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2055-22:  Applying the Polyvagal Model to Clinical Practice with Trauma Survivors

Safety, compassion and empathy form the basis of the therapeutic relationship regardless of the technique of therapy. The neuroscience of threat and relationship has emerged only recently. Polyvagal theory explains the basis of therapeutic connectedness and serves as a guide to reach the optimal therapeutic state.

Presenter:  Doris C. Vallone, PhD, PMHCNS-BC

Disclosures:  The APNA planners and faculty have no relevant financial relationships to disclose. Off-label uses will not be discussed during this presentation.

Session Length:  34 minutes

Target Audience:  RN, APRN

Learning Outcome:
Upon completion of this presentation, the participant will be able to:

• Describe how the principles of polyvagal theory can support therapeutic presence and empathy in clinical practice.

Keywords:  Polyvagal, Therapeutic Presence, Autonomic Nervous System

Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
0.5 contact hours.  * In order to receive contact hours, you must: Listen to presentation, complete an evaluation, and earn a passing score on the post-test before the expiration date. You will have 5 tries to correctly answer the questions on the post-test and a score of 80% is required to pass. Once you have passed and completed an evaluation, the certificate will be generated online, available for you to print immediately. You cannot earn credit unless all steps are completed.

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Originally Presented
APNA 36th Annual Conference
Long Beach, CA

The contact hours for this session expire:  October 1, 2025

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