Course Timing
The first live online session of this course is September 10, 2025.
Self-paced content will become available upon registration.
This is a hybrid course that will meet for 2 hour long sessions on Zoom over the course of 16 weeks every other Wednesday at 1:30 pm ET.
Live Sessions will meet:
September 10
September 24
October 8
October 2
November 5
November 19
December 3
December 17
Recordings of previous live sessions will be available on our learning platform.
Course Description
This 2-part class is a cutting-edge approach to working more effectively in therapy. Diagnosis and presenting symptoms from clients always have an underlying physiological state. Polyvagal Theory provides the framework and understanding of supporting clients' current presentation, as well as supporting them in their goals for treatment. This class will use the lens of Polyvagal Theory in applying therapeutic processes for physiological shifts, resulting in behavioral, emotional, and relational changes. These changes are directly related to clients’ needs and are at the heart of therapy. This class can be applied to a developed therapeutic approach for seasoned practitioners, or it can stand alone for newer clinicians wanting to apply Polyvagal Theory to their psychotherapeutic practice.
We invite you to a free course info session on August 13, 1:30-2pm ET. Registration link coming soon!
CEs for this training are pending.
Part Two of this training will launch at a later date.
Payment Information
This course costs $1110. Learners may opt to pay the full fee at registration, or to pay in monthly installments. Learners will have access to the course for 365 days from the registration date.
Course Requirements
There are no pre-requisites for this
Course Format
Course Framework
The first 15 minutes of each live session will be dedicated to co-regulation and connecting in small groups with questions related to the theme of the session.
The connector will be followed by 1.5 hours of content that will include a blend of lectures, demos, and practices. After a new skill is taught and modeled, students will have the chance to practice it with each other in their groups of 3 (client, therapist, and observer). The last 15 minutes of class will consist of sharing applications and takeaways.
Module Outline:
Overview of PVT as state-dependent functioning in — trauma treatment.
Main concepts:
Understanding the nervous system—behavioral and emotional presentations
Deactivation pathways overview
Students identifying their own tendency
Groups and connect to Dx—a bridge from the work they are doing. How do they see diagnoses differently after learning about states?
Attunement as the map for determining
Main concepts:
4 parts of Attunement—presence, tracking, perception, and response
Applying Presence Practice in groups
Looking at presence is challenging —beginning of coregulation as a tool
Deactivation pathway: Embodiment of resilient state — practice resilient state. Lecture and Practice.
Main concepts:
Trauma Vortex
Negativity Bias
Practice: Embodiment of Resilience State
Deactivation pathway: Being in the here and now - Demo
Main concepts:
Orientation (and interoception) response - sometimes over orient or stop orienting with trauma.
Interoception is part of being in the here and now and will include building blocks as DVC dominance needs to learn this.
Deactivation pathway: Co-regulation
Main Concepts:
Social engagement, witnessed, soothed, and comforted external and auto-regulation as indicators of physiological state
Staying in seat, holding space, holding boundaries, getting out of themselves—working with self
auto and external regulation moving to self and co joining vs. merging
Teaching skills of recognizing. For co-regulation to happen, understanding yourself.
Deactivation Pathway: Pendulation— sensation, emotion, belief
Main concepts:
Pendulation - it metabolizes a traumatic state and creates deactivation
3-4 snippets from demos showing emotion and belief
Review of main concepts:
Focus on a Demo and applying the review of the concepts of the course
Q&A with Special Guest and Ruby Jo
Recommended Audience
Course Outcomes
Students can name and contrast the survival functions of the 3 main nervous system states while in threat.
Students can identify 2 behavioral or emotional indicators of the 3 main nervous system threat-safety states.
Students will identify two deactivation pathways.
Students can identify the 4 parts of attunement.
Students can list 2 qualities that promote therapeutic presence with clients.
Students can explain the role of threat’s effect on therapeutic presence.
Students can contrast the trauma vortex vs the resilience vortex
Students can name one effect of the negativity bias
Students can describe the process of embodiment of resilient states.
Students can identify the two aspects of being in the here and now.
Students can define how orientation and interception support being in the here and now.
Students can list one skill in supporting the development of interception.
Students can identify their tendency for regulation—auto-regulation or external regulation.
Students can identify the underlying nervous system state of auto-regulation vs external regulation.
Students can identify indicators of merging vs joining in therapy.
Students can identify one way to lead the process of pendulation.
Students can name how pendulation occurs naturally in a regulated nervous system.
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What is the attendance policy for a course?Live/Hybrid courses: While specific course policies may vary, we typically allow one absence for a live or hybrid course and require watching the recording and/or sometimes submitting a reflection for the missed session. If a participant is absent for more than the permissible number of live sessions, they may no longer be eligible to receive their certificate. Self-paced courses: Attendance does not apply to self-paced courses as they are designed to be consumed when the student is willing and able to take the course. All material is pre-recorded content, reading, or individual assignments. Please note that if you are enrolled in a course that offers CEs (continuing education credits) and you have opted to earn them, specific attendance policies apply and must be adhered to in order for you to remain eligible to earn CEs at the end of the course. Contact us for details if you are unsure of the attendance policy for your particular course!
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How and where are live sessions held?Live sessions are held online via Zoom. You will find your course Zoom link inside the course content on our Learning Platform once you enroll; email reminders with the Zoom link are sent to enrolled students. While having your camera on is not required, you are invited to turn your camera on during your live course session; this allows you to share in co-regulation with other learners and to build a sense of community.
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What if I am unable to attend a live session?We upload recordings of our live course sessions to our Learning Platform within 72 hours for you to view. (Please see the attendance policy above.)
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How can I tell what time the live session will be in my local time zone?To convert live course session meeting times to your local timezone, please use a conversion website like this.
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Where can I find the course material?PVI uses a Learning Platform (LMS) called Thinkific. Upon enrolling in a course, you will receive an email invite to access the course in Thinkific. This is where you'll find all of the course materials, links, and class community.
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Is this course accredited?PVI is the founding home of Polyvagal Theory, and we believe our courses offer the most accurate and up to date content about Polyvagal Theory and its many applications. There is no accrediting body for this type of curriculum. Our course descriptions will list any continuing education credits (CEs/ CEUs) or other professional benefits that might be available for the course (along with any applicable restrictions). If CEs are not listed for a particular course, then none are available.
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How do I reset my password to the PVI Learning Platform?You can reset your password by going to https://pvi.thinkific.com/users/sign_in and clicking the “Forgot Password?” link. You will then enter the email address you used when creating your account to receive a one-time password reset link. Use the instructions in that email to complete your password reset. If you have any other technical questions, feel free to reach out to us at info@polyvagal.org.
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Is there closed captioning?Yes. Most of our pre-recorded course content is hosted on a platform that offers closed captioning. If you come across a video that does not have closed captioning, please send us a message at info@polyvagal.org and we will be glad to assist you.
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In which currency are your prices listed in?Our prices are listed in USD (United States Dollars). Your credit card or bank statement will likely reflect the price in your local currency.
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Will I be charged sales tax?If you are located in the US or Canada, you will be charged sales tax on the cost of your course.
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Are there scholarships available?Yes, PVI offers scholarships for all of our courses on a rolling basis. You can apply for a scholarship at https://forms.gle/vvfQdyAtw3k79LpM9.
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Are there group discounts?Yes. For groups of five or more participants, a 15% discount is available for each participant. Please contact us at info@polyvagal.org to inquire and to enroll as a group!
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What is your refund policy?We are proud to offer a 30 day Money Back Guarantee for all of our courses (from date of purchase for self-paced courses and from date of first live session for live courses). Please reach out to us at info@polyvagal.org if you'd like to inquire about a refund.
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Can I purchase a gift certificate for PVI courses?Give the gift of learning! Yes, Polyvagal Institute offers digital gift certificates that arrive by email, and can be used towards any of our courses. Gift certificates are a simple way to share polyvagal insight and knowledge that stems from a better understanding of the human experience. Purchase a gift certificate now!
INSTRUCTOR(S)
Ruby Jo Walker, LCSW
Ruby Jo Walker, LCSW, is an author, experienced trauma therapist, and trainer sought for her expertise in Polyvagal Theory. She specializes in supervising and training psychotherapists in providing effective treatment with special attention to supporting the development of the therapist. She is the founder of SouthwestTrauma Training Services where she developed Post-Traumatic Growth Somatic Therapy, a unique combination of advanced somatic therapy practices rooted in neurobiology, resilience, trauma healing, and attachment theory, using applied Polyvagal Theory. Additionally, she is certified in Somatic Experiencing and Hakomi Mindfulness Therapy.
Her experience in the field of trauma spans over 30 years of training a wide range of professionals from various disciplines in Polyvagal-informed trauma protocols. Her work continues to impact psychotherapists, healthcare providers, trauma support agencies, behavioral health service groups, human service agencies, and attendees at Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence conferences. She has facilitated hundreds of trainings, providing expert guidance to help individuals and organizations better understand and address the impact and treatment of trauma for improved client outcomes and effectiveness in their work.
Ruby Jo has a passion for supporting professionals and clients incorporating an understanding of neurobiology to bring about deep change and transformation. Committed to her community, Ruby Jo served in a leadership role on a statewide task force that developed supportive resources for healthcare workers in Colorado during the 2020 pandemic. She is a contributing author to Somatic-Oriented Therapies: Embodiment, Trauma, and the Polyvagal Perspective, edited by Dr. Stephen Porges, PhD. published in 2025. In collaboration with Norton Press, Ruby Jo will publish her first book focusing on Applied Polyvagal Theory to Trauma Treatment in late 2025.
Ruby Jo Walker, LCSW
