Polyvagal Theory & Using the Body to Heal the Mind

Polyvagal Theory & Using the Body to Heal the Mind
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Course Description
What you think and feel isn’t just “in your head” - it’s influenced by tangible structures and observable chemicals coursing through your physical body. The nervous system not only helps the brain control the body, but also allows the body to tell the brain how to think and feel.
After explaining the “wiring” of the central nervous system, Dr. Zelfand will introduce concepts like neuroception and the polyvagal theory (as proposed by Stephen Porges, PhD) and explain how shaking can help us recover from trauma (as explained by Peter A. Levine, PhD). She also offers simple, do-it-yourself hacks for stimulating the vagus nerve to help us feel safe.
Dr. Zelfand will also explain the details of the gut-brain axis, and how we can best use our bodies (and what we put into them) to help us heal from anxiety, depression, trauma, and more.
Who is this course for?
This course is for both new and experienced guides, students, healthcare professionals, people taking their healing into their own hands, and anyone interested in gaining insight into the human psyche.
Course Curriculum
Foundational Concepts
- 3 types of nerves; 3 branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)
- Vagus nerve, its branches, and its afferent & efferent fibers
- Introduction to polyvagal theory, as proposed by Stephen Porges, PhD
- Exploration of shaking for trauma release, as proposed by Peter A Levine, PhD
- At home strategies for vagus nerve stimulation
- Alcohol and the nervous system
- Gut-brain axis
- Food as medicine
After this course, you will be able to:
- List the branches of the autonomic nervous system, and describe the function of each.
- Summarize the polyvagal theory, as proposed by Stephen Porges, PhD.
- Explain how shaking can be used to heal trauma through the body, as proposed by Peter A Levine, PhD.
- List several techniques for stimulating the vagus nerve.
- Summarize how the gut regulates mental health.
Professional Continuing Education
In support of improving patient care, Psychedelic Support offers continuing education for health providers through the the American Psychological Association (APA).
Testimonials
Meet your Course Instructors, Contributors, & Peer Reviewers:

Extra Info
Online platform access: 1 year
100% student satisfaction or money back guarantee
Self-paced course includes:
- Video presentation (75 mins)
- Experiential breathing and stretching exercises (20 mins)
- Course slides and resources including references, books, and website links
- Discussion forum to engage with other learners and instructors
- Knowledge checks
- 1 year access to our online learning platform
- Invite to our monthly speaker series and access to videos from our past events
- Official Psychedelic Support Certificate
- Optional 1-hour continuing education (CE) credit for licensed professionals including psychologists, therapists, social workers, etc. Please note the experiential exercises are not applicable for CE credit.
Certificate Information
Interested in the different certificate options for our courses? Read on to learn more:
Once you complete the course you will receive a Psychedelic Support Certificate of Completion. Choose this option if you are not a licensed health provider and do not need continuing education credit for your professional degree.
Once you complete the course you will receive a Psychedelic Support CE Certificate. Choose this option if you are a licensed health provider who would like continuing education credit for your professional degree.
- Be sure to select the CE credit option when purchasing the course.
- Upon completion of the course, you will receive a Certificate of Attendance for your credits.
- CE credits for psychologists are provided by Psychedelic Support, an APA-approved CE sponsor.
- Psychedelic Support is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Psychedelic Support maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
- The California Board of Behavioral Sciences accepts CE credits for LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFT license renewal for programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
- LCSW, LPCC, LEP, and LMFTs, and other mental health professionals from states other than California need to check with their state licensing board as to whether or not they accept programs offered by approved sponsors of CE by the American Psychological Association.
- For questions about receiving your Certificate of Attendance or questions about CE, contact Psychedelic Support at info@psychedelic.support.