Deb Dana's Foundations of Polyvagal Informed Practice

Foundations of Polyvagal Informed Practice: January 2026

Join Deb Dana and her senior training team for this immersive and interactive clinical training series. Gain the confidence and skills to successfully integrate PVT into your professional work with clients. Monthly payment plan available.

January 2026 Cohort Live Session Training Schedule

All times are listed in Eastern Time (ET)

Friday, January 23, 2026 | 9:00am - 11:00am | Live-Online

Introduction and Orientation to Foundations of Polyvagal Informed Practice Training Series

In this live-online session, we'll begin the paradigm shift to looking through the lens of the nervous system and embody the practices. You'll learn how the structure of the training supports the dual focus of getting to know your own nervous system and bringing a polyvagal approach to clinical/professional work. You'll meet the training and consulting team and all the members of the cohort, as well as spend time with your polyvagal partner, small consultation group, and your group of 12.

Friday, January 30, 2026 | 9:00am - 12:00pm EST | Live-Online

Module 1 - Getting to Know the Nervous System

In this live-online session, the framework of the hierarchy will be used to look at the relationship between states and explore the essential need for ventral vagal oversight in the system. Module 1 materials will be the entry point into the process of befriending your own nervous system.

Friday, February 13, 2026 | Varying one-hour time slots | Live-Online

Small Group Consultation #1

In your small group consultation, you will review the Personal Profile Map and discuss material from the first module with time for Q&A.

Friday, February 27, 2026 | 9:00am - 10:30am EST | Live-Online

Trainer Experiential #1

In this 90-minute session, you will meet with one of the senior trainers in a group of 18 for Q&A and an experiential practice to deepen your understanding of the material from Module 1.

Friday, March 13, 2026 | 9:00am - 10:30am EST | Live-Online

Live Q&A Call #1 with Deb Dana

In this first live Q&A with Deb Dana, you will have the opportunity to talk with Deb about what you are learning, how it is changing how you understand yourself and your clients and ask questions about the application to your clinical/professional work.

Friday, March 27, 2026 | 9:00am - 12:00pm EST | Live-Online

Module 2 - Autonomic Protection and Connection

In this live online session, autonomic patterns of protection and connection will be explored through getting to know the three pathways of neuroception and working with the elements of the social engagement system.

Friday, April 10, 2026 | Varying one-hour time slots | Live-Online

Small Group Consultation #2

In your small group consultation, you will review the Triggers and Glimmers Map and discuss material from the second module with time for Q&A.

Friday, April 24, 2026 | 9:00am - 10:30am EST | Live-Online

Consultant Experiential

In this 90-minute experiential session, you will meet with your group of 12 and primary consultant to engage in an experiential practice that deepens your capacity to notice your own autonomic state and anchor in regulation.

Friday, May 8, 2026 | 9:00am - 12:00pm EST | Live-Online

Module 3 - Resourcing Regulation

In this live online session, you'll discuss the moments of rupture that inevitably happen in clinical/professional work and the process of autonomic repair. You'll explore a variety of ways to return to and anchor in regulation.

Friday, May 22, 2026 | Varying one-hour time slots | Live-Online

Small Group Consultation #3

In your small group consultation, you will review the Regulating Resources Map and discuss material from the third module with time for Q&A.

Friday, June 5, 2026 | 9:00am - 12:00pm EST | Live-Online

Module 4 - Navigating the Hierarchy

In this live online session, the focus will be on the relationship between states and the ways the system is shaped by moving down and up the hierarchy. We will explore a variety of ways to travel between states and increase autonomic flexibility.

Friday, June 12, 2026 | 9:00am - 10:30am EST | Live-Online

Live Q&A Call #2 with Deb Dana

In this second live Q&A with Deb Dana, you will have the opportunity to talk with Deb about what you are learning, how it is changing how you understand yourself and your clients and ask questions about the application of PVT to your clinical/professional work.

Friday, July 10, 2026 | 9:00am - 10:30am EST | Live-Online

Trainer Experiential #2

In this 90-minute session, you will meet with one of the Foundations Series senior trainers in a group of 18 to create your Polyvagal Launch Plan.

Friday, July 24, 2026 | Varying one-hour time slots | Live-Online

Small Group Consultation #4

In your small group consultation, you'll review ways to shape the system and discuss material from the fourth module with time for Q&A.

Friday, August 7, 2026 | 9:00am - 12:00pm EST | Live-Online

Module 5 - Integration and Ending

In this final live-online session, you will explore what it means to be polyvagal-informed and discuss the essential elements of polyvagal-informed therapy.

The Foundations Training Series Curriculum

1. Welcome to Foundations
2. Navigating the Learning Platform
1. Training Structure and General Information
2. Training Schedule
3. Trainers and Consultants List
4. January 2026 Cohort Participant List
1. Survey Information
2. Pre-Series Survey
1. Diversity Made Simple with Lambers Fisher, LMFT
1. Module 1 Roadmap
1. Polyvagal Theory: A Primer
2. The Autonomic Hierarchy
3. Adversity History, Mental Health, and Covid-19
4. Finding Ventral in the Time of Covid-19
5. Beginners Guide
6. Polyvagal Theory: A Science of Safety
1. Module 1 PowerPoint Slides pt1
2. Module 1 PowerPoint Slides pt2
1. Becoming Polyvagal Informed
2. Why Study Polyvagal Theory
3. Getting to Know the Nervous System
4. From Safety to Survival
5. Vagal Brake
6. Vagal Brake Demo with Lacey
7. Vagal Brake Demo with Tina
8. Honoring the Vagal Brake Meditation
9. Ventral Vagal Anchors
10. Creating Ventral Vagal Anchors Demo
11. The Skill of Savoring
12. Savoring Demo
13. Why We Map
14. The Personal Profile Map
15. The Personal Profile Map Demo
16. Soup of the Day
17. An integrated System Meditation
1. Engaging the Vagal Brake
2. The Skill of Savoring
3. Completing the Personal Profile Map
4. A Quick Guide to Ventral Vagal Anchors
5. Notice and Name: Becoming an Expert State Detector
6. The Soup of the Day
1. Personal Profile Map
2. Personal Profile Map - Kids Version
3. Soup of the Day Worksheet
1. Module 1 Review Questions
2. Module 1 Homeplay
1. Module 2 Roadmap
1. Neuroception (Stephen Porges)
2. Neuroception (Deb Dana)
3. Making the World Safe for our Children
4. Human Social Genomics
5. Reframing Resistance Using Polyvagal Theory
1. Module 2 PowerPoint Slides pt 1
2. Module 2 PowerPoint Slides pt2
3. Module 2 PowerPoint Slides pt3
1. Exploring a Polyvagal Approach Discussion
2. Neuroception
3. Co-Regulation/The Social Engagement System
4. Why We Track
5. The Triggers and Glimmers Map
6. Discussion of Foundations Demos
7. Triggers and Glimmers Map Demo with Pete
8. SIFTing Demo with Jen
9. SIFTing Discussion
10. SIFTing Demo with Pete
11. Art Mapping Discussion with Kelly
12. Four Map Tracking
13. Four Map Tracking Discussion with Cameron
14. Exploring the Social Engagement Scale
15. Feeling the Face Heart Connection Meditation
16. Exploring Regulated Pathways
1. SIFTing to Resource and Regulate
2. Completing the Triggers and Glimmers Map
3. The Social Engagement Scale
1. Triggers and Glimmers Map (Original Version)
2. Triggers and Glimmers Map (Alternate Version)
3. Four Map Tracking
1. Module 2 Homeplay
2. Module 2 Review Questions
1. Participant Check In
1. Module 3 Roadmap
1. Wired to Connect
2. Therapeutic Presence
3. Play as a Neural Exercise
4. Appeasement
5. Interview with Tami Simon: Befriending Your Nervous System
1. Module 3 PowerPoint Slides
1. Emergent Properties
2. Pathways of Connection
3. Rupture and Repair
4. Safely Connected
5. Three Circuits, Six States
6. Playing with Proximity
7. Setting up a Session Demo
8. The Stretch to Stress Continuum
9. Self Compassion Practice
10. Regulating Resources Map
11. Regulating Resource Map Demo
12. Time and Tone Map
13. Time and Tone Map Demo with Tina
14. Creating a Personal Connection Plan
15. Introducing Polyvagal Theory Demo with Pete
16. Talking Polyvagal Theory with Jerry
17. Map, Track, Honor, Nourish Meditation
18. Safely Still Meditation
1. Completing the Regulating Resources Map
2. Personal Connection Plan Directions
3. The Skill of Rupture and Repair
4. A Personal Look at Rupture and Repair
5. Invitation to Play
6. Attending to Stillness
1. Regulating Resources Map
2. Regulating Resources Map (Alternate Version)
3. Time and Autonomic Tone Graph
4. Time and Autonomic Tone Graph (Alternate Version)
5. Personal Connection Plan Worksheet
1. Module 3 Homeplay
2. Module 3 Review Questions
1. Module 4 Roadmap
1. Ancient Rituals, Contemplative Practices, and Vagal Pathways
2. Stroke Reovery Through a Polyvagal Perspective
3. Trauma-informed care in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit
4. Chronic Pain and GI Disorders After Traumatic Stress
5. Autonomic Nervous System and Autoimmune Diseases
1. Module 4 PowerPoint Slides
1. The Autonomic Benefits of the Natural World
2. Beginning a Session
3. The Five Minute Check-In Demo
4. Creating Continuums
5. Continuum Demo with Tina
6. From Solitude to Social
7. Solitude to Social Revisited
8. Three New Ways
9. Shaping with Movement
10. Moving Through the Hierarchy Demo - No Sound
11. Mirrored Movement Demo - No Sound
12. Moving with a Couple Demo Tina and Pete
13. Energy and Actions
14. Breath
15. Vocalization
16. The Story of Three States
17. Exploring States Demo
18. Muscial Maps
19. Musical Maps Discussion with Carlie
20. Loving Kindness
21. Anchored in Ventral Meditation
1. Demo Description
2. Shellie - Exploring with Safety
1. Three Different Ways
2. Energy and Actions Map
3. The Continuum Between Survival and Social Engagement
4. Reflecting with Compassion
1. Homeplay
2. Module 4 Review Questions
1. Module 5 Roadmap
1. Yoga Therapy and Polyvagal Theory
2. The Science of Awe
3. The Application of Polyvagal Theory to High Conflict Parenting
4. Heart Rate Variability: A Person Journey
5. The Touch Taboo
1. PowerPoint Slides Module 5
1. Autonomic Alphabets
2. Using Pie Charts
3. Exploring the Hierarchy Demo
4. Sending and Receiving Ventral Energy Demo
5. The Experience of Being Between
6. Engaging in Autonomic Change
7. Forgiveness
8. Transcendent Experiences
9. Safety is the Treatment
10. The Flow of Therapy
11. Polyvagal Guided Practice
12. Building a Micro-Community
13. Launch Plan
14. Benevolence Meditation
1. Demo Description
2. Lisa - Beginning to Explore
1. Tracing Autonomic Pathways
1. Four Steps to Creating a Plan
1. Module 5 Review Questions
1. Certificate of Completion Form - Required
1. End of Series Survey

About this course

Payment Options

Pay the full enrollment fee upfront or split the payments across four monthly installments. All prices are in USD.

$2,000.00

Pay in Full

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Payment Plan [4 x $500]

Monthly Payment Plan

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Meet Your Senior Trainers

Senior Trainer Kelly Perry, LCSW

Kelly Perry, LCSW, is the founder and owner of Frame of Mind, LLC, her private practice is located in Southern Maine. Kelly is also the clinical consultant to the Center for Grieving Children in their Sanford, Maine location. Kelly has 20 years of experience with treating trauma. She met Deb Dana in 2015 while working at the VA with combat Veterans, and was graced with the opportunity to receive clinical consultation with Deb for 8 years before starting to work for Deb providing trainings. Kelly relies on her social engagement system during training, creating mutual safety in a place where therapists often pressure themselves to “get it right.” Kelly is playful and humorous, cultivating a place where it’s ok not to know. Kelly loves creatively applying polyvagal theory to her other treatment modalities and is EMDR certified, IFS Level 1 trained, SSP Certified DBT certified, and is a NARM (NeuroAffective Relational Model) therapist who is currently in process of becoming a NARM master therapist.

Senior Trainer Amy Stenger-Sullivan, LPCC

About twelve years ago, the Polyvagal Theory turned Amy’s life upside down, in the best way possible. Integrating its principles has enriched her personal life and fueled her passion for sharing this knowledge with clients and colleagues. A Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Supervisor, EMDRIA Certified EMDR therapist, and Certified Trauma Responsive Counselor, Amy has spent over a decade studying and teaching neuroscience and attachment through the lens of Polyvagal Theory. She’s known for her warm, humorous presentation style and ability to make complex concepts accessible. After a long career as a massage therapist and instructor, Amy earned her degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, inspired by her deep interest in Polyvagal Theory and mental health. As Founder and lead Steward of Rooted Compassion Counseling and Consulting in Cincinnati, Ohio, she leads a team of clinicians integrating polyvagal-informed practices through movement, expressive arts, and trauma-responsive care.

Meet Your Consultants

Details Coming Soon

About Deb

Founder & Developer Deb Dana, LCSW

Deb Dana, LCSW, is a clinician, consultant, author and speaker specializing in complex trauma. Her work is focused on using the lens of Polyvagal Theory to understand and resolve the impact of trauma and in creating ways of working that honor the role of the autonomic nervous system. Deb’s work shows how an understanding of PVT is applicable across the board to relationships, mental health, and trauma. She delves into the intricacies of how an understanding and befriending of our nervous systems can change the ways we navigate our daily lives. Deb’s translation of PVT into a language that is both clear and accessible and her significant contribution, pioneering methods, tools, techniques and practices continue to help professionals and curious people from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life. Her valuable blueprint helps us to build resilience and find safety during the many ups and downs of life.

For a full overview of the Foundations of Polyvagal Informed Practice clinical training series visit: https://rhythmofregulation.com/foundations

Questions? Connect with us at:

[email protected]

Free Preview

Welcome to Foundations!

Overview of the Foundations Training Series

Pre-Series Survey [Required]

To Begin: Diversity Made Simple [Required]

Module 1: Getting to Know the Nervous System [Roadmap]

Module 1 Readings

Module 1 Handouts

Module 1 Recordings

Module 1 Exercise Directions

Module 1 Worksheets

Module 1 Review Questions & Homeplay

Module 2: Autonomic Protection and Connection [Roadmap]

Module 2 Readings

Module 2 Handouts

Module 2 Recordings

Module 2 Exercise Directions

Module 2 Worksheets

Module 2 Homeplay and Review Questions

Participant Check-in Survey

Module 3: Resourcing Regulation [Roadmap]

Module 3 Readings

Module 3 Handouts

Module 3 Recordings

Module 3 Exercise Directions

Module 3 Worksheets

Module 3 Homeplay and Review Questions

Module 4: Navigating the Hierarchy [Roadmap]

Module 4 Readings

Module 4 Handouts

Module 4 Recordings

Module 4 Full Session Demo

Module 4 Exercise Directions

Module 4 Homeplay and Review Questions

Module 5: Integration and Ending [Roadmap]

Module 5 Readings

Module 5 Handouts

Module 5 Recordings

Module 5 Full Session Demo

Module 5 Exercise Directions

Module 5 Worksheets

Module 5 Review Questions

Certificate of Completion

End-of-Series Survey

About this course

$2,000.00

Payment Plan [4 x $500]