By the end of this course, you will take away a new understanding of your own autonomic nervous system and will be able to see the subtle and not-so-subtle impact of one nervous system on another.
Course Timing
As a self-paced course, you can begin at any time and view on your own schedule.
Course Description
This first-of-its-kind course gives you the fundamentals of understanding Polyvagal Theory through an equine-facilitated lens.
Through five hours of content, this course is intended to support all Polyvagal-informed practitioners in their personal and professional development. These sessions are not just for horse professionals or those with horses.
The Polyvagal Equine Institute is dedicated to supporting and furthering Polyvagal principles of safety and connection through interacting and learning from horse/human nervous systems. Horse-human interactions provide a unique opportunity for cross-species connection.
Payment Information
Access to this course costs $199.
Your access will last for 365 days from the date of registration.
Course Requirements
There are no pre-requisites for this course.
Course Format
Course Framework
This self-paced course is enhanced by occasional optional live discussions with the instructors.
Over the five hours of course content, you will see through fun and interactive videos how horses rely on their nervous systems to make sense of the world around them. Participants will learn about their own nervous systems and see the impact of two nervous systems connecting. Horses are the perfect teachers of neuroception at work. By the end of this course, you will take away a new understanding of your own autonomic nervous system and will be able to see the subtle and not-so-subtle impact of one nervous system on another.
Recommended Audience
Course Outcomes
The learning objectives for this course include:
Learn what is happening in our body and why through Polyvagal Theory.
Learn how horses and other animals can enhance your professional presence.
Identify skills for fostering safe connections with each other through the teachings of Polyvagal equine interventions.
Identify the various populations that Polyvagal equine interventions can apply to.
Listen to accounts of how horses can engage clients to internalize Polyvagal principles better.
Start to recognize and identify horse signals and body language.
Learn how horses live and breathe Polyvagal principles.
Understand how the nuanced nonverbal communication of horses helps us understand ourselves and promotes flexibility in our thinking.
Recognize the dos and don’ts of equine-facilitated interventions.
Learn what horses teach us about trauma survivors and why horses are the best teachers for embodied learning.
Identify challenges that can occur in Polyvagal equine interventions.
You'll be eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion upon finishing this course.
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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)
Rebecca Bailey, PhD
Rebecca Bailey, Ph.D. is a leading family psychologist and equestrian who has become a world-renowned professional educator, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. She is a author of Safe Kids, Smart Parents (Simon and Schuster) and has co-authored several publications in academic journals. Recently she co-founded The Polyvagal Equine Institute with Jaycee and long-term friend and colleague Margie McDonald. Dr. Bailey is also the founder of Transitioning Families, a group of independently licensed mental health practitioners dedicated to Bailey's innovative ideas for helping families through crisis and difficult change. She is best known for her work with survivors of non-familial abduction and is on the advisory board for The JAYC Foundation, the Elizabeth Smart Foundation and the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. Together with Jaycee Dugard, Dr. Bailey has created an innovative model utilizing horses and other animals to help teach and educate judges, police officers, therapists, and other professionals about compassion, kindness, and connection. She is also the co-author along with Jaycee Dugard, on a curriculum designed to promote and support empathy and compassion in children. The two joined together with Ruthless Kindness Foundation to bring the program to the children served by the Family Justice Center.
Rebecca Bailey, PhD
Jaycee Dugard
Jaycee Dugard
Jaycee Dugard is a survivor of extreme trauma. She feels strongly that without animals in her world, she would not be the person she has become. Thankfully, her recovery included a team of four horses who remain in her life to this day. She has made it her life’s work to support the equine-human connection in tribute to her four teachers. She is the author of two books: A Stolen Life (New York Best Seller List) and Freedom: My Book of Firsts. She has presented with Dr. Bailey at several venues, reinforcing her work and supporting victims’ innate resiliency, and recently co-authored a publication on “Appeasement: Replacing Stockholm Syndrome as a Definition of a Survival Strategy (2023) with fellow authors, Dr. Porges, Dr. Bailey and Dr. Smith.
Margie McDonald
Margie McDonald is a lifelong accomplished equestrian and horse trainer. She is trained in classical dressage and has applied the teachings to an approach that embodies compassion and connection. Her work has included promoting self-awareness and kindness between horses and humans. Her approach has always embodied awareness of heart-to-head connection. She is the author of Notes from the Barn: My Life with Horses and has raised the conscious compassion of numerous equine enthusiasts.
Margie McDonald
