Understanding Acute Stress and How to Regulate the Nervous System

 1. Explain the relationship between the Polyvagal theory and co-regulation.

2. Describe nervous system activation and regulation processes.

3. Observe the Acute Stress Syndrome Stabilization (ASSYST) procedure in a group setting.

4. Explain how to keep a physiological non-anxious presence to help the clients co-regulate.

Kelly Smyth-Dent

Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and the CEO of Scaling Up. She has conducted trainings on the EMDR-PRECI, EMDR-IGTP and the ASSYST in France, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, India and throughout the United States. She is a published researcher and a member of Dr. Jarero's research team in Mexico. In her role as a humanitarian worker, she has partnered with organizations, such as Action Against Hunger, Fortify Rights, and Innovative Humanitarian Solutions, to provide EMDR therapy and advanced trainings to their staff and clients. Kelly was a member of the team that provided rapid response interventions within days after the August 3, 2019 domestic terrorist attack in El Paso, Texas. Her specialty area is populations living with ongoing traumatic stress. When Kelly is not traveling, she sees clients in her private practice in Reno, Nevada.