Episode 26- Dr Rebecca Bailey- Polyvagal Equine Assisted Therapy & SSP for Horses.

It is with the utmost pleasure I speak with Rebecca Bailey PhD. Polyvagal Equine Institute (PVEI) Founder.

Dr . Bailey is a leading trauma therapist who specializes in complex case scenarios. She has over 30 years of experience in the field and continues to be dedicated to the notion that authenticity, common sense, and kindness are the most important elements of effective treatment. She is a lifelong equestrian and animal lover who continues to believe animals, in particular horses, have much to teach humans about curiosity and compassion.

She is the author of two books: Safe Kids: Smart Parents and Equine Connections: Polyvagal Principles as well as articles on Polyvagal principles in the courtroom and the application of equine interventions to a variety of populations. 

I loved speaking with Rebecca and am so looking forward to our ongoing collaboration about implementing SSP with stressed and anxious horses as well as horse and rider connection. I hope you enjoy our conversation, some of the topics we discuss include:

• How Equines were pivotal in her work with supporting Jaycee Dugard who was abducted for 18 years
• Rethinking Stockholm Syndrome to a new "Appeasement" Framework- Published paper the result of a collaboration including Dr Stephen Porges- see link below
• Forming the Polyvagal Equine Institute with Co-Founders Jaycee Dugard and Margie McDonald
• What is it about horses that make them an ideal collaborator to help humans learn about their nervous systems?
• Horses' entire existence is neuroception
• How PVEI differs from other equine-assisted therapies
• Carousel analogy as another metaphor option from Deb Dana's Polyvagal Ladder
• Polyvagal Equine work- moving away from talk therapy to body-based work
• Polyvagal principles working with Law Enforcement and Judges.
• The lessons practitioners can learn about their own nervous systems from Equine work to help them better support clients
• Horses as conduits for connection
• Horses and "mind reading"- or highly tuned neuroceptive systems
• "Sensing in"- how horses help teach us humans to be attuned to other humans
• SSP for horses to help decrease anxiety- an exciting project we plan to collaborate on together- contact us for more information- joanne@integratedlistening.com.au
• Our personal experience using the SSP with our horses
• Training opportunities at PVEI

Link to Polyvagal Equine Institute

Appeasement: replacing Stockholm syndrome as a definition of a survival strategy
Rebecca Bailey, Jaycee Dugard, Stefanie F. Smith & Stephen W. Porges
Article: 2161038 | Received 25 Jul 2022, Accepted 07 Dec 2022, Published online: 19 Jan 2023

Books

Equine Connections: Polyvagal Principles