Chris Walling – Contemporary Somatic Psychology – Collection

Join the President of the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy, Dr. Chris Walling, for a special two-part…

Chris Walling – Contemporary Somatic Psychology – Collection

Join the President of the United States Association for Body Psychotherapy, Dr. Chris Walling, for a special two-part series on modern psychotherapy research & skills application. Dr. Walling is a licensed clinical psychologist, Certified-Yoga Therapist, and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner based out of Los Angeles California. Dr. Walling is a Clinical Research Fellow at Dr. Steve Porges’ lab at the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at Indiana University, Bloomington.

MODULE 1: Research & the Emerging Evidence Base

Dr. Walling will present a summary of his qualitative study into Somatic Experiencing (SE) as an emerging third wave somatic psychotherapy. He will illustrate how SE along with other contemporary models of somatic psychotherapy promote greater health, growth, and restoration. His presentation will demonstrate the viability of somatic psychotherapy as a useful emerging paradigm in treatment of traumatic stress and its role in promoting resilience and post-traumatic growth. Dr. Walling will discuss his interviews with Dr. Peter Levine, and other faculty of the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, and how SE has emerged within the multiple lineages of somatic psychotherapy.

MODULE 2: Somatic Yoga Praxis in The Face of Uncertainty

The skills that help harness the innate healing potential of the vagus nerve will be explored using a poly-vagal informed approach to Yoga Therapy. Dr. Walling will discuss various skills applications in many popular somatic techniques that can be used by yourself or with another to help restore safety and greater stabilization amidst recurrent stress responses. He will demonstrate ways to use breath and mindfulness exercises that promote greater self regulation so that we might engage in greater co-regulation with the ones we love.

Students who take this course will:

• Practice exercises that facilitate balanced neuroception (safety detection of the nervous system) through mindfulness and sensory awareness.
• Explore features of breath and sound that calm the vagus nerve, and generate greater autonomic stabilization.
• Explore the role of movement and embodied self awareness (proprioception, interoception) in helping navigate challenging experiences.