As therapists, we realise that stressful life experiences can lead clients to be stuck in dysregulated nervous system states. By studying a healthy stress response, we can help clients to successfully manage hyperarousal symptoms of anxiety, restlessness, irritability, panic, and anger. This seminar is aimed at equipping us with a range of practical, immediately accessible tools – drawn from both cognitive behavioral therapy as well as somatic psychology, which we can use to help our clients through this difficult time.

Through examples and case vignettes, the seminar explains that since anxiety leads us to be hyperfocused on a fear of the future; we can create greater security by increasing our client’s mindfulness of the present moment. Utilising specific therapeutic techniques including guided imagery, restorative breathwork and embodiment practices, we can help our clients to reclaim a sense of choice about how and when to attend to their feelings; so as to achieve a successful stabilization of acute symptoms.

Our learning objectives over the 3-hour seminar include:

• Explain acute traumatic stress as related to the body’s innate physiological response systems
• Understand the autononomic nervous system from a polyvagal perspective
• Apply mindful body-awareness as a tool for self-care and anxiety reduction
• Discuss the faux window of tolerance as differentiated from the resolution of acute traumatic stress
• Practice at least three top-down interventions for working with acute anxiety and panic
• Learn bottom-up somatic release practices for anxiety and acute traumatic stress