Polyvagal-Informed Physical Therapy
Integrate nervous system regulation into your rehabilitation practice
4 days · 8 hours each
$600 USD
24 CEU hours
The problem your patients bring you
They have done the exercises. They have shown up for every session. Their MRI is unremarkable. And yet the pain persists, the guarding never releases, the progress plateaus.
The tissue is only part of the story. This course gives you a structured, evidence-based framework to address the nervous system that holds the tension in the tissue.
What you will learn
Map your patient's autonomic state (ventral vagal, sympathetic, dorsal vagal) within the first 10 minutes of assessment
Adapt manual therapy, exercise prescription, and patient education based on real-time nervous system state
Recognize when "resistance to treatment" is actually a neurobiological freeze response, and know what to do about it
Use co-regulation as a clinical tool to improve compliance and outcomes
Integrate polyvagal principles safely within your scope of practice as a physical therapist
Who this is for
Licensed physical therapists, physiotherapists, and rehab specialists
Movement professionals (Pilates, yoga therapists) with a clinical referral base
Occupational therapists working with chronic pain or trauma populations
PTs in neuro-rehab, chronic pain, pelvic health, or pediatric settings
Not for: professionals seeking personal therapy, or those wanting a quick certificate without clinical application.
Curriculum
Day 1
Foundations of the polyvagal theory in rehab context; autonomic mapping tools for the PT clinic
Day 2
Co-regulation and the therapeutic alliance; working with guarded, protective sympathetic states
Day 3
Dorsal vagal shutdown — addressing freeze, collapse, dissociation; case formulation with your current approach
Day 4
Practicum preparation and case presentations
Includes a detailed clinician manual and assessment templates.
Dr. Pierre Khazen, DPT, MBA, MHyp
Founder & Director, ANA Institute · PEDro Representative Lebanon · Master Hypnotist, Cal Banyan Institute
10+ years university teaching. 200+ therapists trained across the Middle East. I built this course because I kept seeing PTs burn out trying to “fix” bodies that were primarily screaming in a language the nervous system understood.
Investment
Full tuition
$600 USD
Alumni rate
15% off
For ANA Institute graduates
Includes 24 CEU hours, clinician manual, assessment templates, alumni community access.
What graduates say
“I stopped fighting my chronic pain patients and started reading their nervous systems. My outcomes improved within weeks.”
“The practicum was where it clicked. Feeling the shift from sympathetic to ventral vagal in real time changed how I touch patients.”
“Finally, a course that respects the science of physical therapy while opening the door to what we have been ignoring.”
FAQ
Do I need prior training in polyvagal theory or trauma?
No. We build from the ground up — you need a clinical license and an open mind.
Is this recognized for continuing education?
Yes — 24 CEU hours, certificate issued by ANA Institute, accredited by IPHM.
Can I use this in my country?
The framework applies globally; scope-of-practice considerations for different jurisdictions are discussed.
How is this different from a general trauma-informed course?
Built specifically for physical therapists — every tool fits inside a standard PT assessment and treatment session.