Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Podcast- A Polyvagal Theory Informed Therapy

Please enjoy this interesting discussion about the impact of screen time on the developing brain. I am speaking with Doctors Rachael Sharman and Michael Nagel from the school of Psychology at Sunshine Coast University QLD Australia about their new book Becoming Autistic- How technology is altering the minds of the next generation.
We discuss research about the impact of screen time on attention processing, empathy, "Group Think", body image, mental health, and suicide. We also cover the impact of screen time on developing "Theory of Mind"; dopamine and addiction behavior, and a new concept gaining momentum..... "virtual autism"
My goal for today's conversation is to help increase awareness about the impact of screen time and support for parents, individuals, and communities in starting a conversation about establishing screen time guidelines.
I appreciate the book title is a discussion point in itself! But the content is thought-provoking. Please consider being open to listening before drawing conclusions.
Some of the discussion points you will hear about include:

• Why name the book "Becoming Autistic" ....what evidence supports this relationship with screen time?
• What is "Virtual Autism?"
• How the brain is an experience-dependent organ and develops based on interaction with the environment.....consider the ramifications if that environment is predominately online!
• Learn in a very accessible way how the researchers discuss brain development and the impact of screen time
• Adolescence is a period of significant brain rewiring....what is actually happening and how screen time impacting this?
• Developing "Theory of Mind" is crucial to developing so many human traits such as empathy or the awareness that other people have different points of view......how is this being impacted by screen time?
• Self-confidence, body image, interpersonal skills and the impact of social media
• Michael shares research that helps empower parents about setting boundaries for device use
• What is the Echo Chamber effect?
• Internet addiction and cyberbullying
• Evidence showing that time in nature helps reverse autistic-like behaviour

I am sure you all agree that the evidence shows a significant impact of screen time on mental health, brain maturation, and physical development. We know that the technology is here to stay but the evidence indicates we need to establish guidelines about its use. There are so many aspects of this discussion we can unpack from a Polyvagal perspective. Just one I will mention today, but will discuss further in another episode, is self-regulation. We as humans develop neural systems for self-regulation via coregulation with a safe other. It is the experience of being engaged and connected with another safe human that builds the neural networks for self-regulation. Engaging with devices blocks this process.
To purchase- access via amazon or other retailers.
Links to Rachael and Michael's research pages:
Rachael Sharman, PhD
Senior Lecturer
Web page: https://www.usc.edu.au/staff-repository/dr-rachael-sharman
Research: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rachael_Sharman?ev=hdr_xprf

Michael C Nagel, PhD
Associate Professor
[email protected]
https://www.usc.edu.au/staff/associate-professor-michael-nagel

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Hi everyone,
In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with the skilled practitioner Rachel Lewis-Marlow from the Embodied Recovery Institute.
I first heard Rachel speak at the Polyvagal Institute Summit about a Polyvagal approach to working with eating disorders. It was so interesting that I had to have her share her knowledge with you as a guest on the podcast.
Please see below for additional information about Rachel and links to the Embodied Recovery Institute.
It would be a great honor if you could share this or other episodes with colleagues.
Please "like" the podcast, or leave a review via your favorite listening platform.
This episode is so rich. Please see some topics that we discuss:

• The current understanding and approach to working with Eating disorders
• An Embodied approach to working with Eating disorders- integrating Sensory-Motor Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, and Polyvagal Theory
• Embodied Recovery Lens- understanding the biology such as epigenetics, birth history, attachment and........
• Role of Primitive Reflexes in the body and rhythms of moving toward or away
• Looking at eating disorder behaviour as the body's way of speaking- about your sense of safety
• Window of tolerance and ventral vagal states
• The Embodied Recovery model: moving away from traditional approaches of eliminating eating disorder behaviour, to being curious and decoding behaviours....looking for patterns
• Restricting, Binging, Purging- expressions of emotional states
• Learn about the "Action State" and the Embodied Recovery Approach
• Role of Relational Cycle- relation to others/relation to sensory or motor experiences that nourish
• Ability to differentiate Interoceptive signals in Eating Disorders
• PVT- it is the same nervous system that governs digestion that identifies and connects with safety
• Safety is not the absence of danger- there is a big difference between being protected and being safe! How does this impact ED.
• The field of treating Eating Disorders is often one of fear....."you will die if you do not eat" - how can your nervous system support nourishment when in fear!
• Recovery is an additive process to nourish the nervous system- not taking things away
• The importance of an integrated approach to recovery
• The body is a resource for recovery
• The vital role of the practitioner and their willingness to embody regulation

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When I thought about starting this podcast Michael was at the top of my list of people to speak with. I thoroughly enjoyed his book, "The Spaces Between Us." Reading it from a Polyagal lens I could not help but make many connections......I hope you do too!
Please enjoy this incredibly interesting discussion with Micheal Graziano, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at Princeton University, author of both novels and science books, his most recent book is Rethinking Consciousness.
In this episode, you will learn about:

• Peripersonal neurons processing the space about our body like a layer of bubble wrap
• Multi-sensory neurons in the motor strip of the brain....what!
• A subconscious neural system with sophisticated computational processing for visual auditory and tactile stimuli moving toward the body triggering defensive responses to protect it.........what happens if these computations are inaccurate?
• The vestibular system .... "acts as a glue to bind the senses together- without it- those neurons may not be able to build their properties correctly. You wouldn't know where you are with respect to the world or where objects are with respect to you- the peripersonal mechanism would be crippled."
• Spatial boundaries and body schema in relation to processing self to the environment.
• How stress impacts the startle reflex and rethinking the startle as a social messaging system.
• How our peripersonal space expands to encompass the tools we use....eating utensils, writing implements, hammers........what happens when this system crashes!
• Evolution of the smile
• How our emotions impact the protective bubble about our bodies
• The devastating social impact of Dyspraxia, which is the difficulty coordinating the body in space

To find out more about Michael- https://pni.princeton.edu/faculty/michael-graziano

Books by Michael- https://www.amazon.com/Michael-S-A-Graziano/e/B001JS3WKW

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Welcome to episode 29. I am so thrilled to share my conversation with Christine Dickson. Get ready to be inspired; hopeful, and think deeply about your Pathway in Life.
"Christine Dickson is a Transformational Mentor, Clinical Hypnotherapist, and Equine Assisted Coach. She works with people to map out their vision and reframe their limiting belief systems to create radical shifts in their lives.
She has a solid background in working with people moving away from addiction and pathological relationships, supporting their quest to live a more free and purposeful life. Her ideal client is a fellow traveler who has come to a crossroads and dares to walk in the direction of their hearts longing.
A self-described “Late Bloomer”, she traveled a slow but steady path to rewrite her subconscious conditioning and take responsibility for her own life. By becoming more self-aware and intentional she was able to propel herself into taking meaningful action and change course. Now, she helps others do the same. What does your heart long to bring forth into the world? When that small inner voice whispers to you what you know to be true, do you listen?"
Some key topics, quotes, or points:

• Everything you have done in life is building toward something
• Childhood adaptive brilliance- living inside other people's nervous systems for survival- a way of "being" to stay safe
• Being primed for repeating non-adaptive behaviours
• Everything that happens to you is an opportunity to see......What is the Gift within the event.......even if is a traumatic event
• I am responsible for my decisions- it doesn't serve me to not take responsibility
• You have 2 choices- you can either be angry at what happened or you can LIVE....but you can't do both- holding anger will eat away at any future happiness
• Fear- can be a good motivator
• Once you say "Yes" to create a new life- do the work- the Universe sends things your way
• I'm just going to start...what is the worst that can happen
• The dreaded...."I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH"
• Malibu Addiction Centre- what is the root cause of the coping mechanism
• The power of your Mindset- overcoming anxiety, fears, worries
• Just keep showing up.....keep moving forward
• Subconscious mind- the only thing it is afraid of is the UNKNOWN
• The best thing anyone can do is to be really really interested in their own process-observe self from a distance
• Addiction- often a child or partner of someone with a personality disorder or pathological disorder
• "Love Bombing"
• Pathological Relationships- Addiction link- you can leave without "leaving" by drinking or taking drugs
• Addiction in Families- "often a dance of interactions" like a "supporting cast in a movie."
• Christine's Work- "On the Path"- helping people work out their life purpose
• "Survivor......the problem with being a survivor is that you have to create situations you need to survive in order to show your skills."
• I choose to Thrive
• The fear of not stepping fully into being ourselves- always holding a bit back
• Equine work- people typically trust animals quicker than they do humans.
• Horses help us tap into something primal- help us open up more for exploration
• Your Internal Family Systems play out in front of you with the horses- like the embodiment of a part right in front of you.

Books
The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert
A great podcast with Christine- check out The Journey On Podcast-

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Welcome to episode 31. SSP as a Vagal Resonance Field Tuner for Healing with Paula Scatoloni. Today you are all in for an interesting conversation about the SSP and SSP group work; we talk about resonance and coherence in the body and between humans for attuned, present-moment connection.
A little bit of background about Paula.... she has been on a journey to understand the connection between consciousness and embodiment through Western and non-Western perspectives. Paula has a Masters in Social Work and has brought cutting-edge perspectives to institutions such as Duke University and co-developed clinical and training programs such as The Embodied Recovery Institute
As a sound, body, and energy-oriented practitioner, Paula loves to blend movement, sound, and vibration with neuroscience and body-based therapies to offer a holistic approach to support individual and collective nervous system healing.
Some key points you will hear in our discussion:
Supporting practitioners in SSP group learning experience- how to become "Master Regulators"
SSP group experiences for individuals- sound, vibration and movement
Cultivating the practice of witnessing the present moment
Emotion phobic
Working with structures (somatics and subconscious safety) of the early 0-3 years developmental period that may have been impacted by early life trauma
Therapeutic work of "presence" and "touch for trauma healing
Attuned Presence to the body for healing- the body knows how to self-correct
Narratives around relational safety- how Touch work can shift this
Somatic Experience practitioners can sense into the many layers of the body
How do Attachment styles show up in touch, interactions, and communication
Trained Touch Work practitioners work
When our emotions, thoughts, and behaviours are not congruent we are in dissonance- Dan Seigal
Importance of setting intentions
Developmental movement patterns- push-pull-grasp- and subconscious attachment system
Somatic work to help develop body boundaries
Embodied Recovery Program
Integrating Somatic and IFS with SSP
To Contact Paula:https://paula-scatoloni-s-school.teachable.com/
Such an interesting conversation. I am excited to share that I will be experiencing one of Paula's The Healing Power of Sound:Cultivating Body, Mind, Heart Connection Through Self Harmonics - groups in early 2024 and will podcast about my experience.

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