Where Theory Meets Practice
Transformative Learning with Polyvagal Principles
Join us on a journey to deepen your understanding of human and equine interactions through the lens of polyvagal theory. Enhance your professional practice with our comprehensive program.
Explore Our Innovative Program
The Polyvagal Principles Experiential Learning (ProPEL) program is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice. By focusing on the dynamics of the nervous system, we offer an immersive experience that fosters authentic connections and enhances professional expertise. Our goal is to empower practitioners with the tools to integrate polyvagal principles into their work, whether in clinical settings, coaching environments, or equine-assisted interventions.
Program Highlights
This program represents a unique fusion of polyvagal theory and experiential learning, creating an unparalleled environment.
Hands-On Experience
Gain concrete examples of polyvagal principles in action through observation and experience .
Safe and Effective
Enhance safety and effectiveness by integrating various levels of expertise and observation.
The PVEI Framework
Develop a theoretical framework for understanding the “why” behind social connection.
Elevate your Professional Work
Operationalize polyvagal principles to deepen your understanding and incorporate them into your professional work with humans, with or without equine-assisted interventions.
Who Should Apply?
This program is meticulously crafted for Mental Health Professionals, Allied Health Professionals, Advanced Life Coaches, and Horse Professionals* seeking to integrate polyvagal principles into their practice. Our program welcomes those committed to advancing their professional journey through the lens of polyvagal theory. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or an emerging expert, this program offers a transformative experience that aligns with your professional aspirations.
- Licensed Psychologists
- Clinical Social Workers
- Licensed Professional Counselors
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Mental Health Counselors
- Occupational Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Speech and Language Pathologists
- Registered Nurses
- Physicians
- ICF Certified Coaches (ACC, PCC, MCC)
- Experienced Leadership Coaches
- Established Wellness Coaches
- Seasoned Executive Coaches
- Professional Development Specialists
- Riding Instructors
- Horse Trainers
*Note: Horse Professionals must be able to partner with an appropriate Mental Health Professional, Allied Health Professional, or Advanced Life Coach.
Prerequisites
- Active professional involvement or certification in any of the previously mentioned fields
- A minimum of 2 years of professional experience
- Dedication to professional growth
- Interest in polyvagal theory and its applications
Ideal Candidates Exhibit:
- Openness to learning new approaches
- Openness to questioning their assumptions
- Dedication to personal growth
- Professional humility and curiosity
- Respect for a variety of perspectives
- Commitment to ethical practice
Not Suitable For:
- Those who think they know everything
- People who are reluctant to examine their patterns and areas for improvement
- Individuals resistant to theoretical frameworks or new ideas
- Individuals seeking to validate existing practices without progress
- Practitioners who are unwilling to receive feedback
- Individuals with inflexible approaches to their work
- Those seeking quick solutions or certifications without depth
- Individuals primarily focused on personal healing rather than professional development
- Individuals who are unwilling to engage in collaborative learning environments
Program Overview
The Polyvagal Principles Experiential Learning (ProPEL) program allows you to operationalize polyvagal principles to deepen your understanding, develop authentic connections, and incorporate these principles into your professional work—with or without horses. This comprehensive program enhances your knowledge of the polyvagal tenets in both equine and human behavior, augmenting your existing practices while adhering to your industry’s professional standards.
Margie McDonald is a lifelong accomplished equestrian and horse trainer. She is trained in classical dressage and has applied the teachings to an approach that embodies compassion and connection. Her work has included promoting self-awareness and kindness between horses and humans. She has raised the conscious compassion of numerous equine enthusiasts.
Jaycee Dugard is a survivor of extreme trauma. She feels strongly that without animals in her world, she would not be the person she has become. Thankfully, her recovery included a team of four horses who remain in her life to this day. She has made it her life’s work to support the equine-human connection in tribute to her four teachers.
Payment Options:
- Early Bird Rate: $6,000 (Must register by July 15, 2025 and pay in full)
- Payment Plan: $550/month for 12 months
- Complete all program sessions
- Provide a work product
- Pass a qualifying exam
Upon completing the program, participants will be certified as PVEI Practitioners and may be listed on the Polyvagal Principles directory, at the participants option.
Program Components
The Polyvagal Principles Experiential Learning (ProPEL) program is a twelve (12) month long program that consists of three (3) in-person workshops, twelve (12) monthly Zoom (virtual) sessions, monthly self-enrichment, and six (6) peer-led Zoom (virtual) sessions.
WORKSHOP 1: Foundations of Polyvagal-Informed Practice (4 Days)
Location: PVEI Main Campus, Northern California
Hours: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM daily (20 contact hours)
Overall Workshop Goals:
- Establish a foundational understanding of Polyvagal Theory principles and practical applications
- Develop personal awareness of nervous system states and their impact on relationships
- Build essential skills in neuroception, co-regulation, and creating environments of safety
Day 1: Understanding Polyvagal Theory in Practice
Objectives:
- Identify the three primary autonomic states in Polyvagal Theory and their behavioral manifestations
- Practice recognizing personal nervous system cues and patterns
- Begin developing a vocabulary for describing autonomic states
- Establish a foundation of psychological safety within the learning community
- Apply observation skills to identify autonomic states in others
- Recognize subtle cues that indicate state shifts in real-time interactions
- Document and describe observable markers of ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal vagal states
- Integrate morning concepts through practical application and reflection
Day 2: Connecting Polyvagal Principles to Practice
Objectives:
- Explain how neuroception functions as our unconscious risk assessment system
- Identify key indicators of safety and threat in social environments
- Recognize how temperamental differences influence autonomic expression
- Articulate the relationship between felt safety and capacity for social engagement
- Demonstrate basic co-regulation techniques in dyadic exercises
- Apply theoretical concepts to specific case examples
- Provide constructive feedback on observed co-regulation dynamics
- Identify personal strengths and challenges in co-regulatory relationships
Day 3: Creating Safety and Connection
Objectives:
- Define the neurophysiological underpinnings of effective co-regulation
- Practice maintaining a presence during emotional activation
- Develop skills for working with different levels of nervous system activation
- Identify group dynamics that enhance or diminish feelings of safety
- Demonstrate basic facilitation skills that support group co-regulation
- Develop preliminary safety protocols for professional settings
- Identify key ethical considerations in polyvagal-informed practice
- Apply polyvagal concepts to complex case examples
Day 4: Integration and Application
Objectives:
- Demonstrate advanced skills in observing autonomic states
- Apply multiple polyvagal concepts in integrated practice sessions
- Provide specific, constructive feedback to peers
- Refine preliminary safety protocols based on new insights
- Present case examples incorporating polyvagal framework
- Collaborate on solutions to complex nervous system challenges
- Develop a personalized plan for continued learning and integration
- Articulate key learnings and next steps in polyvagal practice development
WORKSHOP 2: Advanced Practice Development (4 Days)
Location: PVEI Main Campus, Northern California
Hours: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM daily (20 contact hours)
Overall Workshop Goals:
- Deepen understanding of complex autonomic patterns in challenging contexts
- Develop advanced skills in working with activation and trauma responses
- Build competence in applying polyvagal principles to specialized populations
- Enhance professional integration of polyvagal theory across settings
Day 1: Deepening Polyvagal Understanding
Objectives:
- Identify polyvagal patterns in trauma responses across the autonomic hierarchy
- Recognize appeasement behaviors as adaptive survival responses
- Demonstrate proficiency with basic polyvagal assessment techniques
- Articulate the neurophysiological underpinnings of complex trauma responses
- Apply specific co-regulatory techniques based on autonomic state assessment
- Demonstrate skills for working with sympathetic activation
- Practice titration techniques for supporting regulated autonomic shifts
- Integrate concepts into embodied practice sessions
Day 2: Advanced Polyvagal Applications
Objectives:
- Identify subtle cues in prosody, facial expression, and posture that signal autonomic states
- Apply advanced principles of the social engagement system in professional contexts
- Demonstrate basic proficiency in reading micro-expressions as autonomic indicators
- Articulate the relationship between autonomic state and communication patterns
- Apply advanced polyvagal concepts to complex case examples
- Contribute meaningfully to group process discussions using a polyvagal framework
- Practice integration of multiple concepts in supervised exercises
- Demonstrate increased fluency in polyvagal-informed interventions
Day 3: Professional Integration
Objectives:
- Apply polyvagal principles to complex case management scenarios
- Integrate Master Herder model with polyvagal understanding of group dynamics
- Demonstrate advanced facilitation skills that promote co-regulation
- Identify ethical considerations specific to polyvagal-informed practice
- Apply polyvagal principles to conflict resolution scenarios
- Incorporate peer and instructor feedback into practice refinement
- Develop specialized protocols for specific professional contexts
- Demonstrate adaptability in approach based on autonomic assessment
Day 4: Practical Applications
Objectives:
- Provide polyvagal-informed consultation on complex cases
- Apply polyvagal principles to specialized populations (e.g., neurodivergent individuals)
- Develop risk management strategies using polyvagal framework
- Establish clear professional boundaries that support co-regulation
- Present complex cases using the integrated polyvagal framework
- Contribute meaningfully to a group consultation process
- Develop personalized integration plan for professional practice
- Strengthen professional community connections for ongoing support
WORKSHOP 3: Mastery and Integration (4 Days)
Location: PVEI Main Campus, Northern California
Hours: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM daily (20 contact hours)
Overall Workshop Goals:
- Achieve a mastery-level understanding of polyvagal theory applications
- Develop advanced clinical and professional skills in complex scenarios
- Integrate current research and emerging practices into an existing framework
- Establish capacity for leadership and innovation in polyvagal-informed work
Day 1: Advanced Theory Integration
Objectives:
- Analyze current research and its implications for polyvagal practice
- Identify complex nervous system patterns beyond basic autonomic states
- Demonstrate proficiency with advanced assessment methodologies
- Develop a strategic plan for continued professional development
- Present complex cases demonstrating sophisticated polyvagal understanding
- Design nuanced intervention strategies for challenging scenarios
- Provide expert consultation to colleagues on complex cases
- Integrate advanced theoretical concepts into practice approaches
Day 2: Mastery in Action
Objectives:
- Analyze interpersonal dynamics through multiple polyvagal lenses
- Identify complex communication patterns related to autonomic states
- Develop strategies for managing special situations requiring advanced skills
- Demonstrate leadership capabilities in creating environments of safety
- Analyze video or live demonstrations of complex polyvagal dynamics
- Apply master-level skills in supervised practice sessions
- Contribute expertise to sophisticated group process discussions
- Develop comprehensive integration plans for professional settings
Day 3: Professional Mastery
Objectives:
- Demonstrate mastery in applying polyvagal principles to complex cases
- Display advanced facilitation skills for diverse group settings
- Navigate complex ethical dilemmas using polyvagal framework
- Develop strategic plans for practice development and specialization
- Demonstrate mastery-level skills in supervised practice scenarios
- Provide expert consultation to peers on complex cases
- Refine specialized protocols for specific populations or settings
- Create comprehensive integration plans for professional practice
Day 4: Final Integration
Objectives:
- Present complex cases demonstrating mastery of polyvagal concepts
- Provide advanced demonstrations of specialized techniques
- Finalize professional development and implementation plans
- Strengthen professional community connections for ongoing support and growth
Monthly Zoom Session Learning Objectives
Each month of the 12 month ProPEL program, Dr. Bailey leads a 90-Minute Zoom (virtual) class. Participants will further develop their knowledge of practical applications of polyvagal principles through these interactive and engaging sessions. Participants must attend at least 10 of the 12 sessions live, in order to be eligible for certification.
Month 1) Integration of Workshop Learning
Time: October 13, 2025 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- Identify and document 3 key markers of the ventral vagal state
- Demonstrate two specific techniques for creating neuroceptive safety
- Document 3 examples of polyvagal theory observed in practice settings such as barns, offices, and nature
- Create a safety protocol incorporating four key workshop elements
Month 2) Cultivating Connection
Time: November 10, 2025 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- Execute three specific grounding techniques for self-regulation
- Demonstrate two methods for tracking nervous system alignment
- Apply four co-regulation strategies in practice sessions
- Create a personal regulation tracking sheet with five key indicators
Month 3) The Language of the Nervous System
Time: December 8, 2025 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- List 5 physical indicators of sympathetic activation
- Identify four behavioral signs of dorsal vagal response
- Document 3 co-regulation patterns observed
- Create an assessment checklist for nervous system state recognition
Month 4) Operationalizing Polyvagal Theory
Time: January 12, 2026 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- Create two complete session plans incorporating polyvagal theory
- Develop three progress note templates
- Demonstrate three methods for tracking client progress
- Design assessment tools for two different client types
Month 5) Trauma-Informed Practice
Time: February 2, 2026 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- List four key signs of trauma activation
- Demonstrate three containment strategies for trauma responses
- Create two trauma-informed session plans
- Develop safety protocols for three different scenarios
Month 6) Ethics and Standards
Time: March 9, 2026 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- List five ethical considerations
- Create three ethical guidelines
- Develop two risk management protocols
- Design decision-making framework
Month 7) Special Populations: Resist/ Refuse
Time: April 13, 2026 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- Design 3 group activities incorporating polyvagal principles
- List 4 strategies for managing group energy
- Create safety protocols for 2 different group scenarios
- Demonstrate 2 group regulation techniques
Month 8) Specialized Populations: First Responders
Time: May 4, 2026 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- Identify three specific considerations for each of 4 different populations
- Create two adapted activities for special needs clients
- Develop three population-specific safety protocols
- Design two assessment tools for specialized groups
Month 9) Advanced Integration
Time: June 8, 2026 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- Demonstrate three advanced facilitation techniques
- Create two complex case management plans
- Develop four advanced intervention strategies
- Design a professional framework incorporating five key elements
Month 10) Building Your Practice
Time: July 13, 2026 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- Create 3 program descriptions
- Develop two marketing materials
- Design intake process with four key components
- Establish three professional boundaries
Month 11) Research and Evidence
Time: August 17, 2026 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- Analyze two current research studies
- Design three outcome measurement tools
- Create a research-informed protocol
- Develop data collection methods
Month 12) Final Integration
Time: September 14, 2026 (@ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time)
Location: Zoom (Virtual)
Objectives:
- Present comprehensive case study
- Demonstrate integration of four key program elements
- Create two advanced practice protocols
- Develop three professional goals
Self-paced Enrichment
Delve into the deep connections between humans and horses through the principles of Polyvagal Theory, offering you the opportunity to engage with valuable resources at your own pace while enhancing your understanding of emotional safety and resilience in yourself and your equine partners.
Every month, you will be provided with a varying assortment of videos, articles, discussion questions, and other resources, which you can complete at your own pace. Material typically takes 6-8 hours to complete, each month.
Peer-led Group
Our unique peer-led group offers a nurturing space where individuals can explore the classroom lessons with the realities of their own experiences, fostering understanding through shared stories and compassionate listening, all while embracing the transformative principles of polyvagal theory. Here, you will find camaraderie and insight as you embark on a journey toward completing your ProPEL certification.
Six (6), 75 minute Zoom (virtual) sessions will be facilitated by a PVEI team member and will be hosted throughout the 12-month program. Dates will be set by the cohort. Topics will be surfaced by the cohort, with a focus on challenges, celebrations, and conundrums, in an effort to enhance and support the ProPEL community.
ProPEL Yourself to the Next Level
Space in the Polyvagal Principles Experiential Learning (ProPEL) program is limited and by application only.
Join Our Transformative Program Today
Ready to deepen your understanding of polyvagal principles and enhance your professional practice? Apply now to the Polyvagal Equine Institute’s comprehensive program and become a certified PVEI Practitioner. Connect with us to learn more about how this unique opportunity can elevate your career and enrich your interactions.