates supervision and consultation groups throughout the year. These groups are intended for professionals working with trauma who want individualized guidance and support from colleagues and direct consultation/ supervision

IS THIS A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT?

Yes. Learning in this course is consistently safe and inviting, creating an environment where transformation can truly take place. Ruby Jo has a natural talent for putting people at ease, allowing them to feel comfortable and open to the learning process. If participants initially come in feeling afraid, self-doubting, or threatened, her supportive approach helps them move past those barriers.

Students report that they find themselves feeling much less self-judgmental afterward. This newfound sense of ease not only enhances one's ability to learn but also fosters a deeper level of transformation. As you calm down and shed your concerns, you engage more fully with the material and the community around you and leave this training feeling fulfilled, confident, and ready to embrace your onward journey.

WILL THIS TRAINING BE WORTH THE INVESTMENT?

The cost of this training (also available as 3 part-payments) is remarkably accessible considering the value it offers. Many other programs may charge four to five times more, driven by name recognition rather than quality, while this training prioritizes genuine growth and transformation at a reasonable price.

This is the program I wish I could have experienced for myself. It deeply attends to the whole person, fostering an environment where individuals can embrace their essential goodness and wisdom. The intentional support provided allows participants to unfold into their true selves, leaving them with the feeling, “I’m in such a different place now.”

This training is rich with cutting-edge information this is further lifted with the compassionate support of experienced practitioners. This unique blend creates an experience that truly caters to those interested in holistic learning—where practitioners grow alongside their clients, enriching the journey for everyone involved. Ultimately, this training is not just an educational opportunity; it is a transformative experience that empowers individuals to thrive in a nourished and accepting environment.

IS THIS AN IN-PERSON OR ONLINE TRAINING?

This training takes place in-person, providing a refreshing contrast to our increasingly digital world. Participants consistently rave about the deep connections fostered during the event, emphasizing how nourishing it is to engage face-to-face. The experience of being together in a shared space enhances the sense of community and support that permeates the training.

Many individuals are drawn to this program not just for the content, but also for the opportunity to connect with like-minded, high-quality individuals who are equally passionate about personal growth and healing. The atmosphere is filled with genuine warmth and camaraderie, making it an enriching experience that participants cherish long after the training concludes. Being surrounded by such inspiring people adds an invaluable layer to the learning journey, creating a vibrant environment where everyone can thrive together.

WILL I GET A CERTIFICATE?

This training provides a certificate in Post-Traumatic Growth Somatic Therapy™ Training Foundational Year, which can lead to the Advanced Year in the subsequent course.

However, the true value lies in the depth of learning and its effectiveness and participants consistently report that taking this class is a decision they will never regret. The quality of this training is exceptional and cutting-edge, offering insights and techniques that you won’t find elsewhere. It’s an opportunity to engage with material that truly makes a difference, ensuring that you are at the forefront of this important work.

This training also fosters a strong sense of community, allowing you to build meaningful connections with others on a similar journey. Beyond the certification, you will come away feeling fulfilled and nourished, equipped not only with knowledge but also with supportive relationships that enhance your experience.

“

I am the psychotherapist I am because of Ruby Jo Walker, LCSW, and her mentorship over the past 17 years. Growing alongside her as a practitioner while she developed Post-Traumatic Growth Somatic Therapy, I have offered this method to my clients for many years. Her trainings provide practitioners of all types neuroscience- and biology-based therapy that allows clients to experience deep shifts in their lives towards more aliveness and to be their fullest selves.

Her method of supporting a person’s nervous system to integrate past traumas and to move into growth and resiliency increases their ability to flow through what life throws at them. With her method, she intentionally tends to developmental trauma as it has laid down in the nervous system, thereby supporting profound shifts from stuck protective responses to more flexibility and resource states for a person. Her focus on supporting the Ventral Vagal system in a person through mindful awareness techniques and using the personhood of the practitioner brings in safety and moves clients into their “new” health and flow, whatever that may mean for each client.

Ruby Jo integrates the most current information in the field of neurobiology in her trainings. Experiential learning of the skills and method is an invaluable part of her trainings allowing the growth of practical skills for practitioners and comfort with integrating these skills with clients after each training weekend. I highly recommend Southwest Trauma Trainings to all types of helpers.

– Emily Newcomer, MEd, LPC, Southwest Psychotherapy Services, Durango, CO

”

About Your Trainer

Ruby Jo Walker, LCSW, is an author, experienced (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) trauma therapist, and trainer sought for her expertise in Polyvagal Theory—specializing in the neurobiology of trauma and resilience. She is the founder of SW Trauma Training Services where she developed Post-Traumatic Growth Somatic Therapy, a unique combination of advanced somatic therapy practices rooted in neurobiology, resilience, trauma healing, and attachment theory, using applied Polyvagal Theory. Additionally, she is certified in Somatic Experiencing and Hakomi Mindfulness Therapy.

Ruby Jo's experience in the field of trauma spans over 30 years of training a wide range of professionals from various disciplines in Polyvagal-informed trauma protocols. Her work continues to impact psychotherapists, healthcare providers, trauma support agencies, behavioral health service groups, human service agencies, and attendees at Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence conferences. She has facilitated hundreds of trainings, providing expert guidance to help individuals and organizations better understand and address the impact and treatment of trauma for improved client outcomes and effectiveness in their work.

Ruby Jo has a passion for supporting professionals and clients incorporating an understanding of neurobiology to bring about deep change and transformation. Committed to her community, Ruby Jo served in a leadership role on a statewide task force that developed supportive resources for healthcare workers in Colorado during the 2020 pandemic. She is a contributing author of a Norton Press book on Somatic Therapies edited by Dr. Stephen Porges, PhD. slated to be published in 2025. In collaboration with Norton Press, Ruby Jo will publish her first book focusing on Applied Polyvagal Theory to Trauma Treatment in late 2025 (or early 2026).