The 8th cohort of the nervous system study group is full with 250+ nervous system geeks!

Registration ended March 28, 2024.

Do you want to have a deeper understanding of the nervous system for your own personal growth or for your professional practice?

I am inviting another group to learn with me once a week for 8 weeks. This class is modeled after graduate level discussion courses. Each 2-hour session will begin with a vagus stimulating exercise, feature a 30-40 minute lesson, and end with discussion and Q and A. Optional reading homework will be shared to add context to each discussion.

We will start with basics of nervous system function. And then we will dive into more complex topics to build a holistic understanding of nervous system mechanics. In this context, holistic means looking at the big picture, how each individual nervous system is part of a network of nervous systems.

Although this is primarily an educational group, and not a processing group, past students have reported transformational experiences including more self-love, more gentleness with themselves, more understanding of their own bodies, and more acceptance of their neurodivergence. 

Who is this for?

This series is ideal for coaches, counselors, therapists, social workers, somatic practitioners, massage therapists, yoga teachers, other types of helping professionals, and for neurodivergent humans who want to understand their own body better.

Because of the content of this course, it’s recommended for people who have some basic level of nervous system education/awareness and are looking to expand and/or contextualize that information.

This course covers a lot of information, possibly too quickly for some people. The recordings are available in case you need to pause and take care of your body before learning more.

Lesson Topics

  • Polyvagal 101

    the 3 nervous system states, the ladder model, the window of tolerance, the spiral model, the stress cycle

  • Polyvagal 401

    mixed states, the triangle model, bringing micro and macro movements out of chronic shutdown

  • Energetics of Polyvagal

    biorhythms, electromagnetic fields, co-regulation, myelination, mirroring, coherence

  • The BioPsychoSocial System

    neuroception, belonging, the bio-mechanism of shame, chronic illness as a symptom of societal collapse

  • Neurodivergent Trauma

    the neurodiversity paradigm model, the spectrum of divergence, ND genetics, ancestral trauma, sensory trauma, sensitivity as an evolutionary advantage

  • Attachment Trauma

    attachment as defense, the nervous system impact of dysfunctional family dynamics, addiction, spiritual trauma, cults, and supremacist culture

  • Systemic Trauma

    collective trauma, institutional trauma, a society of disconnection and dissociation, masking/code-switching, community solutions

  • Pathways to Healing

    stabilization, waking up a nervous system, trauma release, trauma integration, nervous system attunement as a path to secure attachment with self

What is the course like?

There are 3 primary ways information is shared:

  • Live Sessions

    The core of this course is 1 weekly live zoom call for 8 weeks. This video call typically lasts two hours with a short break halfway through. Arrive late or leave early if you need to. Replays of each session will be posted in the course page the next day.

  • Private Group for Discussion

    We have a private Facebook group where nervous system discussion is welcomed and encouraged. This is a place to continue discussions we run out of time for, start new discussions related to the nervous system, and interact with members of previous Nervous System Study Groups.

  • Mindmaps, Infographics, and Notes

    During each zoom call, I'll share charts, diagrams, graphics, and images to help explain things. After each call, these images will be posted along with the replay for review. My lesson notes with outlines and definitions will also be posted after each session.

Facilitator / Teacher

Janae Elisabeth

Trauma Geek

Janae (they/she/he) is an information synthesizer who has been studying polyvagal theory and related nervous system models for 6+ years. Their specialty is tying together threads of information from many different fields to create a holistic understanding of the nervous system and neurodivergence. Janae has deeply studied these topics in an effort to understand himself better as an AuDHD PDAer with complex trauma. Since 2018, she has been teaching about trauma, the nervous system, and neurodiversity through local peer support circles and through the advocacy and education project, Trauma Geek. For legal reasons, please note, Janae is not a counselor or therapist.

FAQ

  • Can we access the course after the dates if it takes us more time to process?

    The course will be available here on this site for at least 6 months. Everyone in the course will receive a link to a private YouTube channel where the videos will live indefinitely after that.

  • If I do the recorded version, is there a way to ask questions since the live Q&A will be missed?

    There will be a discussion section with each lesson in the course. We also have a private Facebook group for questions.

  • Would this course work for a high school student?

    Teens may take the course if they have an adult in their near-community take the course at the same time. It's especially important for young adults to have someone to process the material from this course with.

  • Are there CEUs?

    Check with your supervisor! My in-person groups count for CEUs but online groups have varying requirements.

  • Can I buy the course as a gift for someone else?

    Yes! When you go to the checkout page, you can click the box next to "This is a Gift" and then add the recipients email address.