Alliance Practice Lab: Polyvagal Controversies

Join us for a Practice Lab designed to bring the conversations from this quarter back into the grounding of our work.

Having explored the scientific debate around Polyvagal Theory and what it raises for us as facilitators, this session will focus on practice and peer learning. We have spent time with the critiques, the responses, and the uncertainty in between. Now we ask: what do we actually do with that? How do we talk about Polyvagal Theory in our work going forward—with the people we teach, the communities we serve, and the colleagues we collaborate with?

In this interactive session, participants will have the opportunity to:

• Practice articulating Polyvagal Theory and its limitations in ways that feel relevant and clear to different audiences
• Explore how the debate might shift (or not shift) the language and framing you currently use
• Share how you are thinking about navigating this in your own facilitation contexts
• Receive thoughtful feedback and perspective from fellow facilitators

Whether you are still sitting with uncertainty from the Article Studies or arriving with specific language you want to try out, this Practice Lab offers a supportive space to experiment, learn, and figure it out together.

This gathering is part of our Q3 2026 Alliance theme, Polyvagal Controversies, where we are exploring what the current scientific debate around Polyvagal Theory means for how we use and teach the model with integrity and care.