In a world of constant flux, clients often turn to their therapists to navigate the disruptions of change. Whether it’s a decision to reshape unhealthy patterns that feel overwhelming and constricting, or an unanticipated complication that disrupts their lives – clients often feel unmoored – caught between old autonomic habits that no longer serve them and the uncertainty of new beginnings.

As humans, we long for predictability and familiarity. The body’s natural rhythms are designed to provide safety and stability, yet change requires stepping into the unknown. Clients may arrive in therapy stuck in draining patterns or feeling hopelessly trapped in survival states. As they begin their journey, they discover that the familiar autonomic strategies that once helped them survive no longer fit while they debate the risks of stepping into a new space mentally and emotionally.  In this vulnerable space, they risk being pulled back into old beliefs and behaviours, creating cycles of frustration, resistance and stuckness.

This advanced, two-evening online workshop with Deb Dana offers an exploration of how Polyvagal Theory can guide clients through these uncertain terrains. By listening to the wisdom of the autonomic nervous system, therapists can help clients find and embody new rhythms that nourish growth and resilience.

Deb will delve into how biology both supports and creates barriers to change, offering strategies to partner with the nervous system to safely navigate intentional and unintentional transitions. Drawing on the principles of Polyvagal Theory, participants will learn how to map clients’ autonomic patterns, engage the power of ventral regulation, and guide them toward a state of stability and adaptability. This advanced workshop moves beyond foundational Polyvagal Theory to provide a nuanced understanding of change and actionable tools for working with even the most challenging transitions.

What Makes This Workshop Unique?

• Beyond the Basics: This is not another basic introductory Polyvagal Theory training. It offers an advanced framework for understanding and working with the dynamics of change, making it ideal for clinicians ready to deepen their practice.
• Practical and Experiential: Deb Dana’s approach integrates theory with real-world application, offering skills and tools participants can use immediately with their clients.
• Navigating Complex Challenges: Learn how to support clients through both chosen and imposed changes, addressing the unique difficulties that arise in each.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will:

1. Apply the principles of Polyvagal Theory to understand the dynamics of change:
   • Gain advanced insights into how the autonomic nervous system shapes clients’ responses to both intentional and unintentional transitions.
   • Explore the neurobiological processes that support or hinder change and how to work with these dynamics therapeutically.
2. Track and map clients’ autonomic responses to change:
   • Develop skills to identify subtle shifts in clients’ autonomic states during periods of transition.
   • Learn how to construct a detailed chronology of autonomic rhythms, identifying patterns that signal opportunities for intervention and growth.
3. Use advanced techniques to enhance ventral regulation and resilience:
   • Practice evidence-based interventions to support clients in accessing ventral vagal states, enabling a sense of safety and stability.
   • Understand how to use ventral regulation as a foundation for navigating complex emotional and behavioural challenges during change.
4. Develop therapeutic strategies for working with different types of change:
   • Create tailored interventions to help clients manage the unique demands of both chosen and imposed changes.
   • Learn how to address resistance, fear, and the pull of old autonomic patterns with strategies that build trust and collaboration.
5. Integrate a nuanced understanding of change into clinical practice:
   • Combine principles from Polyvagal Theory with systemic and experiential approaches to create a comprehensive framework for navigating change.
   • Equip clients with practical tools to build new autonomic rhythms that support long-term adaptability and well-being.

Key Topics Covered:

1. The Dynamics of Change:
   • Explore how the autonomic nervous system adapts to both intentional and unintentional transitions.
   • Understand the interplay between biology, behaviour, and belief systems during periods of change.
2. Mapping Autonomic Patterns:
   • Learn how to identify shifts in autonomic rhythms and track their impact on clients’ capacity for growth.
   • Construct a chronology of autonomic responses to change and use it to guide therapeutic work.
3. Harnessing Ventral Regulation:
   • Discover advanced techniques to enhance access to ventral regulation and foster resilience.
   • Use ventral states to create a foundation for successful and sustained change.
4. Therapeutic Strategies for Change:
   • Develop specific interventions to help clients navigate the challenges of both wanted and unwanted change.
   • Build trust and collaboration with clients’ nervous systems to create new rhythms that support long-term well-being

This workshop is designed for clinicians who are ready to take their understanding of Polyvagal Theory to the next level and gain practical tools for supporting clients through the challenges of change. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn directly from Deb Dana and transform the way you approach transitions in therapy.

© nscience UK, 2025 / 26