Full Course Description

Therapeutic Yoga in Clinical Practice

Trauma isn’t just psychological—it’s held in the body as patterns of nervous system dysregulation. While insight is important, it’s often not enough to create lasting change.

In this workshop, Arielle Schwartz, PhD, CCTP-II, E-RYT, introduces therapeutic yoga as a powerful, body-based approach to trauma treatment. Grounded in Polyvagal Theory and neuroscience, you’ll learn practical ways to integrate breath, movement, and awareness into your clinical work.

Through experiential practice and clear application, you’ll gain tools to support regulation, restore a sense of safety, and work more effectively with trauma—without needing prior yoga training.

Clinicians will walk away with:

A clear, step-by-step approach to bringing therapeutic yoga into your sessions
Simple, effective techniques to regulate the nervous system in real time
The confidence to apply body-based interventions safely and ethically—no yoga background needed
A new lens for understanding trauma as physiological dysregulation—not just a cognitive process

Program Information

Objectives

Explain the role of Polyvagal Theory in therapeutic yoga interventions and its relevance to trauma-related nervous system dysregulation.
Identify at least two body-based techniques that support vagal regulation and reduction of chronic stress.
Apply at least one therapeutic yoga intervention in a clinical setting to support client regulation and promote a sense of safety in the body.

Outline

Applied Polyvagal Theory in Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma

Translating Polyvagal Theory into body-based, clinically actionable interventions
Understanding trauma as nervous system dysregulation—not a cognitive failure

Why the Body is Essential for Trauma Healing

Evidence for body-based approaches in trauma recovery
How breath, posture, and movement influence safety, regulation, and emotional states

Working Directly with the Vagus Nerve

How to naturally stimulate vagal regulation through breath and movement
Supporting shifts from chronic stress to states of safety and connection

Core Therapeutic Yoga Interventions

Yogic-based breath, movement, and awareness practices for in-session use
Using conscious breathing to rapidly reduce stress and support regulation

Supporting Clients in Exiting Chronic Stress

Recognizing signs of sympathetic activation and dorsal shutdown
Practical tools to guide clients back into regulation safely and effectively

Facilitating Safe Release and Integration

Body-based strategies to support the release of held stress and trauma
Creating safety and pacing interventions to avoid overwhelm

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Case Managers
Marriage and Family Therapists
Other Mental Health Professionals

Copyright : 09/09/2026

Mind-Body Medicine for Trauma Treatment

Join internationally recognized researcher and Harvard educator Sat Bir Singh Khalsa to explore scientific and clinical wisdom for applying yoga as a trauma therapy. Since trauma is not just a mental disorder but also a mind-body disorder, you’ll explore how yoga‑based and other somatic mind‑body therapies can offer effective, practical tools for supporting clients.

You’ll walk away with the skills to:

Support trauma clients through a holistic, mind-body lens
Explain the evidence base for the efficacy of yoga to your clients
Match mind-body interventions to the specific needs and readiness of your client

Program Information

Objectives

Describe the underlying pathophysiology of psychological trauma including the physical symptoms encountered in trauma.
Describe the physiological and psychological mechanisms through which mind‑body therapies may aid trauma recovery.
Summarize the current clinical research evidence supporting yoga‑based interventions for trauma and PTSD.

Outline

I. Introduction & Clinical Relevance

Overview of persistent challenges in trauma treatment
Why talk therapy or medication alone are limited in efficacy
Rationale for incorporating mind‑body approaches into trauma care

II. Trauma as a Mind‑Body Condition

Trauma‑related physiological dysregulation
Role of the autonomic nervous system in maintaining symptoms
How embodied stress responses can limit cognitive or verbal therapeutic access
Clinical implications for assessment and treatment planning

III. Scientific Rationale for Mind‑Body Therapies

Effects of yoga and somatic practices on:
- stress regulation
- emotional regulation
- mind-body awareness/mindfulness
- physical fitness and competence
- life meaning and purpose

IV. Research Evidence for Trauma‑Focused Mind‑Body Interventions

Overview of clinical trial findings on yoga‑based interventions for:
- PTSD severity
- Chronic stress and resilience
- mindfulness
- mood disturbance
- sleep disruption
- Comparison with conventional treatment outcomes
- Clinical implications:
  - identifying appropriate indications
  - use as adjunctive versus alternative approaches

V. Risks, Limitations & Ethical Considerations

Clinical limitations of mind‑body therapies, including variability in client acceptance
Potential for symptom activation without appropriate intervention delivery
Scope and boundaries of the current research base
Positioning mind‑body therapies within an integrated—not exclusive—treatment model

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Case Managers
Marriage and Family Therapists
Other Mental Health Professionals

Copyright : 09/09/2026

Bringing Mind-Body Medicine into Therapy

Building on Sat Bir Singh Khalsa’s research, in this session, you’ll move beyond understanding the science into confidently applying mind-body practices in your clinical work. Through guided experiential exercises, you’ll feel firsthand how yoga-informed, somatic approaches support regulation, resilience, and integration—and learn how to translate those experiences into clear, client-centered interventions you can use right away.

This workshop focuses on the “how” you’ve been looking for: how you introduce practices, how you track nervous system responses as they unfold, and how you adapt interventions to meet each client’s readiness and needs. You’ll leave with practical tools and language that fit seamlessly into your sessions, helping you work more effectively and confidently within your scope.

You’ll walk away able to:

Apply trauma-informed, yoga-based and somatic practices directly in your clinical sessions
Track and respond to your clients’ nervous system cues in real time
Use clear, invitational language that supports safety, choice, and agency
Match mind-body interventions to your clients’ readiness, goals, and context
Integrate brief, effective practices into your sessions without disrupting flow

Program Information

Objectives

Describe how mind-body support nervous system regulation in trauma treatment.
Apply trauma-informed, mind-body techniques in clinical sessions based on client presentation and readiness.
Integrate brief, yoga-based and somatic practices into psychotherapy using language and pacing that support safety and therapeutic engagement.

Outline

Framing the Shift: From Science to Clinical Application

Brief overview of mind-body medicine in trauma care
Translating research into practical therapeutic use
Risks, limitations, and scope of practice in somatic and yoga-based interventions

Clinical Decision-Making in Real Time

Recognizing nervous system responses in session
What to track moment-to-moment
Matching interventions to:
- Client readiness
- Therapeutic goals
- Window of tolerance

Applying Mind-Body Practices in Session

Core intervention types:
Introducing practices in a trauma-informed way
Keeping interventions:
- Brief
- Flexible
- Client-centered

Language, Pacing, and Therapeutic Delivery

Using invitational, choice-based language
Supporting agency and autonomy
Adjusting pacing to prevent overwhelm or shutdown
Responding to client feedback and real-time shifts

Adapting Interventions to Client Needs

Modifying practices for:
- Dysregulation (hyper/hypoarousal)
- Resistance or discomfort
- Different therapeutic contexts (individual vs. group)
Avoiding common clinical missteps

Integrating Practices into Ongoing Therapy

Incorporating brief practices without disrupting session flow
Bridging somatic experience with reflection and insight
Supporting generalization outside the therapy session

Experiential Practice & Clinical Translation

Guided, brief mind-body exercise
Reflection on clinical application
Translating experience into repeatable clinical tools

Summary & Clinical Takeaways

Key principles of effective integration:
- Flexibility
- Responsiveness
- Safety and relationship
Practical strategies for immediate use in sessions

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Case Managers
Marriage and Family Therapists
Other Mental Health Professionals

Copyright : 09/09/2026

From Insight to Embodiment

This session translates the growing research on yoga and somatic practices into practical, ethical, and clinically applicable tools that can be safely integrated into psychotherapy within scope of practice. You’ll develop skills to support nervous system regulation when cognitive insight alone is not accessible.

You’ll walk away with skills to:

Determine when embodied practices are appropriate and implement them safely and within scope of practice
Guide simple, effective practices (e.g., breath awareness, grounding, gentle movement) in a manner consistent with scope of practice
Integrate somatic interventions that complement existing modalities and remain within professional scope

Program Information

Objectives

Differentiate between top-down (cognitive) and bottom-up (physiological) approaches to trauma treatment and explain how they function together within scope of practice in clinical settings.
Identify at least three indicators of client readiness for introducing body-based (bottom-up) interventions within scope of practice in a therapeutic setting.
Demonstrate at least two simple, trauma-informed, and scope-appropriate practices (e.g., breath regulation, grounding, or gentle movement) that can be integrated into clinical sessions within scope of practice.

Outline

I. Introduction and Practice Gap

Brief overview of the growing evidence base for yoga‑informed and somatic approaches in trauma treatment
Limitations of relying solely on cognitive, top‑down interventions when clients are dysregulated
Common clinician concerns:
- Lack of training or confidence
- Ethical and scope‑of‑practice questions
Rationale for integrating simple, low‑risk embodied practices into psychotherapy

II. Trauma, the Nervous System, and Embodied Regulation

Overview of nervous system responses relevant to trauma
Differentiation between:
- Top‑down (cognitive, insight‑based) approaches
- Bottom‑up (physiological, body‑based) approaches
How physiological state impacts access to insight, reflection, and emotional processing
Why integrated approaches support clinical effectiveness

III. Trauma‑Informed Yoga Principles in Clinical Practice

Core principles of trauma‑informed and trauma‑sensitive yoga relevant to therapy settings
Distinction between teaching yoga and integrating regulation‑focused embodied practices
Importance of:
- Choice
- Pacing
- Consent
- Inclusive, invitational language
Cultural and individual considerations

IV. Clinical Readiness, Ethics, and Scope of Practice

Indicators of client readiness for embodied interventions
Situations in which body‑based practices may need to be modified or deferred
Ethical considerations:
- Informed consent
- Maintaining scope of competence
- Avoiding re‑enactment or overwhelm
Framing embodied practices as supportive regulation tools within psychotherapy

V. Introduction to Simple Trauma‑Informed Practices

Overview and demonstration of brief, scope‑appropriate practices, such as:
- Basic breath awareness
- Grounding and orienting techniques
- Gentle, accessible movement options
Emphasis on adaptability for seated or limited‑movement contexts
Use of language that supports autonomy and safety

VI. Experiential Practice and Application

Brief guided experiential practice of one or two techniques
Reflection on embodied experience
Discussion of how and when these practices may be integrated into sessions
Translation of experiential learning into clinical use

VII. Clinician Nervous System and Co‑Regulation

Role of the clinician’s nervous system in co‑regulation
How clinician regulation supports therapeutic presence and client safety
Simple strategies clinicians can use to support their own regulation in sessions

VIII. Summary and Clinical Takeaways

Review of key concepts and skills
Reinforcement of ethical, low‑risk integration of embodied practices
Encouragement toward continued learning and mindful practice integration

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Case Managers
Marriage and Family Therapists
Other Mental Health Professionals

Copyright : 09/09/2026

Embodied Practice

This experiential workshop helps clinicians move from insight into embodied practice. Participants will engage in guided, trauma-informed practices to understand how body-based interventions support regulation, and learn how to introduce them clearly, safely, and within scope of practice in clinical settings. The focus is on confidence, choice, and translation—knowing what to offer, how to offer it, and when it fits.

You’ll walk away able to:

Experience and demonstrate trauma-informed, body-based practices appropriate for clinical use
Use clear, invitational language that supports safety and client agency
Recognize and respond to nervous system cues in real time
Integrate brief, scope-appropriate practices into time-limited sessions

Program Information

Objectives

Demonstrate at least two trauma-informed, body-based practices appropriate for use within scope of practice in a clinical setting.
Apply invitational, choice-based language when introducing embodied practices to clients in a manner consistent with scope of practice.
Identify at least two client responses (e.g., increased regulation, discomfort, disengagement) and determine appropriate, scope-of-practice-aligned responses.
Describe how brief, guided practices can be adapted for use within scope of practice in time-limited therapy sessions.

Outline

Welcome & Bridge

Practice 1: Breath & Regulation

Guided Practice
“What did you notice?”
“How might this translate to a client session?

Practice 2: Grounding & Orientation

Noticing variability of experience
Reinforcing “optional” and “choice”

Practice 3: Gentle Movement

When movement helps/when it doesn’t

Clinical Translation

How to introduce these in session
Language examples
- “If you’d like …”
- “We could try …”
What to watch for
- Overwhelm
- Shutdown
- Resistance

Q&A

Closing Integration

One final brief practice
Key takeaway
- “Simple, optional, relational”

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Case Managers
Marriage and Family Therapists
Other Mental Health Professionals

Copyright : 09/09/2026

Trauma Informed Yoga in Action

Join Dr. Arielle Schwartz in conversation with Stacy Ruse and Joanne Spence for an honest, behind‑the‑scenes look at what it really means to integrate yoga into trauma treatment.

In this interactive panel, you’ll explore the benefits of trauma‑informed yoga for clients with complex presentations, including C‑PTSD, dissociation, and hypoarousal. You’ll gain insight into how this work shows up across settings—from one‑on‑one sessions to group work—as well as important cultural considerations when working with the body.

Clinicians will walk away with:

Real-world methods to adapt practices for dissociation, hypoarousal, and C‑PTSD in session
Clarity on when, where, and how to introduce body-based work safely and effectively
Approaches for navigating resistance, shutdown, and client discomfort in the body
A more culturally attuned lens for applying somatic interventions in diverse populations

Program Information

Objectives

Identify at least two ways to adapt trauma‑informed yoga practices for clients with C‑PTSD, dissociation, or hypoarousal.
Describe when and how to introduce body-based interventions safely and effectively within individual or group therapy settings.
Apply at least one strategy to address resistance or dysregulation when working with the body in trauma treatment.

Outline

Introduction to Trauma-Informed Yoga in Clinical Practice

Risks and Limitations
Overview of trauma-informed yoga principles
The role of the body and nervous system in trauma recovery
Pathways into integrating yoga within psychotherapy

Clinical Applications Across Trauma Presentations

Supporting clients with complex PTSD (C‑PTSD)
Adapting practices for dissociation and hypoarousal
Recognizing contraindications and pacing interventions

Integrating Yoga Into Therapy Settings

Differences between individual and group-based applications
When and how to introduce body-based interventions in session
Balancing structure, flexibility, and client choice

Navigating Clinical Challenges

Working with resistance to body-based approaches
Addressing client discomfort, shutdown, or overwhelm
Supporting agency and safety during embodied work

Cultural and Ethical Considerations

Cultural sensitivity in body-based and yoga-informed interventions
Respecting client identity, preferences, and access
Ethical integration of yoga within scope of clinical practice

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Case Managers
Marriage and Family Therapists
Other Mental Health Professionals

Copyright : 09/09/2026

Nervous System Regulation in Practice

Move beyond cognitive interventions and into the body where regulation actually happens. This dynamic, experiential session equips clinicians with practical, trauma-informed tools to support nervous system regulation using breathwork, yoga-informed movement, and co-regulation. Grounded in neuroscience and designed for real-world application, you’ll learn how to confidently integrate bottom-up strategies that enhance safety, flexibility, and connection in your clinical work.

You’ll walk away with the skills to:

Apply simple, evidence-informed breathwork, movement, and grounding techniques in-session to support real-time nervous system regulation
Assess arousal states and make confident clinical decisions around pacing, intervention choice, and contraindications
Use your own presence and attunement as a therapeutic tool to strengthen co-regulation and support client safety

Program Information

Objectives

Describe the role of the autonomic nervous system in trauma and emotional regulation.
Apply at least two breathwork or movement-based techniques for nervous system regulation.
Integrate somatic interventions into clinical practice in a trauma-informed manner.

Outline

Introduction: Framing the Clinical Need

Risks and limitations
Overview of increasing demand for nervous system–based interventions in trauma and chronic stress treatment
Limitations of cognitive-only approaches for physiologically driven symptoms
Shift toward biopsychosocial and psychophysiological models
Overview of workshop goals: building practical, trauma-informed regulation skills

Foundations of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Core components of ANS: sympathetic, parasympathetic, and regulatory flexibility
Role of autonomic dysregulation in trauma, chronic stress, and relational difficulties
Introduction to interoception, proprioception, and neuroception
Clarifying common misconceptions and misuse of ANS terminology

Clinical Conceptualization of Dysregulation

Identifying signs of hyperarousal, hypoarousal, and mixed states
The neurobiology of dissociation in response to trauma 
Case conceptualization using bottom-up frameworks
Importance of tracking somatic cues in real time

Breathwork as a Clinical Intervention

Mechanisms of paced breathing 
Clinical applications: down-regulation, stabilization, and grounding
Contraindications, pacing, and titration of breath practices
Addressing breath-related trauma triggers

Yoga-Informed and Movement-Based Regulation

Role of movement in nervous system regulation
Introducing simple, adaptable, trauma-informed yoga practices for clinicians
Use of proprioceptive input to increase safety and body awareness
Translating yoga concepts into clinically appropriate interventions
Modifying movement practices based on client presentation

Interoception and Somatic Tracking Skills

Pacing while building interoceptive awareness
Techniques for orienting, grounding, and present-moment awareness
Supporting clients in expanding their window of tolerance

Co-Regulation as a Neurobiological Process

Defining co-regulation beyond rapport
Therapist presence as a regulatory tool (tone of voice, pacing, attunement)
Practical strategies to enhance co-regulation in session
Therapist self-awareness and regulation capacity

Integration into Clinical Practice

Structuring sessions to include bottom-up interventions
Clinical decision-making: when and how to introduce techniques
Ethical considerations and scope of practice
Adapting interventions for diverse populations and settings

Experiential Application and Skill Practice

Guided practice of breathwork and/or grounding exercise
Brief movement or posture-based regulation activity
Partner or self-reflection exercise on co-regulation awareness
Debrief: translating experience into clinical use

Summary and Clinical Takeaways

Key principles of trauma-informed nervous system regulation
Reinforcing the role of therapist skill, pacing, and attunement
Practical tools participants can immediately implement
Encouragement of ongoing training and skill development

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Case Managers
Marriage and Family Therapists
Other Mental Health Professionals

Copyright : 09/10/2026

Integrating Yoga-Based Practices into Trauma Therapy

Details coming soon!

Copyright : 09/10/2026

Moving Through Trauma with EMDR & Trauma-Informed Yoga

This engaging, experiential workshop invites clinicians into a dynamic, integrative approach that weaves together EMDR therapy and trauma informed yoga to support healing in both the mind and body. Participants will discover how the structured 8 phases of EMDR can come alive through embodied, body based practices inspired by the Eight Limbs of Yoga, offering a holistic, flowing pathway for processing trauma, regulating the nervous system, and cultivating more adaptive, resilient beliefs.

You’ll walk away with the skills to:

Regulate the nervous system using yoga‑informed practices within EMDR
Integrate bilateral, rhythmic, and body‑based interventions safely and effectively
Enhance co‑regulation and clinical presence through embodied awareness

Program Information

Objectives

Apply yoga‑informed, body‑based interventions across the 8 phases of EMDR to support nervous system regulation and trauma processing.
Identify and respond to somatic and nervous system cues using trauma‑informed principles of choice, pacing, and titration.
Integrate movement, breath, and attention practices to strengthen resourcing, support bilateral processing, and help clients embody adaptive beliefs.

Outline

Introduction

Mini EMDR-Inspired Yoga Experience
Ground participants in an embodied experience before introducing theory
Gentle arrival + orienting to the space
Trauma-informed invitation language (choice, consent, pacing)
Breath awareness + nervous system check-in
Bilateral-inspired movement:
- Alternating tapping or gentle cross-body movement
- Slow, rhythmic flow (e.g., seated twists, side stretches)
Brief reflection:
- “What did you notice in your body?”
- “What shifted, even slightly?”
Clinical Framing:
- Introduce connection to EMDR therapy
- Highlight body-based regulation as foundation for trauma work

Part 1

The 8 Phases of EMDR (Adult-Friendly + Somatic Lens)
Frame EMDR as a structured, phased approach to healing trauma that integrates brain, body, and belief systems
- History Taking & Treatment Planning- Understanding the story
  - Identifying targets
  - Assessing readiness and safety
- Preparation - Building safety and resources
  - Calm/safe place
  - Grounding + regulation skills
  - Introduction to body awareness
- Assessment - Activating the target
  - Identifying:
    - Negative cognition
    - Emotions
    - Body sensations
- Desensitization- Reprocessing and releasing
  - Bilateral stimulation (BLS)
  - Reduction of distress
  - Integration of somatic shifts
- Installation-Strengthening adaptive beliefs
  - Installing positive cognition
  - Embodying new beliefs
- Body Scan - Deepening somatic awareness and alignment
  - Noticing residual tension
  - Supporting full-body integration
- Closure - Returning to regulation
  - Grounding, Containment, Stabilization
- Reevaluation - Tracking change over time
  - Assessing progress
  - Identifying next targets

Part 2

The 8 Limbs of Yoga + EMDR Integration
Introduce Eight Limbs of Yoga as a holistic system for regulation, awareness, and integration
- Yama (External Ethics) Safety & relational boundaries - What Yamas may clients have challenges or misalignments with due to their experiences of trauma?
- Niyama (Internal Practices) Self-awareness & compassion - What Niyamas may clients lack or not have a strong relationship with due to experiences of trauma?
- Asana (Movement/Posture) Embodied awareness - How can specific Asanas help clients reconnect to body sensations and experiences in a gentle and supportive way?
- Pranayama (Breathwork) Nervous system rhythm + regulation -What types of pranayama can help clients navigate through their activated nervous system and regulate their nervous system during trauma reprocessing?
- Pratyahara (Turning Inward) Internal focus-How can Pratyahara supports EMDR Installation Phase by helping clients internalize positive beliefs and notice subtle shifts in the body?
- Dharana (Focused Attention) Effortful Concentration - How can the practice of Dharana support clients to tune into the body sensations, thoughts and feelings in an intentional way? 
- Dhyana (Meditation) Sustained attention - What types of Dhyana practices can help clients flow more naturally, allowing awareness to expand while remaining stable and centered?
- Samadhi (Integration & Connection) Transformation and meaning-making - How can we help clients find moments of Samadhi in their lives as they heal their experiences of trauma?

Experiential Integration

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Case Managers
Marriage and Family Therapists
Other Mental Health Professionals

Copyright : 09/10/2026

Embodied EMDR

Explore how to bring the body into EMDR in a way that feels natural, responsive, and clinically effective. Through guided practices and real-time application, you’ll experience how movement, breath, and interoceptive awareness can be woven into EMDR phases to help clients stay present, engaged, and within a workable range during trauma processing. As you practice these skills, you’ll build confidence tracking subtle nervous system shifts, titrating activation, and responding to patterns such as shutdown, overwhelm, or fragmentation as they emerge. The focus is on helping you deepen processing while maintaining safety, flexibility, and therapeutic flow.

You’ll walk away with the skills to:

Practice integrating movement, breath, and awareness techniques into EMDR phases in real time
Use titration and pacing strategies to help clients stay engaged without becoming overwhelmed or shutting down
Work directly with somatic patterns such as dissociation, collapse, or agitation as they arise in session
Bridge body-based experience with EMDR targets and adaptive belief formation

Program Information

Objectives

Apply yoga-based, somatic interventions within EMDR phases to support nervous system regulation and trauma processing.
Identify and respond to somatic using pacing and titration strategies during EMDR sessions.
Integrate movement, breath, and interoceptive awareness into EMDR processing to support engagement and adaptive belief formation.

Outline

Clinical Framing & Considerations

Role of the body in EMDR and trauma processing
Translating EMDR phases into embodied clinical practice
Risks, limitations, and trauma-informed scope of yoga-based interventions

Tracking the Nervous System During EMDR

Recognizing somatic cues in session:
- Activation, shutdown, dissociation
What to track in real time:
- Breath, posture, movement, engagement
Clinical decision-making:
- When to regulate, continue processing, or pause

Integrating Yoga-Based Practices into EMDR Phases

Applying somatic interventions across EMDR phases:
- Preparation (resourcing, grounding, orientation)
- Desensitization (supporting bilateral processing and regulation)
- Installation (embodying adaptive beliefs)
Use of:
- Breathwork
- Movement and posture
- Interoceptive awareness

Titration, Pacing, and Real-Time Adaptation

Using titration to prevent overwhelm
Adjusting pacing based on client response
Modifying interventions for:
- Dissociation
- Collapse or hypoarousal
- Overactivation

Bridging Somatic Experience with EMDR Processing

Linking body awareness to EMDR targets (image, cognition, affect, sensation)
Supporting integration without losing regulation
Facilitating embodiment of adaptive beliefs

Experiential Practice & Application

Guided brief EMDR-informed, somatic practice
Demonstration of real-time modification
Reflection and translation to clinical use

Summary & Clinical Takeaways

Core principles:
- Regulation supports processing
- Flexibility over protocol
- Body awareness enhances EMDR outcomes
Practical strategies for immediate integration into sessions

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Case Managers
Marriage and Family Therapists
Other Mental Health Professionals

Balance, Gravity, and Ground

Details coming soon

When Trauma Disrupts Balance

Details coming soon!

Closing Comments

Details coming soon!

Applied Polyvagal Theory in Therapeutic Yoga for Trauma Recovery

Trauma recovery is as much about healing the body as it is the mind. Yet, so often, the focus of healing involves retelling the story of the past without addressing the physiological imbalances that trauma leaves in its wake. While you might recognize the value of bringing the body into trauma treatment, you might not know how to do this effectively.

Join Arielle Schwartz, PhD, CCTP-II, E-RYT, international leading voice in the healing of PTSD and complex trauma as she bridges the path of healing between the psyche and the body. Grounded within the principles of Polyvagal Theory, affective neuroscience, and trauma-informed care, Dr. Schwartz will guide you through research-based somatic tools and yoga-based breath, movement, and awareness practices to reduce the burdens of trauma, anxiety, obsessive thinking, and feelings of hopelessness from your client’s body and mind!

Program Information

Objectives

Apply polyvagal theory within therapeutic yoga with researched practices for mind-body health.
Evaluate you client’s nervous system states as related to autonomic cues of stress and signs of safety.
Demonstrate grounding and orientating techniques that increase clients resources.

Outline

Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga for Trauma

Evidence showing how working with the body can maximize healing
Naturally stimulate the vagus nerve to enhance physical and emotional health
Skills to help clients come out of chronic stress
Yogic based breath, movement, and awareness practices
- conscious breathing is the fastest way to reduce stress and regulate nervous system
- Tools to help clients safely release stress and trauma from the body

Target Audience

Counselors
Social Workers
Psychologists
Case Managers
Addiction Counselors
Art Therapists
Marriage and Family Therapists
Nurses
Other Mental Health Professionals

Neuroplasticity in Trauma Recovery

More so than ever, being trauma-informed means understanding the ways that neuroplasticity allows clients to flourish after traumatic experiences. If we can help them change the way their traumatic memories are stored and take responsibility for the narratives that define their lives, we can foster post-traumatic growth. As clients feel stronger, more self-accepting, and have an increased sense of purpose and belonging, their symptoms will decrease, their relationships will deepen, and they can access greater joy, appreciation, and connection. This interactive workshop will empower you with practical tools—such as the six pillars of resilience—to facilitate a strength-based approach to trauma recovery. You’ll learn to:

Guide clients in revising their trauma narratives in a way that supports growth

Help clients attend to the impact of traumatic events on the body so they can build vagal tone and vagal efficiency—an embodied experience of safety and receptivity

Harness client’s inherent resilience by building on protective factors that help prevent PTSD

Help clients integrate new movement resources and release traumatic activation

Program Information

Objectives

Describe the role of neuroplasticity in healing trauma.
Identify resilience and protective factors against the development of PTSD.
Apply two neuromodulation interventions to support mind-body health and emotion regulation.

Outline

Neuroplasticity and Trauma Recovery

Understanding Neural Networks
Stress-Induced Neuroplasticity
Cultivating Positive Neuroplasticity through a Strength-Based approach to Care

Neuropsychotherapy and trauma treatment

How to Build Vagal Efficiency
Neuromodulation and Vagus nerve stimulation
Supporting clients with Embodied Self-Compassion Practices
How to support somatic repatterning
Limitations of the research and potential risks

Soul work in Psychotherapy

Embodied Spirituality as an intersection of Science, Soma, and Soul
Enhancing a sense of purpose with Clients’ Meaning Making
Aligning clients with their Values

Integration, Resilience, and Post Traumatic Growth

The 6 pillars of resilience
Factors of Post Traumatic Growth
How to help clients build their Resilience Recipe

Target Audience

Counselors
Marriage and Family Therapists
Social Workers
Physicians
Psychologists
Addiction Counselors
Nurses

The Future of Trauma Therapy

Arielle Schwartz will explore the future of trauma treatment, discussing how neuroscience, embodiment, and compassionate presence are transforming clinical practice. With her unique expertise, she’ll share insights on integrating neurobiological principles, embodied healing, and self-compassion to support trauma survivors in deep and lasting ways. In this workshop she'll discuss:

How the neurobiology of trauma enables clinicians to use body-based interventions that help regulate the nervous system and restore safety
Healing involves the nervous system, not just thoughts—somatic tools are essential
Compassion drives recovery, through both therapist attunement and client self-kindness

Program Information

Objectives

Assess the impact of trauma on the brain and nervous system from a neuroscience perspective.
Demonstrate how embodied practices enhance trauma recovery.
Utilize self-compassion techniques to support both clients and therapists in trauma work.

Outline

Setting the Stage

The evolving landscape of trauma therapy.

Risks and Limitations

What we know – and what we don’t - in trauma therapy.

Neuroscience & Trauma

Understanding the brain-body connection.

The Role of Embodiment in Healing

Using somatic interventions to foster safety.

The Power of Compassionate Presence

How therapist attunement and self-compassion aid recovery.

Audience Q&A & Closing Reflections

Practical applications for everyday practice.

Target Audience

Counselors
Marriage and Family Therapists
Social Workers
Physicians
Psychologists
Addiction Counselors