My lifelong passion and interest has been helping children learn. This passion has grown to helping children learn and heal from trauma. We all need to understand trauma, the effects of trauma and how to grow and heal from trauma wounds. Children who have lingering effects of trauma struggle to learn, many times, their bodies are not in a learning state; they are dysregulated. Adults also become dysregulated when triggered by trauma memories, or overstressed from life events. How do we manage and work through stress and dysregulation?

My presentations focus on helping all of us understand what trauma is and how we ride the waves of life with confidence and agility. My presentations are based on the Polyvagal Perspective and the Social Engagement System by Dr. Stephen Porges. I weave the work of Dr. Porges, Dr. Peter Levine, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, and Dr. Pat Ogden into my work so as to show how our bodies work and respond to stress and how we can successfully work with trauma. My speaking topics are:

The Importance of the Vagus Nerve in Learning and Health

Staff Expertise: How to use PE, Art, Music, and Recess to help students build resilience and regulatory skills

“Ready To Learn:” How a student’s physiology opens the window to learning

Self Regulation: What it is, how it develops, and practices that help

The Polyvagal Theory and the Social Engagement System: The keys to health and safety