Course Overview

Children and young people present with behaviours that can often be difficult to make sense of.  Through a Polyvagal Theory Lens, it can be conceptualised that at the root cause of these self-defeating behaviours is a cumulative effect of many things, including life traumas.  The child/young person is not ‘acting out’ rather it is their nervous systems best attempt to survive.

PIP Solutions has designed the accredited online ‘Applying the Polyvagal Theory to Child Therapy’ for child therapists and those offering therapeutic interventions to children and young people including play therapists, psychological therapists, social workers, teachers, child and/or family support workers.

This one-day (7 hours) training explores Polyvagal Theory described by Stephen Porges (1995, 2001, 2007, 2011, 2017) as a framework to link the vagus nerve and nervous system activity with neural regulation of the child/young person.  There will be a focus on the three organising principles; neuroception, hierarchy, co-regulation to understand what is driving the behaviour, the goal to help the child/young person to find nervous system safety through connection and social engagement.  We will also consider the importance of the practitioner monitoring their own window of tolerance to support relational safety for the client through the lens of play and creativity.

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Course Aims

• To gain a clear understanding of the Polyvagal Theory

• To have an awareness of one’s own nervous system and how this can compromise the client’s nervous system

• To apply techniques which support optimal regulation 

• To integrate new learning and skills into practice

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