An Overview of the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model in Treating Trauma and Addiction

In this course, psychotherapist and educator Jan Winhall, MSW, RSW, introduces the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model as an embodied, trauma-informed framework for understanding addiction, dissociation, self-harm, and nervous system dysregulation. Drawing together polyvagal theory, focusing, interpersonal neurobiology, neuroplasticity, and an anti-oppressive lens, she outlines how clinicians can move beyond pathologising formulations and instead recognise behaviours as adaptive attempts at survival. The course offers practical insight into interoception, neuroception, grounding, co-regulation, and titrated somatic work, helping practitioners strengthen safety, improve engagement, and support more effective trauma and addiction treatment.<br><br> This course is part of a 2-part series on this topic. The second course in this series is called <a href="/catalogue/courses/deepening-practice-the-four-circle-harm-reduction-practice-and-the-embodied-assessment-and-treatment-tool"><i>Deepening Practice: The Four-Circle Harm Reduction Practice and the Embodied Assessment and Treatment Tool</i></a>.