The Relationship Between Regulation, Relationship and Resilience

Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D. is a Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium in the Kinsey Institute. He is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, and Professor Emeritus at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland.  He served as president of the Society for Psychophysiological Research and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences and is a former recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Development Award. He is the originator of the Polyvagal Theory, a theory that emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral, mental, and health problems. He is the creator of a music-based intervention, the Safe and Sound Protocol ™ , which is used by more than 3,000 therapists to improve spontaneous social engagement, reduce hearing sensitivities, and improve language processing.

Peter Levine, Ph.D., is the developer of Somatic Experiencing®, a naturalistic and neurobiological approach to healing trauma. He holds doctorates in both Biophysics and Psychology. He is the Founder and President of the Ergos Institute for Somatic Education and the Founder and Advisor for Somatic Experiencing International. Dr. Levine is the author of several best-selling books on trauma, including Waking the Tiger, Healing Trauma (published in over 29 languages) and his most recent book, An Autobiography Trauma: A Healing Journey. He has received Lifetime Achievement awards from Psychotherapy Networker and from the US Association for Body-Oriented Psychotherapy. He continues to teach trauma healing workshops internationally. Learn more at somaticexperiencing.com.

Kim Barthel is an award-winning Occupational Therapist, multi-disciplinary teacher and best-selling author who is active in supporting people in many contexts internationally. She is a pioneer in reinforcing relational interventions across all sectors. Kim is passionate about understanding complex behaviour, neurobiology, trauma-sensitive practice, attachment, sensory processing, mental health, leadership and learning. She has 37+ years of integrating trans-disciplinary, evidence-informed research with her wealth of clinical experience in helping people be their best selves and is also an Advanced NDT (Neuro-Developmental Treatment) OT instructor. Kim’s mission is to support the conscious evolution of the human spirit. You can learn more about Kim here: www.kimbarthel.ca