Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Podcast- A Polyvagal Theory Informed Therapy: Recent Episodes

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Welcome to episode 31. Today is a very special gathering of fellow iLs instructors to honour the life of Ron Minson, M.D. whose life work impacted so many. iLs systems changed lives from the bottom up. Dr Ron, as we call him, received his medical degree from UCLA School of Medicine and is board-certified in Psychiatry and Neurology. His general medical background includes serving as a family physician and health center Medical Director and clinical psychiatrist. Dr. Minson served as Chief of Psychiatry for Presbyterian Medical Center and Director of Behavioral Sciences at Mercy Hospital in Denver.
However, his life took a radical new pathway when he witnessed the successful treatment of his daughter for severe depression and dyslexia from a sound therapy program. He subsequently chose to devote his life to learning about the power of filtred sound in clinical application; developed programs, and taught practitioners so more people could heal from sound and bone conduction therapy. He developed Dynamic Listening Systems (DLS), which he integrated into his psychiatric practice and later, in 2007, iLs was launched to provide a more affordable and multisensory therapy- which is sound combined with visual, vestibular and movement, that could be used in homes and schools as well as therapy clinics.

Dr Minson worked closely with his wife, Kate Minson. Some words from Kate...

“In the time I have been an eye-witness to Dr. Minson’s trajectory in the field of psychoacoustics, the branch of psychology concerned with sound and its physiological effects, I have noted a few common themes that run through his professional life story: a willingness to go boldly into uncharted territory, an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and an equally passionate desire to help people.

Please enjoy my conversation with Fellow-iLs trainers, Doreen Hunt; Ann Brownstone; Dillen Hartley and Marianne Judd, all esteemed clinicians, as we honour the memory and work of Dr Minson, sharing his knowledge and the powerful impact of the iLs and Pro system with clients.
You will sense the gratitude we all feel to have been a part of the iLs family and the privilege it was to be able to teach the work.

Some key points- listen in for the details and more...

• iLs is a multisensory program incorporating movement with filtered music and bone conduction
• Dr Ron and Kate- knowledge way before their time
• Power of breath and voice with breath- impact on the nervous system
• Sound as healing
• Study with Dr Tomatis
• The entire body as a vesicle for sound.
• iLs foundation in neuroscience and neurodevelopment
• iLs connecting the sensory-motor system
• inter-uterine listening
• filtered mothers voice
• Pro System- individualized program with higher filtered music and bone conduction
• Dr Ron's legacy- integrating air and bone conduction in a single program; the ear-to-brain connection; bottom-up integration to build a foundation for integration
• Leadership through care- Kate and Dr Ron

I hope you all enjoyed this conversation. For me, it was lovely to connect again with some old friends and share story. There were a couple of other trainers who were unable to attend, Clinicians Mary Jones, Andrea Pointer and Cindy Dawkins who were very much missed. Being an iLs Trainer was a special time in my life.

To find out more about the iLs system or the SSP contact Unyte in Denver, or if you are located in Australia or New Zealand, contact Integrated Listening Australia.

Wishing you all kindness, Joanne.

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Welcome to episode 31. SSP as a Vagal Resonance Field Tuner for Healing with Paula Scatoloni. Today you are all in for an interesting conversation about the SSP and SSP group work; we talk about resonance and coherence in the body and between humans for attuned, present-moment connection.
A little bit of background about Paula.... she has been on a journey to understand the connection between consciousness and embodiment through Western and non-Western perspectives. Paula has a Masters in Social Work and has brought cutting-edge perspectives to institutions such as Duke University and co-developed clinical and training programs such as The Embodied Recovery Institute

As a sound, body, and energy-oriented practitioner, Paula loves to blend movement, sound, and vibration with neuroscience and body-based therapies to offer a holistic approach to support individual and collective nervous system healing.

Some key points you will hear in our discussion:
Supporting practitioners in SSP group learning experience- how to become "Master Regulators"
SSP group experiences for individuals- sound, vibration and movement
Cultivating the practice of witnessing the present moment
Emotion phobic
Working with structures (somatics and subconscious safety) of the early 0-3 years developmental period that may have been impacted by early life trauma
Therapeutic work of "presence" and "touch for trauma healing
Attuned Presence to the body for healing- the body knows how to self-correct
Narratives around relational safety- how Touch work can shift this
Somatic Experience practitioners can sense into the many layers of the body
How do Attachment styles show up in touch, interactions, and communication
Trained Touch Work practitioners work
When our emotions, thoughts, and behaviours are not congruent we are in dissonance- Dan Seigal
Importance of setting intentions
Developmental movement patterns- push-pull-grasp- and subconscious attachment system
Somatic work to help develop body boundaries
Embodied Recovery Program
Integrating Somatic and IFS with SSP

To Contact Paula:https://paula-scatoloni-s-school.teachable.com/

Such an interesting conversation. I am excited to share that I will be experiencing one of Paula's The Healing Power of Sound:Cultivating Body, Mind, Heart Connection Through Self Harmonics - groups in early 2024 and will podcast about my experience.

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Welcome everyone to episode 30.
Today's conversation is focused on the SSP for Kids. In my work supporting families with children who are experiencing challenges, whether that be neurodevelopmental or mental health-related; I have observed significant improvements following the SSP. I am also privileged to receive a lot of feedback from pediatric-focused therapists on the improvements they observe because of the SSP. So I wanted to help build awareness both for practitioners working with children or for any families listening who are experiencing challenges. As you will hear the SSP offers hope and evidence-based improvements across psychosocial-biophysiological systems.

Today I am speaking with two senior-level clinicians, each with over 30 years of experience in pediatric therapy. I am honored to know them both as colleagues and good friends. Doreen Hunt, Occupational Therapist is the co-owner of Children’s Therapy of Woodinville, Seattle USA. Irena Woodward, Occupational Therapist, is the owner of Family Connections in Sydney Australia. Both have extensive training beyond the Safe and Sound protocol and I will include their contact details at the end of the podcast.

Some of the Key Points:

• Doreen discusses the case of an adolescent female who had significant mental health challenges- hospitalized for self-harm and had begun auditory hallucinations- after the first 30 min of SSP, her hallucinations stopped.- Listen in for more to this story.
• Irena discusses a young female with Functional Neurological Disorder and eating disorder- initially on nasogastric tube feedings- over SSP repeats was able to eat regular foods.
• SSP impacting the integrated social engagement system to see improved intake for feeding difficulties
• SSP for infants - micro premi or failure to thrive
• SSP and vagus stimulation and resulting bowl and bladder awareness in a young child
• SSP to improve facial expressivity- connection to attachment
• More harmonious family life after SSP
• SSP and improved emotional intelligence
• SSP and increased feelings of happiness in kids
• SSP and improved vocal quality and inflection
• SSP with improvements in gross and fine motor skills
• We discuss the neurobiology of Safety
• SSP with resulting improvements in family dynamics
• Improvements in global development
• Importance for the family to nourish a sense of safety

I hope you enjoyed this episode and found the information helpful. It would be a great honor if you could share this episode with a colleague, friend, or family member. Knowledge is power and sharing this episode may help someone who is struggling.

A big thank you to those who sent in questions. My apologies if I did not get to yours. We do plan to record a follow-up session in early 2024 targeted to specific questions around SSP implementation so if you have any questions or suggestions please email me joanne@integratedlistening.com.au or message me via the Safe and Sound Protocol Podcast FB group.

Doreen, Irena, and I, support clients globally. I will list contact details in the show notes and our SSP FB page.
But to contact Irena- contact Irena@familyconnections.com.au
Doreen at- dhuntotr@comcast.net
Myself- Joanne@integratedlistening.com.au

My next guest is the esteemed Dr Sue Carter, founder of Oxytoxin, the Social bonding hormone and wife to Dr Stephen Porges. I look forward to sharing that with you. Sending you kindness and self-compassion until next time. Take care, Joanne.

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Welcome to episode 29. I am so thrilled to share my conversation with Christine Dickson. Get ready to be inspired; hopeful, and think deeply about your Pathway in Life.
"Christine Dickson is a Transformational Mentor, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and Equine Assisted Coach. She works with people to map out their vision and reframe their limiting belief systems to create radical shifts in their lives.
She has a solid background in working with people moving away from addiction and pathological relationships, supporting their quest to live a more free and purposeful life. Her ideal client is a fellow traveler who has come to a crossroads and dares to walk in the direction of their hearts longing.
A self-described “Late Bloomer”, she traveled a slow but steady path to rewrite her subconscious conditioning and take responsibility for her own life. By becoming more self-aware and intentional she was able to propel herself into taking meaningful action and change course. Now, she helps others do the same. What does your heart long to bring forth into the world? When that small inner voice whispers to you what you know to be true, do you listen?"
Some key topics, quotes, or points:

• Everything you have done in life is building toward something
• Childhood adaptive brilliance- living inside other people's nervous systems for survival- a way of "being" to stay safe
• Being primed for repeating non-adaptive behaviours
• Everything that happens to you is an opportunity to see......What is the Gift within the event.......even if is a traumatic event
• I am responsible for my decisions- it doesn't serve me to not take responsibility
• You have 2 choices- you can either be angry at what happened or you can LIVE....but you can't do both- holding anger will eat away at any future happiness
• Fear- can be a good motivator
• Once you say "Yes" to create a new life- do the work- the Universe sends things your way
• I'm just going to start...what is the worst that can happen
• The dreaded...."I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH"
• Malibu Addiction Centre- what is the root cause of the coping mechanism
• The power of your Mindset- overcoming anxiety, fears, worries
• Just keep showing up.....keep moving forward
• Subconscious mind- the only thing it is afraid of is the UNKNOWN
• The best thing anyone can do is to be really really interested in their own process-observe self from a distance
• Addiction- often a child or partner of someone with a personality disorder or pathological disorder
• "Love Bombing"
• Pathological Relationships- Addiction link- you can leave without "leaving" by drinking or taking drugs
• Addiction in Families- "often a dance of interactions" like a "supporting cast in a movie."
• Christine's Work- "On the Path"- helping people work out their life purpose
• "Survivor......the problem with being a survivor is that you have to create situations you need to survive in order to show your skills."
• I choose to Thrive
• The fear of not stepping fully into being ourselves- always holding a bit back
• Equine work- people typically trust animals quicker than they do humans.
• Horses help us tap into something primal- help us open up more for exploration
• Your Internal Family Systems play out in front of you with the horses- like the embodiment of a part right in front of you.

Books
The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert
A great podcast with Christine- check out The Journey On Podcast- Ep 88

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Welcome to Episode 28. What I really enjoy about hosting this podcast is the opportunity to meet authentic people passionate about their work and who are open to sharing their knowledge with you. In this episode, I speak with 6 .....yes 6 skilled Somatic Experience (SE) practitioners. To be honest I was a little concerned about how it would flow with 6 people but I feel it resulted in a wonderful conversation. Please listen in as I speak with Paula Scatoloni, Laura Moorehead, Kate Appleton, Melinda Cornish, Katie McClain, and Leah Dawang about Somatic Experience therapeutic work and supporting clients with an integrated model of SE and the Safe and Sound Protocol.

This team of practitioners can be thanked for their work in developing a set of Guidelines for Unyte which inform SE practitioners about how to integrate the SSP to facilitate deep somatic healing work.
You will hear as they each discuss their unique approach and their commitment to an integrated SE and SSP model to help in the healing process.

Some of the topics touched on include:

• What is Somatic Experience - the main premise
• Peter Levine- SE Founder- his thinking in developing the SE Approach
• Priority of the practitioner for self-regulation
• Shock trauma explained
• Exploring the somatic completion of an event that was not completed in a trauma
• SSP expands the "relational field" to help the nervous system work through stored stress
• SSP resourcing the nervous system to enhance expansion
• SSP helps the relational connection- somatic patterning of early attachment and bonding
• Somatic scaffolding of the attachment system
• OT sensory tools
• SSP, Focus, SE, and Parts work
• SSP and resonant frequencies in the body
• Developing agency and control
• SE, SSP, and Touch work
• Touch work to help anchor the sense of safety in the body- a gentle hand over the adrenals or occiput
• working with children should involve the whole family
• 6 views of what is the gift that the SSP brings to helping clients
• Kate Appleton..." a potent experience....opens a portal to safety without language..."

Recommended Books
Books by Stanly Kellerman- Father of Somatics
The Gifts of the Body- Johnathon Bowan
What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing- Oprah Winfrey and Dr Bruce Perry
Nurturing Resilience: Helping Clients Move Forward from Developmental Trauma-An Integrative Somatic Approach by Kathy L. Kain and Stephen J. Terrell
The Body Keeps Score by Bessel van der Kolk

To contact the panel members please see below:
Paula Scatoloni- paula@paulascatoloni.com
Laura Moorehead - lauramoorehead@gmail.com
Kate Appleton - kate@kate-appleton.com
Melinda Cornish - mjcspirit@gmail.com
Katie McClain - katiemcclain@me.com
Leah Dawang - leah.dawang@unyte.com

If you liked this episode, please share it with a friend or colleague.

Questions or comments - joanne@integratedlistening.com.au

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Hello and welcome to Episode 27. Today I have a very rich discussion with Richmond Heath, Physiotherapist, about TRE ( Tension and Trauma Releasing Exercises.) Richmond is the Executive Director of Trauma Release Australia and a Level 3 TRE trainer. He was responsible for bringing Dr David Berceli and TRE to Australia in 2011.
Richmond also holds an Advanced Diploma of Aboriginal Studies, is a qualified Bowen Therapist, teaches Clinical Pilates, and has a diverse background in both public and private health sectors including youth, community, mental and indigenous health. Richmond coordinates the professional training and supervision of TRE trainers Australia wide providing TRE workshops and training for groups, corporations, organizations and local regions all around Australia and Asia Pacific.

I am sure you all will sense from Richmond his passion for TRE, not only in his own personal journey but to bring this approach to others.

As you will hear, the theoretical premise of TRE is very much embedded in PVT. In our journey as practitioners, we know that we need a variety of tools to draw from as every nervous system we support is unique. SSP practitioners who incorporate TRE have shared with me they find an integrated approach critical to help resource the nervous system.

Please enjoy my conversation with Richmond.

Some points from our conversation but please listen in as Richmond discusses Polyvagal Theory from a slightly different lens.

• TRE Founder David Berceli once posited – “Just as the defence cascade is a subcortical phylogenetically ordered pathway, doesn’t it make sense that the body would have evolved a similar subcortical & phylogenetically ordered pathway to release or come back out of those defensive states?”
• ‘Coming down the curve’ - allowing all our systems of the body to restore themselves to their natural variable, flexible pulsation & movement
• When Stephen Porges attended a TRE Global Summit, he summarised the spontaneous movements invoked with TRE like this:
  • “Tension (or collapse) in the body is a defensive response”
  • “TRE is a neural exercise of convincing the body to trust gravity & let go of its habituated defensive responses”
  • “TRE is getting the body to give up its self-protection so its rhythms can return & it can retune defensive patterns in the musculoskeletal structure”
• ‘Movement= external movement ( body movement through space) and internal movement (pulsation & variability within all the systems of the body)
• PVT- 3 categories of movement
  • calm, curious & connected movement (ventral vagal state)
  • compulsive movement towards & away (sympathetic state)
  • contained (hypertonic mobilization) collapsed (hypotonic immobilization) & disconnected movement (dorsal vagal state)
• Discharge emotional energy/memories in the body
• Reduce chronic tension- body and mental
• Develop a different relationship with your body- start to trust your body.
• Defensive states are also associated with a process of disembodiment –as sympathetic arousal states are activated along with a shunting of blood to the heart & lungs & muscles of the limbs, there is a reduction in blood flow & awareness of the hands & feet – so with any level of stress we are also subtly beginning to lose connection with our body
• Just as this process of disembodiment is driven by the nervous system & not our cognition during stress, so too, the process of re-embodiment is a subcortical phenomenon ultimately controlled by & limited by the nervous system – not our cognition
• Link to TRE Website- https://traumaprevention.com/

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It is with the utmost pleasure I speak with Rebecca Bailey PhD. Polyvagal Equine Institute (PVEI) Founder.

Dr . Bailey is a leading trauma therapist who specializes in complex case scenarios. She has over 30 years of experience in the field and continues to be dedicated to the notion that authenticity, common sense, and kindness are the most important elements of effective treatment. She is a lifelong equestrian and animal lover who continues to believe animals, in particular horses, have much to teach humans about curiosity and compassion.

She is the author of two books: Safe Kids: Smart Parents and Equine Connections: Polyvagal Principles as well as articles on Polyvagal principles in the courtroom and the application of equine interventions to a variety of populations.

I loved speaking with Rebecca and am so looking forward to our ongoing collaboration about implementing SSP with stressed and anxious horses as well as horse and rider connection. I hope you enjoy our conversation, some of the topics we discuss include:

• How Equines were pivotal in her work with supporting Jaycee Dugard who was abducted for 18 years
• Rethinking Stockholm Syndrome to a new "Appeasement" Framework- Published paper the result of a collaboration including Dr Stephen Porges- see link below
• Forming the Polyvagal Equine Institute with Co-Founders Jaycee Dugard and Margie McDonald
• What is it about horses that make them an ideal collaborator to help humans learn about their nervous systems?
• Horses' entire existence is neuroception
• How PVEI differs from other equine-assisted therapies
• Carousel analogy as another metaphor option from Deb Dana's Polyvagal Ladder
• Polyvagal Equine work- moving away from talk therapy to body-based work
• Polyvagal principles working with Law Enforcement and Judges.
• The lessons practitioners can learn about their own nervous systems from Equine work to help them better support clients
• Horses as conduits for connection
• Horses and "mind reading"- or highly tuned neuroceptive systems
• "Sensing in"- how horses help teach us humans to be attuned to other humans
• SSP for horses to help decrease anxiety- an exciting project we plan to collaborate on together- contact us for more information- joanne@integratedlistening.com.au
• Our personal experience using the SSP with our horses
• Training opportunities at PVEI

Link to Polyvagal Equine Institute

Appeasement: replacing Stockholm syndrome as a definition of a survival strategy
Rebecca Bailey, Jaycee Dugard, Stefanie F. Smith & Stephen W. Porges
Article: 2161038 | Received 25 Jul 2022, Accepted 07 Dec 2022, Published online: 19 Jan 2023

Books

Equine Connections: Polyvagal PrinciplesSupport the show

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Welcome to episode 25.
Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Petria Thoresen, psychologist, from STAND for CHILDREN/Stand Tū Māia based in New Zealand.

Integrated Listening Australia is the official Distributor of the SSP and Focus System for Australia and New Zealand and has been supporting STAND for a number of years. STAND began implementing the SSP in 2019 and has over 40 staff trained. They also support their community with the Focus system and IOM2 Interactive Biofeedback program.
New Zealand has experienced a number of traumas over the last few years- earthquakes, a mass shooting, pandemic lockdowns, and floods. Petria explains how STAND embeds native culture and a philosophy that it takes a village..... in supporting children and families who have experienced trauma. Their model may be a good reference for other organizations.

Some key points...listen in to find out more.

• It takes a village to help heal trauma
• Theraplay
• Music therapy as a post-SSP session to help wire in reciprocal interactions, mirroring, vocalizations, and creativity- important elements of the Social Engagement System
• Multi-model therapy to treat trauma- ISTSS best practices
• Intense therapy model for trauma
• SSP implementation refined in real time- driven by practitioner feedback
• Community heals- we are better together
• Phased sequenced approach to complex trauma
• We are "people alongside people' in healing trauma

Patria references 3 papers:

Adolescents | Free Full-Text | Trauma-Related Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors in Adolescence: A Bridge between Psychoanalysis and Neuroscience (mdpi.com)

Treatment of complex PTSD: results of the ISTSS expert clinician survey on best practices - PubMed (nih.gov)

Multimodal Therapy: A Unifying Approach to Psychotherapy | Psychology Today

Dr Petria Thöresen, PhD is a fully certified Theraplay® Therapist/Supervisor and
Trainer. Petria completed her PhD in Psychology through Canterbury University,
New Zealand. Petria has a Post Graduate degree in Teaching & Learning, Post Graduate Diploma in Science- Child and Family Psychology, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychological Practice and is a New Zealand Registered Psychologist.
Petria is currently working as a Therapeutic Practice Leader Pou Heke with Stand
Children’s Services ensuring the ethical and culturally safe practice of Theraplay®
as well as other interventions such as Clinical Hypnotherapy, Brainspotting, Safe & Sound Protocol and HRV Biofeedback, Neurofeedback, and Poly Vagal Therapy etc.
The daily focus of Stand Tū Māia is to provide transformative services to tamariki,
mokopuna, and whānau that Support responsive relationships, reduce sources of
stress in their lives and strengthen self-regulation and core executive skills. Stand Tū
Māia have seven sites across NZ.
She can be contacted at Petria.Thoresen@standforchildren.org.nz

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Hi Podcast Listeners,

I hope you find the content helpful.
I am not sponsored by Unyte-iLs and produce the podcast with John's support. He has had a big job learning to edit and sound mix as I am sure you all noticed with the earlier episodes. We are both therapists so podcasting has been a hobby on the side.
I love making content for you and plan to dedicate more time this year to creating content to help you grow as a practitioner or find your pathway to health if you are struggling with mental health or neurodevelop

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Welcome to Episode 24. I have the pleasure of speaking with Michael Romeo, Clinical Psychologist, about Functional Neurological Disorder (FND).

Michael has been practicing as a Clinical Psychologist for over 20 years. He began his career as an Adolescent Psychologist. He worked in Bali treating ex-patriates experiencing PTSD following the Bali Bombing in 2002. He has worked as an educator and supervisor for most of his career. Michael lectured at Macquarie University for over ten years and was the International Student Counsellor at The University of Newcastle Counselling Service. Most of his career has focused on treating suicidal behaviours and complex trauma with EMDR, Schema Therapy, DBT and other strengths-based approaches. He currently works in private practice, where his primary clinical interest is treating Functional Neurological Disorders.

This is such a rich discussion as not only is Michael an expert on FND but has lived experience. Listen in for a wealth of information pertinent to both the practitioner and the individual who may be experiencing unexplainable neurological symptoms.

Some of the key points covered include:

• What is FND?
• Disconnection between the brain's hardware and the brain's software
• Neurological symptoms- brain stress response
• Why getting an accurate diagnosis is so important
• The diagnosis acceptance process
• Importance of engaging with therapy to reduce negative neuroplasticity
• Need for a team approach for FND- OT, PT, Yoga, Psychology, .......
• Energy Systems Hypothesis for Functional Seizures
• Stress Model and FND
• Children and Adolescents and FND
• Michael's personal journey with FND
• Virtual Reality for FND
• FND Resources
• Managing the boom and bust of FND
• Role of distraction in recovery
• Dispelling negative expectations and recovery
• SSP for FND- Michael's experience with the SSP- improved mood, energy, less brain fog, and a sense of calm.

Resources we spoke about include:

https://www.neurosymptoms.org/en/
https://fndhope.org/
https://fndaus.org.au/

SSP and FND Paper in Harvard Review of Psychiatry tells the story of MT, a 10-year-old girl with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) (Rajabalee, et al. 2022).
Neuromodulation Using Computer-Altered Music to Treat a Ten-Year-Old Child Unresponsive to Standard Interventions for Functional Neurological Disorder

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Welcome to episode 22. I have the utmost pleasure of speaking with Dr Arielle Schwartz,
a licensed clinical psychologist located in Boulder, CO. Arielle offers training for therapists, maintains a private practice, and has passions for the outdoors, yoga, and writing. She is the developer of Resilience-Informed Therapy which applies research on trauma recovery to form a strength-based, trauma treatment model that includes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), somatic (body-centered) psychology, mindfulness-based therapies, and time-tested relational psychotherapy. Arielle has authored a number of books, but today we are focusing our discussion on her work connecting Polyvagal Theory with yoga practice.

Some of the topics or points you will hear in our discussion include:

• Arielle's collaboration with Dr Porges
• Applied Polyvagal Theory and Yoga Course available via the Polyvagal Institute
• Arielle's personal experience with the iLs Focus System
• Neuromodulation and yoga practice
• "Less is More" the gentle input of yoga- felt sense of opening up and softening
• Cervical tightness and forward positioning due to looking down at devices and screen time- impact vagal tone
• Polyvagal speaks of the importance of co-regulation with a safe other but we need to be connected to our body...yoga provides that connection
• Trauma and stress often create less flexible thinking- yoga facilitates flexibility in the body that fosters flexibility in the mind
• Trauma and related conditions such as POTS and Dysautonomia- how yoga can help
• Researcher- Jo Miller - facia release and vagal tone
• Learn about the importance of our facial system connecting all internal organs, immune and endocrine systems
• Psoas muscle= fight/flight muscle - often holds tension from trauma
• Therapeutic yoga for trauma- release and unwind held defensive tension with safety
• Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Applying the Principles of Polyvagal Theory for Self-Discovery, Embodied Healing, and Meaningful Change
• New book by Arielle EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology: Interventions to Enhance Embodiment in Trauma Treatment

I hope everyone enjoyed this lovely discussion with Arielle. I feel even more inspired to hit the mat!
To find out more about Arielle's work I will include links to her website in the show notes and our Safe and Sound Protocol Podcast FB page. You can find a link to order her book Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery: Applying the Principles of Polyvagal Theory for Self-Discovery, Embodied Healing, and Meaningful Change on the Safe and Sound Protocol FB page too.
If you liked this episode please share it with a friend, family member, or colleague.

Link to Arielle's Website- https://drarielleschwartz.com/

Breathe slow and low,
Joanne

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Welcome everyone to episode 21.
I am so happy to be revisiting the topic of EMDR in today's episode. I last spoke about EMDR in episode number 14 and it is by far the most popular.

So my goal for today is to help listeners, both practitioner and layperson, learn more about the evidence-based EMDR therapy as well as discover how an integrated EMDR/SSP approach may offer an optimal pathway to wellness.

In today's episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with 3 amazing clinicians, Jill Hosey, Eliza Fernandes, and Laurie Belanger, all EMDRIA Approved Consultants. Jill, Eliza, and Laurie are part of a Unyte EMDR think tank for developing guidelines about implementing the SSP within the EMDR therapy approach. Other members of the team who were unable to attend include Nicole Black and Marshall Lyles, both also EMDRIA Approved Consultants.

You will gain a deeper knowledge of EMDR therapy in trauma, the Polyvagal Theory connection, and implementation of the SSP acoustic intervention. Each practitioner shares their passion for supporting their client's journey to wellbeing using an integrated approach of both Safe and Sound Protocol and EMDR therapy.

Before we start a little about my guests-

Jillian Hosey is a Clinical Social Worker and Trauma Therapist who is a founding partner of Healing Therapy Alliance (HTA) and the PsychoSomatic Trauma Initiative in Toronto. She is Course Director, York University, School of Social Work

Laurie M Belanger has been providing services as a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist and is from East Amherst NY.

With her degree in Social Work, Eliza Fernandes has been providing psychotherapy services in Toronto, Canada

Please see below for contact information for each Unyte-EMDR team member.

Some Key Points to listen out for:
What is EMDR therapy- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Current understanding of the role of Bilateral Stimulation- (REM- during sleep; Orienting Response; Parasympathetic system; Working Memory)
EMDR is a memory processing therapy- putting the past in the past
How traumatic memories are stored in the brain
The Adaptive Information processing model
Current symptoms are manifestations of past difficult experiences
EMDR & Polyvagal Theory- PVT provides the bottom-up understanding of how the "body needs to feel safe"
Implementing SSP in the EMDR triphasic approach to trauma
SSP effective in the Preparatory/Stabilization Phase
SSP as a stabilizing resource to help get to the more difficult processing
SSP as a diagnostic tool to help assess "Affect Tolerance"
SSP builds positive affect in preparation for memory processing
SSP during Phase 8 to consolidate gains
SSP Guidelines for EMDR practitioners- set of recommendations and considerations for EMDR therapists

Books and Resources recommendations- EMDR and Somatic Psychology; Neurobiological Foundations for EMDR Practice-(listen in for more great resources!)

I hope everyone enjoys this episode. Such a wonderful group.

To contact me the best email is joanne@integratedlistening.com.au (yes, this is a different email, but it is my main working one so easier to monitor) I love to hear comments or feedback.
Please join our private FB group Safe and Sound Protocol Podcast- A polyvagal Informed Therapy for new learning opportunities and other information shared.
If you liked this episode it would be a great honor if you could share it with a colleague or friend.

Take care,
remember to breathe low, slow, and smile.

Contact Information:

Jill Hosey, jillhoseymsw@gmail.com
Laurie Belanger, lbelangerlcsw@gmail.com
Nicole Black, nicoleblacklpc@gmail.com
Eliza Fernandes, knowingrstrength@yahoo.ca
Marshall Lyles, marshallnlyles@gmail.com

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Hi everyone,

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with the skilled practitioner Rachel Lewis-Marlow from the Embodied Recovery Institute.

I first heard Rachel speak at the Polyvagal Institute Summit about a Polyvagal approach to working with eating disorders. It was so interesting that I had to have her share her knowledge with you as a guest on the podcast.

Please see below for additional information about Rachel and links to the Embodied Recovery Institute.

It would be a great honor if you could share this or other episodes with colleagues.
Please "like" the podcast, or leave a review via your favorite listening platform.

This episode is so rich. Please see some topics that we discuss:

• The current understanding and approach to working with Eating disorders
• An Embodied approach to working with Eating disorders- integrating Sensory-Motor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, and Polyvagal Theory
• Embodied Recovery Lens- understanding the biology such as epigenetics, birth history, attachment and........
• Role of Primitive Reflexes in the body and rhythms of moving toward or away
• Looking at eating disorder behaviour as the body's way of speaking- about your sense of safety
• Window of tolerance and ventral vagal states
• The Embodied Recovery model: moving away from traditional approaches of eliminating eating disorder behaviour, to being curious and decoding behaviours....looking for patterns
• Restricting, Binging, Purging- expressions of emotional states
• Learn about the "Action State" and the Embodied Recovery Approach
• Role of Relational Cycle- relation to others/relation to sensory or motor experiences that nourish
• Ability to differentiate Interoceptive signals in Eating Disorders
• PVT- it is the same nervous system that governs digestion that identifies and connects with safety
• Safety is not the absence of danger- there is a big difference between being protected and being safe! How does this impact ED.
• The field of treating Eating Disorders is often one of fear....."you will die if you do not eat" - how can your nervous system support nourishment when in fear!
• Recovery is an additive process to nourish the nervous system- not taking things away
• The importance of an integrated approach to recovery
• The body is a resource for recovery
• The vital role of the practitioner and their willingness to embody regulation

About Rachel.
Rachel Lewis-Marlow is a somatically integrative psychotherapist, dually licensed in counseling and therapeutic massage and bodywork and the Co-founder of the Embodied Recovery Institute which provides training to eating disorders professionals in a trauma-informed, relationally oriented and somatically integrated model of eating disorders treatment. She is a Certified Advanced Practitioner in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and has advanced training and 25+ years experience in diverse somatic therapies including Craniosacral Therapy, Energetic Osteopathy, Oncology massage and Aromatherapy.
Rachel began providing somatically integrative psychotherapy to eating disorders patients at the residential, PHP and IOP levels of care.
Currently, in private practice in Chapel Hill, NC, Rachel works with people healing from trauma, eating disorders, and dissociative disorders. She has extensive experience as a teacher and presenter, focusing on accessing the body’s unique capacity to give voice to the subconscious and to lay the foundation for healing and maintaining psychological and physical health.

Embodied Recovery Institute- https://embodiedrecovery.org/

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I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr Nina Kraus from Northwestern University about her work investigating sound processing in the brain and her new book "Of Sound Mind." Nina Kraus is Hugh Knowles Professor of Communication Sciences, Neurobiology, and Otolaryngology at Northwestern University. As a biologist and amateur musician, she thinks about sound and brain health.

Her research has found that our lives in sound, for better (musicians, bilinguals) and for worse (concussion, hearing loss, language disorders, noise), shape how our brain makes sense of the sounds we hear. Her book OF SOUND MIND - How our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World, was written for the intellectually curious.

Kraus advocates for biologically informed choices in education, health, and society.

We did not touch on all the topics discussed in her book so I encourage you to read Of Sound Mind.

Episode Thoughts:

Firstly I wish to emphasize the importance of expanding our knowledge to be more aware of the impact of sound on our neuroceptive system and as a consequence our ability to maintain optimal homeostasis for mental and physiological wellbeing.

Dr Kraus quotes Helen Keller ….:blindness disconnects us from things, deafness disconnects us from people” As PV informed individuals or therapists we certainly understand the importance of being able to connect. How we process sound- voices greatly impacts this.

Nina’s work has expanded our knowledge of the importance of the more complex neural feedback system from the brain to the ear to fine-tune our listening and create the connection of meaning in sound. Her lab has developed key measures of understanding auditory processing in the brain. Interestingly significant processing occurs in the midbrain where we know there are connections to the amygdala and motor centers - which are wired to speedily process sound for safety or defence.

Kraus also speaks about… whole brain processing of sound with significant cross-talk with other senses. She says that making sense of sound is profoundly governed by how we feel, think, see and move and conversely influences how we feel, think, see and move and that…”the sounds of our lives shape our brain”

Sound is an invisible ally or enemy of brain health

Topics covered include:

• Why is hearing underestimated?
• Neural processing of sound in the brain.
• EEG and Sound Stimuli.
• Rhythms - brain and body in relation to understanding speech and reading.
• Temporal timing - Interactive Metronome and sound processing
• Dyslexia and sound processing.
• Sound is complex- upsweeps, harmonics, rhythm, timing....
• Sound Processing in Autism
• Concussions and how sound processing is impacted.
• The Aging brain and sound processing.
• "Safe" Noise and the detrimental effects on our health.
• How to maintain a healthy "Sound Mind."

My next Guest is Dr Arielle Shwartz who teaches about PVT and yoga

Take care till next time

Breathe Slow, Joanne

Links

www.brainvolts.northwestern.edu

• Kraus N Editorial: RHYTHM: A Case for Digital Music Medicine. Hearing Journal.
• Bonacina S, Krizman J, White-Schwoch T, Nicol T, Kraus N How rhythmic skills relate and develop in school-age children. Global Pediatric Health.
• Bonacina S, Krizman J, White-Schwoch T, Kraus N

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Liz is a medical doctor and an experienced provider of the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) from Devon in southwest England. She specialises in the remote delivery of SSP for adults experiencing the effects of complex trauma and also offers professional guidance and SSP to fellow SSP providers internationally.

Liz contributes to the SSP training materials for Unyte-iLs, provides regular Q&As, and is a member of the Unyte Clinical Advisory Team.

Please enjoy this lovely discussion with Dr Liz Charles. I am sure you will immediately sense Liz's immense dedication to the Polyvagal informed process of supporting clients with the SSP therapy. Liz draws from her medical background, the work of Peter Levin and Deb Dana, and others, in SSP delivery.
Liz has lived experience with trauma and as such provides a very sensitive approach to supporting individuals with complex trauma. Liz also shares her personal experience and insights from her own healing journey using the SSP.

Liz explains an innovative way of implementing the SSP which definelty resonates with Dr Porges "Less is More" mantra. Liz discusses the vital role of listening and connection during the SSP process and discusses strategies to integrate into sessions.

Listen in to learn about the Fab4 Regulation techniques.

To contact Liz: website https://www.drlizcharles.com/ and email address drlizcharles@gmail.com

The book discussed at the beginning of the podcast is Humanual by Betsy Polatin ISBN 9781949003789

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What we have been waiting for.......a place to learn all about the Polyvagal Theory and how to unravel key concepts to implement in life....family....pets.....education....medical work....legal system and clinical practice. Welcome to the Polyvagal Institute (PVI).

I have the pleasure of speaking with the Executive Director, Randall Redfield all about the Polyvagal Institute, its mission, and learning opportunities.

IMPORTANT- Course Discount Offer for our podcast listeners: In association with the PVI we are so pleased to be able to offer a **Discount to the "Art and Science of the Polyvagal Theory" Course by Dr Porges and Deb Dana. See below for the link to order the course. The cost is in Australian dollars but transfers to around a 25% discount (due to currency exchange).

Click here to ORDER Australian: Click here to ORDER (includes GST)

THE ART & SCIENCE OF POLYVAGAL THEORY PROVIDED BY THE POLYVAGAL INSTITUTE:**
Format: 8.5 hrs live-online and recorded

Price: $A300 (approx 25% discount from listed price)

Contact: info@integratedlistening.com.au

Instructors: Stephen Porges, Ph.D. & Deb Dana, LCSW

Live Q&A

Dates and Times: Deb Dana, Oct 1 2021 at 11am EDT [ Oct 2, 1am AEST

Stephen Porges Oct 7 at 1pm EDT [ Oct 8, 3am AEST, 4am AEDT]

For more detailed information please see HERE

I have known Randall for some years from my early work as an Instructor for Integrated Listening Systems (iLs). Randall was an iLs Co-Founder and I loved every minute of being involved with iLs and teaching practitioners across the USA and Canada about the iLs Focus System.

Randall shares his journey in first meeting Dr Porges for a podcast interview in his home in North Carolina to forming a partnership to bring the Safe and Sound Protocol out of the Lab into the therapy community.

The beauty of learning Polyvagal Theory is that we can apply key principles into day-to-day life in connecting and co-regulating with family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. Randall speaks of his own personal journey with connecting with his sons.

Listen in to learn about the PVI mission and current and future learning opportunities. The PVI is developing courses about being Polyvagal Informed in Education, Medical, Legal fields, and Equine and Animal Assisted therapy. Current courses available are taught by Dr Porges and Deb Dana.

Keep an eye out for a future podcast that I have planned with Dr Rebecca Bailey about Polyvagal Theory in Equine Assisted Therapy. Dr Bailey is also developing a course for the PVI.

To find out more information: Polyvagal Institute

Contact me at ssppodcast1@gmail.com

Breath Slow & Smile, Joanne McIntyre

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Dr Porges early research career started when the science of psychophysiology was in its infancy. He studied heart rhythms, specifically the time interval between each heartbeat (Heart rate variability) which was recognized as a direct measure of vagal influences on cardiac function. He studied how this time interval varied in different states such as sustained attention or stress and was the first to provide the quantification of such phenomena in 1969.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is considered to be the "Gold Standard" for measuring stress. However, as you will discover in our discussion HRV is measuring vagal tone and homeostasis.

This episode is packed with invaluable information for practitioners and individuals wanting to learn more about cardiac vagal tone and how to improve neural regulation. HRV is a valuable tool to assess vagal tone, facilitate learning about body states, is a portal to vagal functions, and can be used to support SSP outcomes.

Listen in as Dr Porges expands on:

• Cardiac vagal tone- a measure of how the brain controls the viscera- like a "window into the brain."
• Vagal system and its role in maintaining Homeostasis
• Homeostasis versus Stress
• Vagus as a neural surveillance system
• Measuring Vagal Efficiency
• Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA)- measurement index solely for Ventral Vagus
• What is the "Vagal Break" and its role in regulation, attention & flexibility
• HRV Biofeedback and the "Resonance Sore" or "Coherence Score"
• HRV biofeedback as a neural exercise to facilitate vagal tone like the SSP
• What is the "plasticity" in the underlying neurophysiology of the vagal system?
• The sympathetic system is not our enemy!
• SSP- an amplification of cues of safety via emphasis of prosodic features
• Biofeedback tool- IOM2 as a measure of vagal tone & supporting the SSP.
• IOM2 Interactive Biofeedback as a tool for practitioners to help clients learn about their body states

Discussion including questions submitted by the Safe and Sound Protocol Podcast Facebook group

• Dysautonomia- vagal homeostatic functions under a state of perceived threat
• Long COVID- body re-tuned into a state of threat and its relationship to Trauma
• Inflammatory reactions as a "defense response"
• Sleep medications impact on SSP
• RSA across the lifespan
• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and Vagal Efficiency study

Learning Opportunities
Course 1:Polyvagal Based Heart Rate Variability Introduction Course
This first course will cover:

• HRV research and relevance to practice in mental health, trauma, and ADHD
• Cardiac vagal tone and how to apply it in a therapeutic setting
• Vagal influences on the heart
• The Heart-Brain Connection
• Terminology- vagal tone; RSA: HRV; high vagal tone; Resonance and Coherent Breathing; HRV biofeedback
• Tools to measure HRV

Course 2: SSP and HRV Biofeedback ( pre-requisite Class 1 )

• This short course will introduce the IOM2 as a measure of vagal tone and how it can be used to help guide SSP application.
• Learn about the IOM2 Grapher and Resonance Score for baseline measures and as a tool to facilitate a narrative with clients about body states
• Using the Biofeedback "Journeys" to facilitate vagal tone to support SSP implementation

Both Courses will be available via live webinars and then on-demand. Course 1- click here to REGISTER Course 2- click here to REGISTER

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Hi everyone,

Welcome to Episode # 15

Yes..... it's finally here....a new episode!!

Today I have the utmost pleasure of speaking with Tracy Stackhouse, Occupational Therapist and Executive Director at Developmental FX a non-profit organization providing clinical and training services to engage and evaluate pediatric therapeutic practice.

I loved my conversation with Tracy. Hope you like the title of today's episode, "Windows to Regulation" and I think as you listen to our conversation, the title will make sense. Tracy so clearly articulates the inter-connection of key models, such as Dan Siegel's "Window of Tolerance"; Bruce Perry's Neurosequential Model; Jean Ayres Sensory Integration Theory, and Interpersonal Neurobiology with the Polyvagal Theory. These models help us formulate clinical plans to facilitate co-regulation, connection, and safety in supporting SSP outcomes. I hope you all enjoy this episode. Please see below for Tracy's bio where you can learn about her work.

Here are some key points that you will learn about from our conversation:

• Using the language of "the window of tolerance" or "river of integration" to help describe the ebb and flow, expansion, or contraction of our autonomic state and relationship to behavioral states of regulation or dysregulation
• Explains the "R's"of regulation
• exploring what is " optimal adaptation"
• flow state
• The importance of developing "deep observation" skills or "listening" skills in the postural system, voice, body language, facial expression
• What is the Social-Motor system?
• How Co-Regulation is key to providing the "Safe" before and during the "Sound" for SSP delivery
• The importance of developing a comprehensive clinical plan for SSP success the SpIRiT model for reasoning and intervention planning

The components of co-regulation often need to be taught explicitly and include:

Synchrony
Mutual and Reciprocity
Mirroring
Serve and Return
Shared Affect
Repair
Following the child's lead
Nurturance
Promotion of Agency

Practitioners first develop these skills then learn how to guide families.

Tracy spoke about a treatment-intensive project she is involved in called Camp Jabiru. The camp is based on SI Theory and the neurobiology of "Safety" held in the Sydney region of Australia.

Here are links to the various projects and programs we discussed.

Spirited Conversations Podcast

Camp Jabiru

DFX Learning Journeys: the website will launch in a few weeks. Until then, email: learningjourneys@developmentalfx.org

More about Tracy
Tracy Murnan Stackhouse, MA, OTR is the executive director of Developmental FX (DFX) in Denver, Colorado, a non-profit organization providing clinical and training services to engage and elevate pediatric therapeutic practice. She is a leading pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT) involved in clinical treatment, research, mentoring, and training regarding OT intervention for persons with neurodevelopmental disorders, especially Fragile X Syndrome and autism. Tracy has a master’s degree in developmental psychology/neuroscience. She received her NDT training with Lois Bly. She is SIPT Certified and was the clinical specialist in sensory integration at The Children’s Hospital in Denver as well as the OT for the Fragile X Research and Treatment Center. Tracy continued her clinical and research work with Dr. Randi Hagerman at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute during its st

Love to hear from you!!

Please join our Safe and Sound Protocol Podcast Facebook group to post comments.

Smile, Joanne

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It is with great pleasure to share with you my conversation with Dr Sarah Shubert. Sarah is a Clinical Psychologist who works with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Sarah has a private practice and previously worked with complex mental health issues in Community treatment settings. Sarah is published in the area of trauma therapy and ADHD. Her doctoral dissertation was in the area of EMDR for the treatment of PTSD. She has won national and international awards for her research of EMDR and PTSD and is an accredited EMDR trainer.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing which is an evidence-based intervention for trauma and PTSD. The World Health Organization, (WHO )recognises EMDR as the first-choice treatment for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD; WHO, 2013).

Sarah is a trained SSP practitioner and implements the protocol, including Polyvagal theoretical approaches, to support her EMDR work.

Please listen to how Sara beautifully blends the science of safety and connection.
Topics covered include:

• What is EMDR?
• Polyvagal Theory, EMDR and coregulation in healing trauma
• Unravelling the "Preparation Phase" of EMDR
• Understanding PTSD challenges including emotional regulation, self-compassion and pervasive negative self-beliefs
• Understanding how "shutdown" can look like "calm and importance to know the difference
• How "shut down" blocks the memory processing of trauma and the importance of building safety
• The Polyvagal gift..... provides hope that we can rewire our nervous system for love, safety and connection
• Safety through connection and memory reconsolidation
• Sarah's personal experience with the Safe and Sound Protocol
• Why the SSP is an important therapy to support EMDR

To learn more about EMDR training with Sara for children and adolescents click this link- EMDR Training

During the episode I spoke, not so clearly I admit as it had been some time since I read about his work, of Dr Daniel Brown- link to more information- click here I would strongly recommend reading more about his work.

• Daniel Brown, Ph.D. is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School and has served on the faculty for over 38 years.
• An author of 24 books, and winner of the 1999 Guttmacher Award from the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Psychiatry & Law for outstanding contribution to forensic psychiatry.
• As an expert legal witness, Dr. Brown has testified in over 200 child abuse cases and served as an expert witness for prosecutors at the International War Crimes Tribunal, helping them establish a standard of evidence for victims of war atrocities.
• A senior meditation master, Dr. Brown has trained and taught with top Indo-Tibetan Bon & Buddhist lamas for more than 48 years, including lineage holders from some of the great schools of Buddhism.
• Dr. Brown Co-Founded The Attachment Project based on the foundations of his award-winning book Attachment Disturbances in Adults: Treatment for Comprehensive Repair.

I love to hear from you, please post any comments to the Safe and Sound Protocol Podcast Facebook group or email me at ssppodcast1@gmail.com

For more information about the SSP please contact Unyte Integrated Listening Systems
For Australia and New Zealand please contact Integrated Listening Australia.

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Wow, I know everyone is really going to gain an abundance of information from this episode. We have some exciting new developments with the release of the Digital SSP option and the new "Pathways" programming- and we talk about them both in this episode so don't miss out!

I am so lucky to be accompanied by 3 amazing practitioners from different parts of the USA who have embedded the SSP as a core component of their practice. They share their approach in supporting children, families, and adults, including older adults.

Before I provide some highlights of what you will learn from listening to this episode it is with great pleasure that I introduce each of my guests.

Doreen Hunt, OTR/L Co-Director of Children's Therapy at Woodinville
Many of you will be familiar with Doreen Hunt, Occupational Therapist who spoke with me on episode # 8. Doreen was the first practitioner to lead the initial feasibility study when the SSP was first released. Her clinical experience with 100's of clients provided invaluable feedback to Dr Porges and iLs that helped guide SSP implementation in the clinical world. Doreen provides the SSP practitioner Q&A sessions and the new practitioner webinars describing the new Pathways programming addition to the Digital SSP.
More information:
Doreen Hunt- Children's Therapy of Woodinville

Kate Ortman is Founder and CEO of Brain Train America
Kate is a leader as one of the world’s most respected providers of multi-modality brain training programs. Kate integrates neurotechnologies to help children, adults and older adults all around the world. Kate, her son Greg, and their company were featured in internationally-respected Popular Science magazine and Kate has presented at international conferences for Integrated Listening Systems, Scientific Learning, and Interactive Metronome.
More information:
Kate Ortman- Brain Train America

Monica Cochran M.Ed.- Owner Learning without Borders
Monica is passionate about nurturing the love of learning and has vast experience in helping learners of all ages enjoy learning. Working locally in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area and virtually (online), all over the world, she especially enjoys helping learners who have unique talents and challenges develop their strengths and learn in ways that work for them, so they can become lifelong learners and thrive. Monica provides personalized learning, education therapy, transition planning, and parent coaching. Monica is also trained in DIRfloortime.
More information:
Monica Cochran- Learning without Borders

This episode flowed so well; Doreen, Kate and Monica share a wealth of information for both practitioners and people who are experiencing challenges and looking for help.
Topics covered include:

• SSP helping families who have opened their hearts and homes to adopt a child
• The importance of Bonding and how the SSP facilitates this in couples and families
• SSP helping families connect and regulate- "Harmony in the House!....Doreen"
• Trauma in learning challenges
• How the SSP accelerates the "sense of safety"
• Learn about..."the Brain not hearing what the ears are hearing.....Kate"
• Changes in sensory sensitivities and bilateral motor integration skills- the brain is more connected!
• Improvements in Receptive language skills
• Kate discusses peak performance and healthy aging- using the Focus system and SSP to improve hearing compared to hearing aids
• The new SSP Intake form for SSP practitioners
• "Safe Sound" to help decrease stress
• Polyvagal Theory, SSP and Neuroplasticity

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Today it is my great pleasure to again be speaking with Kim Barthel, Occupational Therapist, from "Relationship Matters" Canada. Some information about Kim...

Instructor
Kim travels widely as an instructor to a range of therapists, educators, special-needs care providers and parents. Her specialties in workshop instruction include Trauma-Informed Practice, Pediatric Neuro-Developmental Treatment, Sensory Processing, Attachment Theory, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Addiction and Mental Health.
Consultant
As a consultantworking globally, Kim supports agencies, schools and businesses to develop trans-disciplinary services and environments for a wide range of individuals with special needs.
Author
As an author, Kim co-authored Canadian National Best-Seller Conversations with a Rattlesnake: Raw and Honest Reflections on Healing and Trauma with Theo Fleury in 2014.

I spoke with Kim in episode number 9 about resilience and trauma so make sure you take a listen.

Please enjoy this very informative session with Kim. We discuss trauma and the connection with sensory processing, attachment and our postural system. Kim covers these topics and more her workshop, Psycho-Sensory Intervention: Informed and Integrated Mental Health Support Strategies for the Treatment of Trauma. This training provides an integrated theoretical connection about the neurological interplay between attachment, developmental trauma and sensory processing issues.

Our discussion starts by defining what is "trauma?" A very expansive discussion......one that is well needed!

Other topics covered:

• explaining sensory processing and why it is important to consider this system in the therapeutic process
• the role of the attachment process in trauma, resilience and sensory challenges
• relational attunement as a regulatory influence in stabilising the arousal and sensory processing system
• connecting the "Arousal System Theory" with the “Window of Tolerance”
• how attachment strategies are functionally adaptive in relation to developmental trauma
• interpersonal neurobiology and relational attunement- why is it important?
• therapeutic use of self in stabilizing arousal and supporting sensory processing issues
• how trauma impacts postural control

With so much established evidence about treating trauma through the body, Kim talks about some intervention strategies for the postural and movement system that facilitates change in the emotional responses to trauma

Kim is a master storyteller and shares another wonderful example.....so listen in!

To find out more information about Kim's work, her company "Relationship Matters" and her training opportunities please see her website - kimbarthel.caand so

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When I thought about starting this podcast Michael was at the top of my list of people to speak with. I thoroughly enjoyed his book, "The Spaces Between Us." Reading it from a Polyagal lens I could not help but make many connections......I hope you do too!

Please enjoy this incredibly interesting discussion with Micheal Graziano, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at Princeton University, author of both novels and science books, his most recent book is Rethinking Consciousness.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• Peripersonal neurons processing the space about our body like a layer of bubble wrap
• Multi-sensory neurons in the motor strip of the brain....what!
• A subconscious neural system with sophisticated computational processing for visual auditory and tactile stimuli moving toward the body triggering defensive responses to protect it.........what happens if these computations are inaccurate?
• The vestibular system .... "acts as a glue to bind the senses together- without it- those neurons may not be able to build their properties correctly. You wouldn't know where you are with respect to the world or where objects are with respect to you- the peripersonal mechanism would be crippled."
• Spatial boundaries and body schema in relation to processing self to the environment.
• How stress impacts the startle reflex and rethinking the startle as a social messaging system.
• How our peripersonal space expands to encompass the tools we use....eating utensils, writing implements, hammers........what happens when this system crashes!
• Evolution of the smile
• How our emotions impact the protective bubble about our bodies
• The devastating social impact of Dyspraxia, which is the difficulty coordinating the body in space

To find out more about Michael- https://pni.princeton.edu/faculty/michael-graziano

Books by Michael- https://www.amazon.com/Michael-S-A-Graziano/e/B001JS3WKW

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Please join Extra Lesson Healing Trauma Conference presenters - Mariane Judd, Annette Barone and Joanne McIntyre discuss key themes of the conference.

Mariane explores the cases of children who are returning to school after being in lockdown due to the current pandemic and their struggles with self-regulation. We discuss strategies to support families and children with transitioning back to school.

More importantly, we reveal some strategies that teachers could implement to facilitate feelings of "safety" and to promote connection in the classroom which will ultimately lead to better emotional regulation, attention and learning.

Marianne elaborates on one of her cases of a child with an activated "sympathetic state" and who is struggling with learning at school. She connects his story to a sense of shame and further explores this in regards to EMDR and the importance of relationships in healing.
We propose a "multi-layered approach" to effectively work with families.

Mariane shares some important research connecting Zinc to the uptake of Oxytocin and the connection to the prevalence of Gut issues in many children with ASD or individuals experiencing anxiety.
You will hear about Dr Robert Sapolsky's work and his book...."Why Zebras don't get Ulcers" covering the biology of stress. His documentary " Stress, Portrait of a Killer" is so interesting and highly recommended (I love this guys work by the way!)

Parents can often feel alone and criticized for their children's behaviour, Mariane and Annette explore our role as practitioners in providing support and a safe space.

We have a wonderful discussion about the power of using the body via movement to support the nervous systems of those who have experienced trauma. The work of Dr Bruce Perry and Dr Bessel van der Kolk, both leading thinkers in the trauma world, also speak to the importance of such rhythmical motor patterns.

Learn about the concept of "Child Study" and what that could possibly bring to education as a whole.

Of course, we also discuss the Polyvagal Theory applications in therapy!

Please see the link for the Extra Lesson Conference 2020: Healing Trauma
The video link for this podcast in its entirety is available at Episode 10

Your comments and feedback are welcome at ssppodcast1@gmail.com

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Today it is my great pleasure to be speaking with Kim Barthel, Occupational Therapist, from Canada. Kim is a much-loved teacher, speaker and mentor to many. Kim has a gift for connecting diverse ideas, neuroscience and people in the service of supporting resiliency and health worldwide. Kim weaves the neurobiology of interpersonal relationships with sensory-motor neural systems to widen our understanding of the human spirit and healing. Kim has extensive experience working with individuals and communities across multiple settings such as First Nations People, children and adults who have experienced trauma, children on the autism spectrum and with sensory processing difficulties. She has worked with people who have experienced natural disasters, who live in war zones, and refugee camps.

In this interview, Kim shares her knowledge of the brain-body connection in helping people with trauma. That, when we are in a defensive state the access to our cortex, the “thinking” brain for self-talk, reasoning and listening, is inhibited or offline impacting impulsive or reactive responses but also impacting the ability to learn. Something many kids may be struggling with right now with schooling shifting to online platforms.

Helping loved ones, friends, clients and our society overall, starts with working on ourselves. Porges speaks about Neuroception, the subconscious cues of safety we send and receive. The micro-movements in body language, facial gesture and vocal inflection all indicate what state our nervous system is in…..parasympathetic-calm or sympathetic- activated. Each Nervous system impacts each other. Kim explains that creating change starts with ourselves.Please listen for more about"

• Cues of Safety- Safety as "Body felt"
• Relationships and resilience
• Healing by giving
• SSP as a body approach
• Steps in healing

For more information about Kim and to learn about speaking engagements and workshops please see her website https://www.kimbarthel.ca/

Please see Kim's Book- "Conversations with a Rattlesnake" - The Book
Can be purchased through her website as well as other popular carriers

As powerful advocates for mental health, NHL legend Theo Fleury and world-renowned therapist Kim Barthel team up in the national best-seller Conversations with a Rattlesnake. The book is a raw and honest conversation, loaded with personal insights and cutting-edge information regarding healing from trauma and abuse.

Fleury calls Barthel the “Wayne Gretzky of therapy”, and within their emotionally-safe relationship, he bares his soul so that others can learn from his mistakes, triumphs and new learning. Fleury’s story will inspire not only those overcoming their own trauma, but friends, parents, teachers, coaches, therapists, and health practitioners-anyone who is in the critical position of supporting someone who needs to share their own story.

Co-author Kim Barthel, provides an in-depth explanation of early childhood attachment and addiction that tie into the reasoning behind our behaviours, and the science of how our brains work. Barthel explains how understanding groundbreaking scientific and psychological research can eliminate the unnecessary and damaging shame that so often accompanies abuse and trauma. Her dialogue with Fleury illuminates self-awareness, mindfulness and the power of relationships.

Fleury’s life experiences and Barthel’s informed interpretation combine to provide a unique look at the healing process that is easy to read, entertaining and transformation

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I know it has been a bit of a gap since my last podcast release. There is so much in the media right now around COVID 19 I wanted to wait and really think about how to be apart of this space right now. I wanted my voice to remain directed at my goals of sharing information about the Polyvagal Theory, SSP, related topics about wellness and neuroscience. All this information helps us better understand our own biobehavioural states, how to build self-awareness and vagal regulation. Being in a ventral vagal state resonates outward influencing the physiological state of others about you.

Please enjoy my interview with a good friend and colleague, and probably the most experienced SSP practitioner there is, Doreen Hunt. Doreen is an Occupational Therapist and is the Co-Director of Children's Therapy at Woodinville located in the Seattle area. Doreen was the first practitioner to lead the initial feasibility study when the SSP was first released. Her clinical experience with 100's of clients provided invaluable feedback to Dr Porges and iLs that helped guide SSP implementation in the clinical world.

Please listen in to find out about:

• SSP and improved language processing
• Changes in SCAN auditory testing scores
• How Doreen, with the help of Dr Porges, brought the knowledge of the SSP to Speech and Audiologists
• "Safety is Therapy" invaluable guidance from Kim Barthel ( soon to be a guest of the SSP Podcast)
• "Priming vagal tone"
• Continued neural integration- how to optimise neuroplasticity by a 12-month approach to implementing the SSP

Recommended Books Doreen speaks about-
Grounded by Claire Wilson
https://chew.mykajabi.com/grounded-book

Activate your Vagus Nerve by Dr Navaz Habib
https://www.amazon.com/Activate-Your-Vagus-Nerve-Sensitivities/dp/1612438741

Below is the link to the Launch of the Extra Lesson Healing Trauma Conference 2020. https://youtu.be/hmWAKs099KU

The theme of the conference is Healing Trauma - explores the importance of attachment and respectful relationships in nurturing a foundation of resilience across the lifespan.

This conference aims to bring an awareness and understanding of the neurobiology of behaviour and social engagement. This understanding can be applied to trauma, autism, learning difficulties, oppositional and other maladaptive type behaviours, and sensory processing difficulties.

This conference is relevant for everyone who is interested in child development and concerned with supporting anyone who has experienced disruption during their lifetime. This includes individuals, parents, teachers, psychologists, occupational therapists, medical practitioners, social workers, mental health practitioners, disability workers and communities who care about understanding others.

The speakers and presenters are:
Kim Barthel - Occupational Therapist; Sensory Integration Specialist (Canada).
Professor Dennis Foley - Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Canberra.
Dr Bronwen Haralambous - University Lecturer in Steiner Education.

Joanne McIntyre - MS (Psych), Occupational Therapist and PhD Candidate.
Mary Willow - RN, Waldorf Teacher and Parent Educator (NZ).
Lut Hermans - Sculpture Therapist and Extra Lesson Practitioner.
Dr Mariane Judd - Educational and Behavioural Psychologist.

Online webinars will commence on Friday 1 May to Tuesday 30 June 2020 (incl) to provide participants sufficient time to enjoy and digest the rich array of presentations.

We warmly invite your registration at https://www.trybooking.com/BGVVA

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In today's episode Joanne interviews Dr Mariane Judd, a developmental psychologist from Canberra, Australia. Mariane reveals her approach which includes Extra Lesson, EMDR, LENS neurofeedback, iLs Focus and Pro as well as the Safe and Sound Protocol. With more than 30 years of experience as a practitioner, lecturing internationally and developing postgraduate learning, Mariane offers her wisdom in working with a broad range of clients.

For information and registration for the Healing Trauma Conference, hosted by The Extra Lesson Institute, to be held in Sydney from April 14-18 2020, please see the following link-
https://www.theextralesson.com/events/conference-2020

BIO:
Mariane is a registered Educational and Developmental Psychologist. Her career started in Early Childhood Education, then moved into working with children with learning and behaviour difficulties and has expanded into counselling of all age groups. Mariane is an international lecturer and one of the directors of the Extra Lesson Institute (TELI), which organisers the Extra Lesson training course at a post-graduate level. Extra Lesson is a neuro-developmental approach to therapy for children and adolescents.

Mariane was a founding member of the company that introduced the ILs sound therapy into Australia.

Alongside Extra Lesson she uses ILs sound therapy and ILs products in her therapy centre, plus LENS Neurofeedback.

Mariane has also developed her counselling skills to includes EMDR and uses a Polyvagal framework to provide counselling to clients who experience anxiety, have experienced adverse events or trauma in their lives

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In this episode, Joanne interviews Deb Dana.
Deb has a wonderful capacity to break down complex concepts and create a language that facilitates clinical application. Through her books and workshops, Deb teaches how to embody the Polyvagal Principles in therapeutic activities to create an environment of safety, and to promote self-awareness. She is able to provide a framework for the "Safe" within the "Safe and Sound Protocol."

Introducing Deb:
Deb Dana, LCSW is a clinician and consultant specializing in working with complex trauma and is a consultant to the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium in the Kinsey Institute. She developed the Rhythm of Regulation Clinical Training Series and lectures internationally on ways Polyvagal Theory informs work with trauma survivors. Deb is the author of The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation, Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection, creator of the Polyvagal Flip Chart, and co-edited, with Stephen Porges, Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory: The Emergence of Polyvagal-Informed Therapies.

Exciting News!
Remember to listen out for my daily podcast in May while attending Deb's "Rhythms of Regulation" 5-day Workshop in Mooloolaba, Queensland Australia. Deb is giving two five- day workshops in Australia sponsored by Internal Family Systems Australia.

If you wish to learn more about the Safe and Sound Protocol please visit for Australia and New Zealand - https://integratedlistening.com.au/ssp-safe-sound-protocol/ and for North America and the rest of the world - https://integratedlistening.com/ssp-safe-sound-protocol/

This interview will also be available on Youtube.

We welcome your feedback and questions at ssppodcast1@gmail.com

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In part two, Joanne interviews the originator of the Polyvagal Theory and inventor of the Safe and Sound Protocol - Dr Stephen Porges. Link to Dr Porges website to learn about the Polyvagal Theory and related research.

In this episode, Dr Porges discusses trauma and how the Safe and Sound Protocol can be blended with other therapies to support state stabilization and regulation. He discusses the need to look beyond the confines of "medical" diagnoses to challenges within the Integrated Social Engagement System. He discusses the universality of the SSP and how it will be used in the future, including with various animals. He discusses his own research and new discoveries based upon the Polyvagal theory. He finishes by telling us of his vision forward and his sense of satisfaction in being able to positively impact so many lives. I would love to hear your feedback, please post comments or thoughts. The interviews for Part 1 & 2 will be on Youtube soon.

If you wish to learn more about the Safe and Sound Protocol please visit for Australia and New Zealand - https://integratedlistening.com.au/ssp-safe-sound-protocol/ and for North America and the rest of the world - https://integratedlistening.com/ssp-safe-sound-protocol/

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In part one, Joanne interviews the originator of the Polyvagal Theory and inventor of the Safe and Sound Protocol - Dr Stephen Porges. Link to Dr Porges website to learn about Polyvagal Theory and related research.
He discusses how he came to develop the Polyvagal Theory based upon his scientific inquisitiveness from being a 12-year-old clarinet student to his university studies and research in the psychophysiology of human interaction. He reviews the essential link between the heart and brain via the Vagus nerve and the resultant expression of physiological state through facial expression. He discusses how the Safe and Sound Protocol is able to operate by "stealth" in changing the function of the Middle Ear Muscles to improve auditory hypersensitivity and social engagement. He discusses the progression and changes that were made in implementation from working originally with autistic children to adults with trauma.

If you wish to learn more about the Safe and Sound Protocol please visit for Australia and New Zealand - https://integratedlistening.com.au/ssp-safe-sound-protocol/ and for North America and the rest of the world - https://integratedlistening.com/ssp-safe-sound-protocol/

We welcome your feedback and questions at ssppodcast1@gmail.com

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Short promo for Episode 2 - an interview with Facebook group Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) - Parent Info. Forum creator Kimberly Grace

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Episode 2 is an interview with the creator of the Facebook Group - Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) - Parent Info. Forum. Hear Kimberly's experience of SSP with her own family and how she came to start the Facebook group for parents, which now has over 4500 members.

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An interview with Irena Woodward, Occupational Therapist and Director of Family Connections, Bangor [Sydney] NSW. Irena expands upon her Occupational Therapy practice and her influences regarding treatment, including the SSP and iLs Focus. She details her experiences with different individuals and their positive responses.

Family Connections
Paediatric Occupational Therapy Practice 
56 Billa Rd, Bangor NSW 2234
Sensory Integration · Interactive Metronome · Integrated Listening System (iLs)
Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) by Stephen Porges
Ph: 02 9543 6902
www.familyconnections.com.au

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An introduction to the Safe and Sound Podcast series. An interview of Joanne McIntyre, the host, by John Holmes.