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Masterclass WORKSHOP Series
Befriending the Nervous System: Applying Polyvagal Theory in Therapeutic Practice
with Deb Dana
Unlock this Masterclass + 25% Off Porges Bundle
When you purchase this Masterclass, you can add the Legacy Interview with Stephen Porges, creator of Polyvagal Theory, to your basket at 25% off.
Access the series + resources + 3.5 hour CE/CPD certificate for £78
Learn Polyvagal Tools You Can Use Tomorrow
Join Deb Dana, the world’s leading clinician translating Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory into practice. In this 3.5-hour CPD Masterclass, you discover how to work directly with the nervous system to support trauma recovery, regulation and therapeutic connection.
What you get:
- Practical tools: the Personal Profile Map, Vagal Brake Exercise, Glimmer Practice
- Recording + CPD certificate included
- Training at around half the price of many similar polyvagal workshops
One of our most popular masterclasses, watched by hundreds of clinicians worldwide.
Secure checkout • Instant access to 3.5-hour CPD recording + certificate
“Such a rich and stimulating workshop and discussion. Thank you Deb and Jane for an outstanding presentation.”
“This has been absolutely amazing. I WANT MORE!”
“Thank you Deb and Jane for such a helpful, compassionate and beautifully presented workshop in support of applied practice.”
“Fantastic workshop. Thank you Deb for presenting and giving us an opportunity to experience this theory for ourselves. Really really helpful. Great work!!”
Overview
This Masterclass Workshop is a chance to learn directly from Deb Dana, the clinician who has done more than anyone to translate Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory into practice.
Through teaching, case discussion and experiential exercises, Deb shows how working with the nervous system can deepen therapeutic connection, support recovery from trauma, anxiety and relational difficulties — and help therapists themselves find steadiness in the midst of demanding professional and personal lives.
Event Highlights
The conversation explores important clinical concepts including:
The Science of Connection
- Polyvagal Theory as “the science of connection” — helping people feel safe enough to “fall in love with life”
- How trauma interrupts the nervous system’s ability to connect, leaving protective survival states in place of social engagement
- Therapy as a process of working directly with the body’s safety–danger equation
Practical Tools
- The Personal Profile Map: a simple framework for exploring how nervous system states shape beliefs and behaviours
- The Vagal Brake Exercise: learning to gently speed up and slow down with flexibility
- The Glimmer Practice: noticing everyday sparks of safety and wellbeing that can shift the system toward regulation
Applications in Practice
- Respecting nervous system diversity: what regulates one person may overwhelm another
- The therapist’s nervous system as central to creating a safe relational field
- Using nervous system mapping to guide interventions in trauma, anxiety, and relational difficulties
Deb Dana
Psychotherapist, author and international trainer bringing Polyvagal Theory into clinical practice
Deb Dana, LCSW, is known worldwide for her ability to make the science of Polyvagal Theory accessible and clinically useful. She has worked closely with Stephen Porges for many years and is the developer of a rich collection of polyvagal-informed practices. Her books, including The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy and Anchored, are widely used by clinicians across modalities.
Deb’s work is grounded in the understanding that regulating the nervous system is at the heart of wellbeing. She invites clinicians to recognise that symptoms are the nervous system’s way of communicating, and that safety and connection are the foundation for recovery.
Access to this recording qualifies for 3.5 CPD/CE hours.
Workshop Host
Deb was in conversation with Jane O’Rourke.
Jane O'Rourke, founder of MINDinMIND and a former award-winning BBC journalist now practising as a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, draws upon her combined expertise to create rich and thoughtful conversations with leading mental health clinicians. Her interviews weave together the personal and professional threads of her guests' journeys, capturing the experiences that have shaped their clinical work and thinking.
Details correct at time of recording – 5 September 2025
Resources from this Masterclass
- Personal Profile Map
- Vagal Brake Exercise
- Glimmer Practice
- Deb’s guide to Polyvagal Theory
- Deb’s slides
For Clinicians Seeking More Depth
Deb also explores these polyvagal-informed clinical principles:
- Neuroception, hierarchy, and co-regulation as core organising principles of therapeutic work
- Honouring protective responses and reframing resistance as the nervous system’s survival strategy
- Discernment practices: helping clients notice old protective pathways and make intentional new choices
- Recognising how cultural and familial contexts shape nervous system learning
- The therapist’s own nervous system as a primary tool of co-regulation in the room
Why Train with MINDinMIND
At MINDinMIND we bring together leading clinicians and the highest standards of CPD, while making training accessible to a wide community of mental health professionals.
This Masterclass is offered at around half the price of many similar polyvagal trainings, without compromising on quality.
What makes our approach distinctive is the format. Rather than a standard lecture or a slide deck, Deb and Jane are in conversation as fellow clinicians — unpicking what is truly useful in day-to-day practice. This creates a rich, reflective learning experience that bridges theory and application, supporting therapists in their clinical work and in their own wellbeing.
Special Offer
When you purchase this Masterclass, you can add the Legacy Interview with Stephen Porges, creator of Polyvagal Theory, to your basket at 25% off.
This exclusive offer gives you the chance to learn both from the originator of Polyvagal Theory and from the clinician who has done more than anyone to bring it into everyday practice.
Bundle discount applied at checkout • Own both training sessions for less
FAQs
Will I receive a CPD certificate?
Yes, a digital CPD certificate is sent to all attendees after the event.
Do I need prior knowledge of Polyvagal Theory?
No. The session is accessible to those new to the theory, and also offers fresh clinical perspectives for those already familiar with it.
Who is this Polyvagal training for?
This CPD Masterclass is designed for psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, or adults. Whether you are new to Polyvagal Theory or looking to deepen your clinical practice, the workshop offers practical tools and insights that you can apply straight away to your clinical practice or personal life.
