Embodied Dialogues for Healing Trauma and Addiction

In this episode of the Embodied Dialogues podcast, Jan Winhall is joined by trauma therapist and author Dr. Frank Anderson for a rich conversation about healing in relationships. Together they explore how the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model (FSPM) and Frank’s emerging PATH model (Parts Approach to Trauma Healing) can help couples understand the deeper nervous system dynamics that shape conflict, connection, and repair. Through an experiential lens, Jan begins with a short embodiment practice inviting listeners to notice how safety, activation, and co-regulation show up in their own relationships. From there, the dialogue unfolds into a thoughtful exploration of how trauma, attachment wounds, and survival strategies play out between partners. Frank shares how his PATH model integrates parts work, neuroscience, and relational healing to help people reconnect with what he calls “calm power” - an inner space of wisdom, strength, and intuition that supports trauma recovery. Together, Jan and Frank discuss: Why couples often get stuck in repeating nervous system patterns (such as one partner escalating while the other shuts down) How therapists can help partners slow down and track their internal reactions, body sensations, and beliefs during conflict The role of personal healing work in being able to hold the complexity of relationships Why healing requires both internal repair and relational repair -The importance of safety and pacing, especially when working with betrayal or infidelity How attraction can be rooted in shared wounds and the unconscious hope for healing Throughout the conversation, Jan and Frank emphasize that trauma symptoms are not pathologies to fix, but adaptive survival strategies shaped by the nervous system’s attempt to stay safe. With warmth, humor, and vulnerability, they also reflect on their own healing journeys and the importance of therapists doing their own embodied work. This episode offers insights for therapists, coaches, and anyone interested in trauma-informed relationship healing, nervous system awareness, and somatic approaches to growth.

In this moving episode of Embodied Dialogues, Jan Winhall is joined by renowned trauma and addiction pioneer Tian Dayton for a deeply relational conversation on the embodied roots of addiction, attachment wounds, and healing through community. They speak about how relational trauma—whether from addiction, emotional neglect, or untreated complex PTSD—impacts the nervous system in similar ways. Together, they explore how early experiences are held in the nervous system, why addiction and trauma are deeply intertwined, and how recovery requires more than insight alone. They share their personal reflections from growing up in families impacted by addiction, how they healed, and how their stories created who they are today. They talk about healing practices from their books can help and Tian explains the power behind her group-based “floor checks” that invite people through movement, emotion, and connection. This episode is a rich exploration of co-regulation, limbic resonance, and the ways safe relationships and supportive communities become essential medicine for trauma recovery and resilience. A powerful thread throughout the episode is Tian’s personal experience as an adult child of an alcoholic father. She describes the “ghost-like” confusion and chaos of loving someone who was both charismatic and deeply lost in addiction, and how that relational trauma shaped her lifelong work. Her upcoming book "Growing Up with Addiction" is presented as both a professional offering and a deeply personal “song” she is bringing into the world. Together, they explore how early attachment wounds shape the nervous system, why recovery must include the body, and how group connection becomes a vital source of co-regulation and resilience. A rich dialogue on trauma, repair, and the deep human capacity to heal in relationship. Join our Embodied Dialogues live audience at www.fspminstitute.com

Jeff Warren joins Jan Winhall for a candid conversation about meditation, trauma, and the wisdom of the body. Jeff shares how living with ADHD, bipolar disorder, and deep shame led him to seek support, and how working with Jan through focusing and felt sense practices helped him stabilize and heal. He explains how meditation builds concentration, clarity, and equanimity, while felt sensing allows a more direct relationship with the body and unresolved emotional material. They discuss the risks of spiritual bypassing, the importance of relational support in trauma healing, and how “fresh frozen” trauma can surface during mindfulness practices. Jan brings in polyvagal theory to reframe shame and shutdown as protective, adaptive responses rather than personal failures. Jeff also offers practical examples of regulating his nervous system in real time, especially in challenging parenting moments. The conversation highlights the value of compassion, curiosity, and embodied presence as foundations for lasting healing and genuine connection.

Research now shows seemingly unrelated factors like food, sensory input, digestive health, lack of exercise, and diminished parental availability can influence children’s brain development both in function AND form.BG Mancini, is a Neurodevelopmental Specialist, Advanced Certified in Functional Medicine, licensed since 2013 as an Acupuncture Physician and Primary Care Provider. She is the founder of The Brain & Gut Institute and creator of The Family Nervous System® that helps families understand that healing is never just one person in the living organism we call a family and requires connection to self and each other.She talks with Jan Winhall about how we can help heal a child's gut using the microbiome mashup, air purifiers, and nervous system education. And that this will improve the overall mental and physical health of the entire family. Knowing what contributes to the early developmental signs of inflammation and what these truly look like in the body and brain can make everyone (including parents and clinicians) an aide for a child and family to find the right resources, and majorly alter outcomes. About BG BG Mancini, is a Neurodevelopmental Specialist, Advanced Certified in Functional Medicine, and AP/PCP. She is the founder of The Brain Gut Institute and creator of The Family Nervous System®. With 27 years of practice, she works with children & families to unlock their unique potential through biomedical, nervous system & neurodevelopmental practices. Through educating therapists and clinicians about the underlying factors driving children’s behavior, she advocates for holistic support, emphasizing the impact of internal and external microtraumas on physiology, and its impact on behavior. She highlights the importance of including Interoception, Proprioception, Neuroception, Sensory Processing, Interhemispheric Movement, and Nutrition in any conversation about children’s mental health.Visit: https://braingutinstitute.com/

Welcome to a 1-hour exclusive Embodied Dialogue in 2025 with Dr. Stephen Porges, the esteemed creator of the Polyvagal Theory. One of the many qualities I admire about Dr. Porges is his unwavering commitment to accessibility. As I become busier with a public lifestyle, I find myself challenged by the desire to reach out and the need to contain. Steve’s ability to stay connected, respond to emails, listen deeply, and maintain a safe presence amidst his growing popularity is truly inspiring. Steve starts with opening up about his personal musings on cats and the unique ways they co-regulate with humans, offering insights that might just change the way you view your feline friends. We dive deep into the profound concepts of safety in the body and the transformative nature of feeling truly secure. Among many other things we touch upon the significance of feedback loops in therapy and life, and how interoception—the awareness of our bodily states—plays a crucial role in healing trauma and addiction. It's a dialogue brimming with warmth, insight, and a little humor, inviting you to pause, reflect, and embrace the wisdom shared. Through Steve’s stories and reflections, I hope your understanding of polyvagal theory and its practical applications expands. Chapter Overview00:00 Nonverbal Communication in Music 03:30 Cat's Early Morning Routine 08:53 Understanding Embodiment Through Interoception 11:13 "Evaluating Reactions Mindfully" 13:32 Polyvagal Theory and Emotions 18:29 Reflecting on Bold Paradigm Shifts 23:22 "Balancing Accessibility and Self-Time" 26:47 Evolving Academic Models Post-Pandemic 29:14 Impact of ACEs on Individuals 31:28 "Integrating Neuroscience and Subconscious Therapy" 37:03 Academic Crisis: Research Structure Doomed 40:32 Innovative Music Experience for Neurodivergent 43:07 Developing Scalable Health Products 46:06 Trust and Motivation in Leadership 49:47 Neglected Behavioral Solutions in Autism 53:04 Critique of Autism Research Focus 56:13 Autism Diagnosis and Hope This session is particularly special as we celebrate the release of three groundbreaking Polyvagal books this winter:* Twenty Embodied Practices for Healing Trauma and Addiction by Jan Winhall https://janwinhall.com/20-embodied-practices/* Somatic-Oriented Therapies https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324052722?promo=SOT20* Polyvagal Perspectives: Interventions, Practices, and Strategies https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324053408

Jan Winhall with Patrick McA, Elizabeth Moitoza, Robert Ragucci, Ann Dowsett Johnston Join us in this special 2-hour edition of the Embodied Dialogue Series for an enlightening exploration of how Polyvagal Theory and Twelve-step Programs can intersect to enhance addiction treatment. Since the 1930s, Twelve-step Programs have been a cornerstone in helping millions overcome addictive behaviors through accessible, global support groups rooted in the concept of a ‘higher power.’ Founded by Bill Wilson and Bob Smith, these programs view addiction as a brain disease and emphasize community and spiritual connection.Polyvagal Theory, introduced by neuroscientist Stephen Porges in 1994, offers a fresh perspective by framing addictions as adaptive survival strategies linked to the autonomic nervous system’s regulation of emotional states. This approach highlights how trauma influences our nervous system responses, providing new insights into why individuals might engage in addictive behaviors. In this event, we will discuss how these differing views can inform one another. What can the Twelve Steps learn from Polyvagal Theory’s focus on physiological triggers and trauma? How can Polyvagal-informed approaches benefit from the long-standing community and spiritual support of Twelve-step Programs? Join us as we delve into these questions and work together to reshape the conversation around addiction treatment, emphasizing safety and emotional regulation in recovery. https://janwinhall.com

Guest Julianne Del Cano Kennard and host Jan Winhall explore the spiritual alchemy of trauma, the process by which pain, when consciously met, becomes a catalyst for transformation. Julianne will share about her upcoming book and the Wholality® framework to explain how the patterns and blocks within our human experience are not problems to fix, but signals pointing toward what wants to be healed and harmonized.