This course will review the polyvagal theory and the psychophysiology of trauma, so that participants can understand behavior as a language for what is happening in the body.  Participants spend most of their time learning how to apply these theories in their daily work through directly experiencing the practices in their own bodies. Participants will understand the power of mind/body awareness in supporting children and adolescents with self-regulating and creating strong internal and external resources. Experiential activities are practiced to help participants’ embody how to stimulate the social engagement network through establishing safety, human contact, muscles of the face, throat, and ears, movement and sensory tools. Mind Body skills are essential to the healing of trauma, but are also a necessity to support caregivers in our daily experience of stress.  This course supports classroom teachers, therapists, administrators, and anyone who had ever felt puzzled about how to help youth regulate their own behavior.  Mind body skills highlighted in this training include breath work, mindfulness, movement, focused awareness, compassion, connection, guided imagery, and expressive arts.  

Prerequisite: Children of Trauma and Resilience/Children of Trauma OR Trauma Informed Resilient Schools/Trauma Informed Schools