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Supporting Parental and Caregiver Mental Health in Therapy Using a Polyvagal Approach
About the Program: Supporting Parental and Caregiver Mental Health in Therapy Using a Polyvagal Approach
In August 2024, Dr. Vivek Murthy, the United States Surgeon General, released an advisory that underscores the vital role of parents and caregivers, emphasizing the necessity of reducing their stress and improving their mental health and well-being. (Murthy, 2024). Parents have been more likely to report experiencing high level of stress compared to the rest of the population (American Psychological Association, 2024). Throughout the experience of raising children, caregivers encounter increased stressors such as financial pressures, time constraints, worries about their children’s health and safety, feelings of isolation, and struggles with managing technology and cultural expectations (Murthy, 2024). Due to prolonged stress, psychologists play a crucial role in supporting parents/caregivers by providing education on stress management, teaching coping skills, and implementing trauma-informed practices to improve overall well-being among parents/caregivers. One trauma informed approach that can equip parents/caregivers with practical strategies to improve responses to stress comes from Polyvagal Theory. Polyvagal Theory describes the primary role of the autonomic nervous system in shaping thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and beliefs (Porges, 2007). The foundation of wellbeing, from a polyvagal lens, comes from the ability to flexibly respond to stress rather than reacting and remaining stuck in a survival state (Porges, 2007; Bailey, et al., 2020). Given the immense flexibility needed in parenting and the ongoing stressors that come with it, a polyvagal-informed therapeutic approach can provide valuable support and co-regulation for parents/caregivers. This approach helps reduce feelings of isolation while offering practical skills to manage stress, ultimately enhancing wellness and improving parental mental health.
Participants will be able to:
1. Identify the unique factors that contribute to parental and caregiver stress and well-being.
2. Describe Polyvagal Theory, its organizing principles, and its application in a therapeutic context.
3. Examine the connection between parental and caregiver stress and mental health.
4. Apply polyvagal-informed and evidence-based interventions to enhance parental mental health in clinical practice
Level: Intermediate: Assumes post-doctoral education status and general familiarity with topic.
Audience: Designed for psychologists and other mental health professionals.
The Minnesota Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Minnesota Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
If you need accommodations to make this event accessible, please notify the MPA office at (952) 928-4657 or info@mnpsych.org.
Ashley Gulden, PsyD, LP is the owner of Healthy Minds, LLC, a psychology practice dedicated to enhancing mental health outcomes for parents and caregivers, specifically in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and PTSD/trauma-related issues. She earned her PsyD degree from the University of St. Thomas and holds certifications in Mind-Body Medicine, polyvagal-informed clinical practice, and “Good Inside” parenting strategies. She is also trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy and utilizes other trauma informed evidence-based therapies in her clinical practice. Dr. Gulden has a decade of experience working at a local hospital-based outpatient clinic, where she provided outpatient individual therapy, intensive group therapy, and facilitated mind-body focused IOP and PHP groups. She also served for several years as the advanced psychology practicum coordinator and provided supervision to practicum students and predoctoral interns. Dr. Gulden is a longstanding adjunct faculty member at the University of St. Thomas. Beyond her clinical work, she has published research on utilizing mind-body and yoga approaches to mitigate the effects of interpersonal trauma.
The speaker has indicated no conflicts of interest to report.
