Understanding Trauma Through A Polyvagal Lens

This training explores trauma through the framework of polyvagal theory, offering a fresh perspective on survival strategies—particularly appeasement— as an adaptive strength and potential superpower in healing and connection. Presented by Dr. Rebecca Bailey and Jaycee Dugard (with exclusive video contributions from Dr. Stephen Porges and Dr. Sue Carter-Porges), participants will learn how trauma imprints itself on the nervous system, why healing requires more than cognitive insight, and how safety, connection, and regulation create pathways toward resilience. Through personal experience, clinical expertise, and groundbreaking insights from the founder of polyvagal theory, Dr Stephen Porges, this session bridges science and lived experience to deepen understanding of trauma recovery.

3 CEs available to NYS LMHCs, LMFTs, LCSWs, LMSWs, LCATS, NYS Licensed Psychologists and NYS Licensed Psychoanalysts provided by Hudson Valley Professional Development, LLC upon successful completion of this virtual training.

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this training, participants will be able to:

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

-explain the core principles of polyvagal theory and how the autonomic nervous system adapts to cues of safety, danger, and life threat.

-identify how trauma imprints on the nervous system and recognize the survival strategies of mobilization, immobilization, and appeasement.

-apply polyvagal-informed practices—such as co-regulation, embodied awareness, and curiosity to foster healing, safety, and connection in trauma recovery.

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In accordance with the NY State Department of Education guidelines, in order to receive continuing education contact hours, a participant needs to be present for the duration of the workshop/training. Therefore, participants who arrive late or leave the event early will not be granted a certificate of completion.

​Cancellation Policy: Refunds will be provided for cancellations made in writing up to one day before the event.

Accommodations and Accessibility: HVPD welcomes participants with diverse abilities. Please contact us at info@hudsonvalleyprofessionaldevelopment.com to request accessibility accommodations. Accommodation requests are considered in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

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About The Presenters:

Rebecca Bailey, Ph.D. is a leading family psychologist and equestrian who has become a world-renowned professional teacher, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. Dr. Bailey is the founder of Transitioning Families, a group of independently licensed mental health practitioners dedicated to her innovative ideas for helping families through crisis and difficult change. She is best known for her work with survivors of non-familial abduction and is on the advisory board of the JAYC foundation. Together with Jaycee Dugard, they have created an innovative model which utilizes horses to help teach and educate judges, police officers, therapists and other professionals about compassion, kindness, and connection.

She is the creator of the Polyvagal Equine Institute and Connection Focused Therapy, an organization dedicated to Equine-assisted psychotherapy and education with a focus on applying Dr. Stephen Porges' research on the autonomic nervous system to a variety of populations. She believes that understanding the interaction between the nervous system and our thoughts and actions is key to compassionately responding to and addressing the complexities of today's societal demands. She has appeared on numerous Network shows including Andersen Cooper and ABC’s 20/20.

Jaycee Dugard is an 18-year abduction survivor and advocates for individuals and families recovering from a variety of life challenges. Since her rescue in 2009, she has used her freedom and voice to spread her unique survivor experience. She started the JAYC foundation to help other families that have suffered a familial or non-familial abduction or other trauma and has created educational programs and encourages the collaboration of various entities to provide “Protected Spaces” for families to heal. She is the co-creator of the JAYC Foundation and Ruthless Kindness’s Empathy Education Curriculum.

Together with Dr. Bailey and Margie McDonald, she created the Polyvagal Equine Institute, an educational institute committed to enhancing the human condition through educating and training about the role of the autonomic nervous system in relationships.

Jaycee is the author of “A Stolen Life: A Memoir ” and “Freedom: My Book of Firsts”, both memoirs she wrote detailing her eighteen years in captivity, eventual rescue, and recovery process. She has presented with Dr. Bailey throughout the United States reinforcing her work and supporting victims’ innate resiliency. She recently co-authored an academic paper publication “Appeasement: Replacing Stockholm Syndrome as a Definition of a Survival Strategy(2023) with fellow authors, Dr. Stephen Porges, Dr. Bailey, and Dr. Smith.

Jaycee enjoys spending time with her family and her faithful four-legged companions in California.

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