Episode 4: "We're in This Together: The Collective Experience of Trauma and Healing"
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“We’re in this together: The collective experience of trauma and healing”
Fear and uncertainty are potent activators of subconscious parts of the brain that create involuntary behaviors and body responses. These “fight or flight” or “faint or freeze” responses are deeply programmed to increase our survival under threat, however can continue to linger long after the threat has retreated. In this program, we will discuss how traumatic experiences can create separation, which manifests in our personal lives and in our communities. We will share techniques to calm the body system, to help prevent more prolonged trauma activation. Finally, we will discuss how care, compassion and reconnection with others is an integral part of our healing as individuals, and as a global unit.

--- FREE RESOURCES & DOWNLOADS from HeartMath Institute ---
Heart-Focused Breathing Technique (PDF Download) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TfN3yB2K7ELDLy3EhtLUE5qhAV8MjGSM/view?usp=sharing
Heart Lock-In Technique (PDF Download) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/17jJT7NeBOdtE_lgADtGEbWuHM-QcW_kP/view?usp=sharing
Recognizing & Managing the Effects of Traumatic Stress (Download) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lu-V7qqlMofZBfUzUYIwCvRoGWzgU-0m/view?usp=sharing
Examples of why & how to activate Vagus Nerve. Or not! From Dr. Sara Gilman:
https://youtu.be/0fkKMBOWgY4
https://youtu.be/EgHwiQsLre8

Featuring Panelist Discussion with:
Jorina Elbers - Director of Trauma Recovery Project at HeartMath Institute
Jorina Elbers [email protected]
Dr. Jorina Elbers is a neurologist, with specialty training in pediatric stroke from the University of Toronto, and a master's degree in Epidemiology from Stanford University. She worked as an assistant professor and pediatric neurologist at Stanford's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital between 2012-2018. Throughout her career she has published over 20 peer-reviewed papers, with her most recent publications discussing how the body adapts to chronic stress or trauma, through a process called nervous system dysregulation. She is currently the program director for the Trauma Recovery Project at the HeartMath Institute. She also runs a private neurology practice in Santa Cruz, working with adults and children who struggle with chronic, often unexplained, neurological symptoms.
www.afinebalance.com

Steve Sawyer - HeartMath Interventions Program Co-Author, LCSW CSAC
New Vision Wilderness Chief Clinical Consultant/Co-Founder
Brainspotting International Senior Trainer
Steve is a dual licensed psychotherapist filled with passion and knowledge surrounding the intervention and change process. His experience comes from two decades of intervention with tough to reach client populations in therapy settings ranging from residential, community based, outpatient
and wilderness therapy. He is a trained trainer of several unique therapeutic models including somatic trigger release techniques, Brainspotting, traumatic memory reprocessing, and HeartMath. Through his experience, he has authored two books, and co-founded New Vision Wilderness Therapy programs, with a trauma informed and clinical integrity focus, with 3 locations spanning the country. He is additionally a key clinical training staff for the CALO Family of Treatment programs. He continues to work as a core therapeutic training development staff with the Institute of HeartMath, receiving their Humanitarian Heart award in 2018 and he is a leading active International Brainspotting trainer. Steve spends time amongst trauma focused treatment master’s like Gabor Mate and Bessel Van Der Kolk. Steve’s trainings are recognized nationwide for cutting-edge therapeutic techniques and inspiration.
#TraumaTransformations
www.newvisionwilderness.com

Sara Gilman - Marriage & Family Therapist
Dr. Gilman is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, with a doctorate in Psychology. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the effects of cumulative traumatic stress exposure in first responders. She is the co-founder of Coherence Associates, a professional counseling group in San Diego, CA., providing local in-person and confidential Telehealth services throughout the state. As a former San Diego, Rural Firefighter/EMT, she served on the San Diego CISM Team for over a decade. Dr, Gilman was awarded Fellowship status with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress for her work. She is past President of the EMDR International Association Board of Directors. Trained in Disaster Mental Health and Psychological First Aid, Dr. Gilman consults with agencies to build strong peer support teams, and trains personnel in focusing on the importance of maintaining resilience. Her genuine Spirit, dedication, and passion is recognized throughout the country as she advocates for effective mental health access for first responders, business teams, and families. www.coherenceassociates.com

Susan von Meijenfeldt - Psychotherapist
Susann von Meijenfeldt, RSW, CPCC is a highly experienced psychotherapist, a HeartMath trainer, a Hakomi-teacher (Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy) and a Holistic Life Coach. She is the co-founder and facilitator of the Immediate Shift Method™, a practical self-coaching tool to retrain the brain and nervous system through the heart and its qualities and resources. Susann’s passion is to help people regulate inner turmoil and build resilience. She supports natural healing and growth from the inside out by reconnecting clients with their innate wholeness and awaken to deeper levels within.
In Germany, Susann managed the bereavement and psychosomatic department of a prominent counseling agency. In Canada, she worked for a non-profit agency with refugees and immigrants from all over the world. She has been in private practice for over 20 years. Susann works with individuals, couples and groups, providing counseling, mentoring, consulting and supervision in Edmonton, Alberta and internationally.
www.immediateshift.com
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About This Series:
This series, Navigating with the Heart: Conversations for These Trying Times, offers new perspectives for the very real situations people are facing in these unprecedented times. From children to the elderly, and everyone in between, nearly everyone’s lives have been affected and turned upside down. Conversations give voice to these challenges, while also uncovering and exploring perspectives that can help us create balance in the midst of uncertainty. Conversations also offer effective practices and techniques that have helped many people through difficult times.

Go to www.HeartMath.org to learn more about the HearthMath Institute, techniques, products and training opportunities.
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