Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) Podcast- A Polyvagal Theory Informed Therapy - Episode 21- EMDR, Polyvagal Theory and SSP for Trauma - Panel discussion with EMDR Experts

Episode 21- EMDR, Polyvagal Theory and SSP for Trauma - Panel discussion with EMDR Experts

06/10/22 • 68 min

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

Welcome everyone to episode 21.
I am so happy to be revisiting the topic of EMDR in today's episode. I last spoke about EMDR in episode number 14 and it is by far the most popular.
So my goal for today is to help listeners, both practitioner and layperson, learn more about the evidence-based EMDR therapy as well as discover how an integrated EMDR/SSP approach may offer an optimal pathway to wellness.
In today's episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with 3 amazing clinicians, Jill Hosey, Eliza Fernandes, and Laurie Belanger, all EMDRIA Approved Consultants. Jill, Eliza, and Laurie are part of a Unyte EMDR think tank for developing guidelines about implementing the SSP within the EMDR therapy approach. Other members of the team who were unable to attend include Nicole Black and Marshall Lyles, both also EMDRIA Approved Consultants.
You will gain a deeper knowledge of EMDR therapy in trauma, the Polyvagal Theory connection, and implementation of the SSP acoustic intervention. Each practitioner shares their passion for supporting their client's journey to wellbeing using an integrated approach of both Safe and Sound Protocol and EMDR therapy.
Before we start a little about my guests-
Jillian Hosey is a Clinical Social Worker and Trauma Therapist who is a founding partner of Healing Therapy Alliance (HTA) and the PsychoSomatic Trauma Initiative in Toronto. She is Course Director, York University, School of Social Work

Laurie M Belanger has been providing services as a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist and is from East Amherst NY.

With her degree in Social Work, Eliza Fernandes has been providing psychotherapy services in Toronto, Canada
Please see below for contact information for each Unyte-EMDR team member.
Some Key Points to listen out for:
What is EMDR therapy- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Current understanding of the role of Bilateral Stimulation- (REM- during sleep; Orienting Response; Parasympathetic system; Working Memory)
EMDR is a memory processing therapy- putting the past in the past
How traumatic memories are stored in the brain
The Adaptive Information processing model
Current symptoms are manifestations of past difficult experiences
EMDR & Polyvagal Theory- PVT provides the bottom-up understanding of how the "body needs to feel safe"
Implementing SSP in the EMDR triphasic approach to trauma
SSP effective in the Preparatory/Stabilization Phase
SSP as a stabilizing resource to help get to the more difficult processing
SSP as a diagnostic tool to help assess "Affect Tolerance"
SSP builds positive affect in preparation for memory processing
SSP during Phase 8 to consolidate gains
SSP Guidelines for EMDR practitioners- set of recommendations and considerations for EMDR therapists
Books and Resources recommendations- EMDR and Somatic Psychology; Neurobiological Foundations for EMDR Practice-(listen in for more great resources!)
I hope everyone enjoys this episode. Such a wonderful group.
To contact me the best email is [email protected] (yes, this is a different email, but it is my main working one so easier to monitor) I love to hear comments or feedback.
Please join our private FB group Safe and Sound Protocol Podcast- A polyvagal Informed Therapy for new learning opportunities and other information shared.
If you liked this episode it would be a great honor if you could share it with a colleague or friend.
Take care,
remember to breathe low, slow, and smile.

Contact Information:

Jill Hosey, [email protected]
Laurie Belanger, lbelangerlcs

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Laurie M Belanger has been providing services as a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist and is from East Amherst NY.

Contact Information:

Jill Hosey, [email protected]
Laurie Belanger, lbelangerlcs

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Please support my work by sharing this episode with a friend or colleague:)

Previous Episode

Episode 20 An Embodied Approach to Eating Disorders with Rachel Lewis Marlow

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

About Rachel.
Rachel Lewis-Marlow is a somatically integrative psychotherapist, dually licensed in counseling and therapeutic massage and bodywork and the Co-founder of the Embodied Recovery Institute which provides training to eating disorders professionals in a trauma-informed, relationally oriented and somatically integrated model of eating disorders treatment. She is a Certified Advanced Practitioner in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and has advanced training and 25+ years experience in diverse somatic therapies including Craniosacral Therapy, Energetic Osteopathy, Oncology massage and Aromatherapy.
Rachel began providing somatically integrative psychotherapy to eating disorders patients at the residential, PHP and IOP levels of care.
Currently, in private practice in Chapel Hill, NC, Rachel works with people healing from trauma, eating disorders, and dissociative disorders. She has extensive experience as a teacher and presenter, focusing on accessing the body’s unique capacity to give voice to the subconscious and to lay the foundation for healing and maintaining psychological and physical health.
Embodied Recovery Institute- https://embodiedrecovery.org/

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Next Episode

Episode 23- Impact of screen time on the developing brain - Drs Rachael Sharman and Michael Nagel

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

I lov

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