Can trauma haunt the body the same way it haunts memories? According to Stephen Porges, PhD, and polyvagal theory, not only does the body remember a traumatic experience, but it can actually get stuck in the trauma response mode. So even when the threat is gone, the body still perceives danger and its defenses stay […]
How to Work with Trauma without Triggering Fear
We know plenty of strategies for engaging our trauma patients. But do we know what to avoid? How to help patients heal is not always clear. And trauma patients, given all their diverse history and symptoms, can be some of the most challenging. So it almost goes without saying that, when working with clients who […]
How the Brain Works with the Vagus: Empathy and More
When someone’s frowning, or beaming, or gaping in surprise, they’re wearing their heart on their face. That’s because the muscles that control facial expression are linked to the smart vagus, says Stephen Porges, PhD. Thanks to the vagus nerve, the emotions we feel are displayed on our faces and in the sound of our voices. […]
A Global Audience in Rethinking Trauma
As this year’s Rethinking Trauma webinar series comes to a close, I’d like to take a moment to thank you for tuning in. Every time we run a series, I’m humbled by the number of people who take part. In this series, 19,566 practitioners joined us for one or more of the webinars. I’m thrilled […]
Changing lives all around the world
There are people who are working hard, day in and day out, to discover the breakthroughs that can improve trauma treatment . . . And then there are the people, including many of you, who work hard to learn the latest so you can make a difference in the lives of your patients – trauma […]