The views expressed in the following presentation are those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect those of STAR Institute.

Level: Introductory

Length: 11.5 hours

Timeframe for access: Once you first choose to "Launch" this course, you will have 45 days to access the content as often as you like. Your 45-day window for access will not begin until you first click the "Launch" button.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how the Polyvagal Theory can demystify disruptive behaviors and clinical symptoms
• Identify key concepts for intervention using the SAFE PLACE program
• Define apraxia as it applies to individuals with sensory and motor differences
• Define each of the developmental stages (Womb, Mother, Kid Power & Brain Power)
• Describe the sensory qualities that create an embodied sense of safety as this relates to treatment Implementation
  
  

Presentations Include:

Conversation with Heather Kuhaneck, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Originally Recorded November 11, 2021

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Polyvagal Theory emphasizes the important role that autonomic state has in mediating behavior. The theory updates historical S-R (stimulus-response) models of behavior to a more nuanced S-O-R (stimulus-organism-response) model in which autonomic state serves as a platform upon which different classes of behavior ranging from sociality to defense spontaneously emerge. The theory identifies three autonomic states that are matched with three stages of vertebrate evolution. Each state provides a “neural” platform that will facilitate or impede the expression of specific classes of behavior. The behaviors can be conceptualized as social engagement, fight-flight, and death-feigning behaviors. In children, we would see this as a child who is: 1) resilient, calm, and socially co-regulating with others; 2) aggressive, oppositional, and having low thresholds to have tantrums; or 3) withdrawn, passively avoidant, shut down, and prone to freeze and dissociate when overwhelmed.

The theory details a process called neuroception that detects risk in the environment without awareness and reflexively shifts autonomic state to adaptively response to the challenge. All vertebrates have a neuroception to detect danger or life threat. However, only humans and other mammals have a unique neuroception that detects safety and reflexively dampens threat reactions. It is this process of detecting cues of safety than enables humans to be social and physiologically calm in the presence of others. This is the process that enable children to sit calmly in a classroom and to reciprocally play with peers without becoming aggressive. Human sensory systems are linked via neural pathways to autonomic state. For example, when the autonomic nervous system is a state of threat, sensory systems are tuned to detect predator and danger. This is frequently observed as hypervigilance and hypersensitivity to tactile, acoustic, and visual stimuli. The theory proposes that hypersensitivities can be reduced when interventions calm autonomic state.

• Describe how the Polyvagal Theory can demystify disruptive behaviors and clinical symptoms
• Recognize the intervening role that the autonomic nervous system has in mediating mental and physical responses to events and individuals, functionally supporting calm and resilient behaviors or impulse and oppositional behaviors
• Explain shifts in the Social Engagement System as an indicator of changes in autonomic state that could lead to spontaneous disruptive behaviors
• Discuss a neural process, neuroception, that evaluates risk in the environment and triggers adaptive neural circuits promoting either social interactions or defensive behaviors
• Explain how neuroception can be incorporated in clinical and educational strategies, as a guide in developing treatment strategies

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