The autonomic nervous system powerfully shapes our moment-to-moment experience. It’s at the heart of how we connect, protect, and find safety. Polyvagal Theory (PVT), developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, offers a groundbreaking framework for understanding how trauma impacts the nervous system and how safety and connection can foster regulation and healing.
This 5-hour in-person training introduces clinicians to the foundational principles of Polyvagal Theory through the lens of clinical application. We’ll explore the three core concepts of PVT (hierarchy, neuroception, and co-regulation) and how they support therapeutic insight and client transformation. Participants will also be introduced to the BASIC framework (Befriend, Attend, Shape, Integrate, Connect), a practical guide for applying PVT in therapy.
This training blends psychoeducation with somatic, experiential tools to support embodied learning. It is Part 1 of a two-part series and is designed to build a strong foundation for applying Polyvagal Theory in clinical practice.
CEUs: 5 Clinical Date: Friday, September 26, 2025 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Location: Monmouth University Bey Hall 231 Presenters: Samantha Saks, LCSW & Samantha Grimaldi, MS, LPC
Lunch is included for both sessions. Take a break, network, and recharge during the sessions.
This 5-hour intermediate-level training builds on the foundational concepts introduced in Part 1: Foundations of Polyvagal Theory in Clinical Practice. Designed for clinicians who already have a working knowledge of Polyvagal Theory, this workshop emphasizes the application of theory to practice through experiential learning, case conceptualization, and advanced intervention strategies. Participants will deepen their understanding of the autonomic hierarchy, neuroception, and co-regulation, and will explore how to integrate these principles into diverse clinical presentations including trauma, anxiety, mood disorders, and relational challenges.
Through live demonstrations, guided practice, and interactive exercises, participants will experience regulation-oriented interventions from both the client and therapist perspective, fostering embodied learning. Special focus will be placed on cultivating a therapeutic presence that supports safety and connection, expanding the clinician’s somatic toolkit, and tailoring approaches for individual, group, and telehealth settings.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have enhanced their ability to assess autonomic states in real time, intervene effectively to promote nervous system flexibility, and clinically apply polyvagal-informed practice which honors both physiological and psychological dimensions of healing.
CEUs: 5 Clinical Date: Friday, February 6, 2026 Time: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Location: Monmouth University Bey Hall 231 Presenters: Samantha Saks, LCSW & Samantha Grimaldi, MS, LPC
Presenter Information:
Samantha Saks, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, educator, and the founder of Journey to Meliora, LLC. She specializes in trauma-informed care and mind-body integration, bringing both clinical and somatic experience to her work. In addition to talk therapy, Samantha has led functional fitness groups grounded in mindfulness and body awareness, supporting clients in developing nervous system flexibility and emotional resilience.
Her passion for Polyvagal Theory began through this movement-based work, recognizing it as the intervening variable between trauma healing and nervous system regulation. Samantha has completed advanced training in Polyvagal Theory through Deb Dana and Stephen Porges’ Clinical Applications in Polyvagal Treatment course and continues to integrate PVT in both clinical and consultative settings.
Since 2020, she has co-led Polyvagal Theory workshops and consultation groups with Samantha Grimaldi, offering practical, embodied training to therapists across New Jersey and beyond. Samantha’s teaching style is grounded, relational, and centered around making nervous system-informed care both practical and human.
Samantha Grimaldi, MS, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor, educator, and founder of CoCreate Healing Center, LLC. She specializes in trauma-informed care for adults navigating complex and relational trauma, with a focus on the nervous system’s role in healing. Her clinical work is grounded in Polyvagal Theory and integrates DBT, mindfulness, and self-compassion-based approaches.
Samantha’s passion for nervous system-informed care is both personal and professional, shaped in part by her own experience with vasovagal syncope. She completed Deb Dana’s six-month Foundations of Polyvagal Informed Practice training and is currently pursuing her ACS (Approved Clinical Supervisor) credential.
In addition to her private practice, Samantha serves as adjunct faculty at Seattle University, where she facilitates experiential learning for graduate counseling students. Since 2020, she has co-led Polyvagal Theory trainings and consultation groups alongside Samantha Saks, helping clinicians integrate Polyvagal Theory into their work in meaningful, embodied ways. Her approach is relational, compassionate, and grounded in the belief that healing begins with understanding the language of the nervous system.
The Sams Samantha Grimaldi, MS, LPC, and Samantha Saks, LCSW known as “The Sams,” are Polyvagal Theory educators, clinicians, and consultants who have been co-facilitating trainings and consultation groups since 2020. Together, they specialize in translating the science of the autonomic nervous system into embodied, relational practice for therapists and healing professionals.
Their collaborative work began at a group practice in New Jersey and has since expanded across Monmouth County and beyond. They now lead closed consultation groups, experiential workshops, and continuing education trainings focused on nervous system-informed care. Their approach blends clinical depth with accessibility, creating learning spaces that are grounded, human, and rooted in lived nervous system awareness.
Grimaldi and Saks bring complementary strengths to their work—drawing from years of clinical experience, advanced Polyvagal Theory training, and a shared passion for making trauma-informed care practical and transformative. Their offerings support therapists in bridging theory and application, with the ultimate goal of fostering safety, insight, and connection in clinical work.
This workshop package is already offered at a special discounted rate. Additional discounts cannot be applied at checkout.
Price:
$200.00