Introduction to Polyvagal Theory (2HR) Presented by Ashley Esry, LCSW, LCAS

Introduction to Polyvagal Theory (2HR)

$32.00

Categories: Clinical, Online Course Tags: evidence-based practices, general skill building, stripe, Stripe only

Description

Polyvagal Theory, offers a groundbreaking perspective on how our nervous system shapes emotional experiences, relationships, and responses to stress. This course introduces the foundational concepts of Polyvagal Theory, emphasizing its application in psychotherapy and trauma-informed care. You will learn how the autonomic nervous system—particularly the vagus nerve—impacts safety, connection, and regulation in therapy. You will also explore how to recognize and respond to nervous system states in both yourself and your clients, fostering deeper therapeutic engagement and more effective interventions.

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

Define and contextualize Polyvagal Theory and describe how the autonomic nervous system’s three primary states influence behavior and emotional regulation.
Explain the role of the vagus nerve in mind–body communication and its relevance to trauma-informed treatment.
Evaluate signs of autonomic dysregulation to determine client readiness and fit for Polyvagal-informed interventions.
Apply Polyvagal Theory techniques such as mapping, grounding, and co-regulation to promote safety, connection, and therapeutic progress.

Social workers completing this course receive 2 Clinical asynchronous continuing education credits.

For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 2 hours of Clinical continuing education training.

Course Instructor: Ashley Esry, LCSW, LCAS

Recording Date: 04/29/2025

Upon completion of this training participants will be able to:

Course Format

Recorded Live Webinar with downloadable presentation slides and/or handouts, evaluation, and a required quiz. The learner is required to pass with a 70% or higher to achieve the CE certificate of completion. The learner is able to reset the test until a satisfactory score is achieved. CE Training Workshops, LLC, provider #1770, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/2/2022 – 8/2/2025. CE Training Workshops, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CE Training Workshops, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. System Requirements: Firefox, Chrome, Brave, Safari, Edge on any modern operating system (Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS). A desktop browser is recommended. We do not provide support resources for issues encountered using a mobile device. For more information about our policies and board approval statements, please visit our FAQS page.

Meet Your Facilitator

Ashley is a natural leader, published researcher, and compassionate clinician with over five years’ experience in the social work field, specializing in mental health and substance use. MSW graduate and currently pursuing licensure for clinical social work and clinical addiction specialist. She graduated from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, obtaining a B.S. in Counseling and a minor in Expressive Arts Therapy. In her time there, she was involved in a research study on social fear and learning and published in the Journal of Education and Training Studies in April of 2014. After working in the substance abuse field at the inpatient, residential, and outpatient level, she focused her efforts on mental health and connecting people with quality services as a community liaison for two years. She currently works as a residential therapist at UNC Horizons, working with pregnant women and mothers in early substance use recovery.

Syllabus

Introduction to Polyvagal Theory

Objective #1: Define Polyvagal Theory and Its Relationship to Psychotherapy

Understand the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and its three key states: ventral, sympathetic, and dorsal.
Learn how the vagus nerve facilitates communication between the brain and body.
Explore the Polyvagal Theory framework as a model for understanding stress responses and social connection.
Compare Polyvagal Theory to the Window of Tolerance model used in trauma-informed care.

Objective #2: Discuss Why Polyvagal Theory Is Important for Treatment

Recognize how many clients present with dysregulated nervous systems, impacting therapeutic progress.
Understand that logical safety is not enough—clients must feel safe somatically to process information.
Appreciate the role of the ventral vagal state in creating therapeutic connection and co-regulation.
Apply case examples to identify how physiological state influences client behavior and engagement.

Objective #3: Identify Ideal Clients and Considerations

Identify clients who may benefit most from Polyvagal-informed approaches (e.g., those with PTSD, anxiety, ADHD, chronic pain, or addiction).
Discuss potential contraindications and complexities (e.g., active withdrawal, sensory triggers, or severe trauma histories).
Reflect on symptoms or behaviors that may signal ANS dysregulation.
Examine client context and readiness when choosing to incorporate Polyvagal concepts into therapy.

Objective #4: Learn How to Implement Polyvagal Theory Interventions With Clients and Self

Use body awareness exercises and psychoeducation to help clients map their own nervous system states.
Employ tools like TIPP (DBT skills) and Sensorimotor techniques for sympathetic states; grounding and co-regulation for dorsal states.
Understand the concepts of triggers vs. glimmers (danger vs. safety cues).
Maintain a ventral state as a therapist and intentionally structure sessions to begin and end with safety and connection.

Q&A