Polyvagal Institute

Dr. Niki Elliott is a clinical professor and director of the Center for Embodied Equity and Neurodiversity at the University of San Diego. A leading voice in neurodiversity and trauma-informed education, she has trained thousands of teachers, school counselors, and helping professionals worldwide to better support children with learning differences, mental health diagnoses, trauma histories, and behavioral challenges. Her work integrates educational neuroscience, polyvagal theory, mind-body practices and embodied equity to build emotionally safe, inclusive learning environments. Dr. Elliott serves on the Board of Directors and teaching faculty of the Polyvagal Institute and is the author of the forthcoming book Heart-Centered Connection: 7 Essential Skills for Helping Neurodiverse and Marginalized Children Thrive.

Arielle Schwartz, PhD, is a psychologist, internationally sought-out teacher, yoga instructor, and leading voice in the healing of PTSD and complex trauma. She is the author of eight books, including The Complex PTSD Workbook, EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology, and The Post Traumatic Growth Guidebook. Dr. Schwartz is an accomplished teacher who guides therapists in the application of EMDR, somatic psychology, parts work therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions for the treatment of trauma and complex PTSD. She has a depth of understanding, passion, kindness, compassion, joy, and a succinct way of speaking about very complex topics. She is the founder of the Center for Resilience Informed Therapy in Boulder, Colorado where she maintains a private practice providing psychotherapy, supervision, and consultation. With over twenty years as a therapeutic yoga teacher, Dr. Schwartz believes that the journey of trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart.

Dr. George Thompson is a visionary child psychiatrist with over 30 years’ experience helping children reclaim trust, dignity, and self-mastery. Drawing on deep clinical expertise, cutting-edge neuroscience, and fierce humanity, he designs healing communities where even the most wounded children and their families can thrive. A national leader in trauma-informed systems and co-author of Working with Relational Trauma in Children’s Residential Care and Polyvagal Theory and the Developing Child, his work has transformed how care systems understand and respond to trauma—grounded in the nervous system’s innate drive for safety and connection. Dr. Thompson blends rigorous science with profound empathy—and holds an unwavering belief in the heroic potential of every child to heal.

Along with his two partners, Chris Perkins and Rod Andrus, Dr. Thompson is co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of the Velocity Accelerated Treatment Center, a new type of psychiatric residential program which combines intensive inpatient treatment with an integrated aftercare model designed for long-term success. The Center, located outside of Springfield, Missouri, is scheduled to begin accepting patients in the fall of 2025.

Michael Allison is a globally recognized performance consultant, educator, and author who specializes in applying Polyvagal Theory to enhance health, resilience, and performance. He has trained hundreds of consultants and coaches as Play Zone Pros©, a methodology endorsed by Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D. Michael's expertise is sought by elite professionals across major sports organizations, including MLB, NBA, ATP, WTA, FIFA, ITF, NCAA, and others. As a contributing author for Psychology Today, he explores the physiological, psychological, and social challenges of performing in high-stakes environments in his platform titled "The Pressure Paradox."

Dr. Niloufer Merchant is a former Professor at St. Cloud State University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, where she trained mental health counselors for 28 years. She is a Licensed Psychologist, currently in private practice in Minneapolis, MN. In previous years she has also worked at community mental health agencies and served as Clinical consultant at a long-term adolescent residential treatment. Her areas of specialization include working with a variety of populations dealing with complex trauma related to war, domestic violence, sexual abuse, childhood trauma and attachment, with a specific focus on trauma related to racial/cultural issues. She is certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and trained in a variety of mind-body practices (Brainspotting, Emotional Freedom Techniques) and mindfulness-based approaches. She brings 35 plus years of experience working in a variety of contexts -as a therapist, trainer, teacher, board member and community activist. She has held leadership positions at her university, and state and national professional organizations (for eg. American Counseling Association, Association for Specialists in Group Work) and presented and published widely on the topic of multicultural issues and cultural competencies.

Jan Winhall, M.S.W.  P.I.F.O.T. is an author, teacher and seasoned trauma and addiction psychotherapist. She is a Course Partner with the Polyvagal Institute where she offers a training program based on her book Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model (Routledge, 2021).  Her newest book is 20 Embodied Practices for Healing Trauma and Addiction: Using the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model (Norton, 2025). She is also a contributing author to Somatic Oriented Therapies (Norton, 2025). She is an Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Toronto and a Certifying Co-Ordinator with the International Focusing Institute. Jan is Co-Director of the Borden Street Clinic where she supervises graduate students. She enjoys teaching all over the world. Jan is founder of the FSPM Institute.

Mel Pohl, MD, DFASAM is a Family Practitioner. He is the Chief Medical Officer of The Pointe Malibu Recovery Center. He is certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM) Dr. Pohl is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

He is the author of several books including A Day without Pain, revised edition and The Pain Antidote - Stop Suffering from Chronic Pain, Avoid Addiction to Painkillers, and Reclaim Your Life. Dr. Pohl filmed a show for PBS on chronic pain which aired around the country in 2016.

Tracy Murnan Stackhouse, MA, OTR is the co-founder and executive director of Developmental FX (DFX) in Denver, Colorado, a non-profit organization providing clinical and training services to engage and elevate pediatric therapeutic practice. She is a leading pediatric occupational therapist (OT) involved in clinical treatment, research, mentoring, and training regarding OT intervention for persons with neurodevelopmental disorders, especially Fragile X Syndrome and autism. Tracy has a Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University and found her work with Eleanor Gilfoyle pivotal in her training. She has a master’s degree in developmental psychology/ developmental cognitive neuroscience from the University of Denver and was grateful to work with Dr. Sally Rogers during her research training. She is NDT trained, and SIPT Certified with advanced autism training including DIR/Floortime, TEACCH, and the Early Start Denver Model. Tracy also has training in craniosacral therapy and myofascial release, as well as Therapeutic Listening and Dr. Stephen Porges’ Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP). Most recently Tracy has been focused on incorporating trauma-informed care, Theraplay, and interpersonal neurobiological/relationship-based approaches, as well as Germer and Neff’s self-compassion into her work. Tracy has written several book chapters on sensory integration and neurodevelopmental disorders and teaches nationally and internationally on sensory integration, autism, Fragile X, and related topics. Tracy enjoys mentoring and spends many hours a month mentoring clinicians from around the world to improve their clinical reasoning skills.

Dr. Amber Elizabeth L. Gray is a Dance/Movement Therapist, Somatic and
Human Rights Psychotherapist; yoga, Continuum and Gyrotonic® teacher/trainer who works with survivors of war, torture, human rights abuses and historical trauma and oppression, in the US and in active and post conflict zones, refugee camps, and disasters. Equally activist, artist, advocate, author and therapist, her clinical, healing, educational and organizational work endeavors to promote reciprocity and empowerment, and incite meaningful change. She brings her Polyvagal, Heart and Spirit-informed Right to Embody somatic human rights
framework and Body of Change eco-somatic regenerative retreats to communities of therapists, artists, global citizens and change makers world-wide. Amber originated Polyvagal-informed Somatic and Dance/Movement Therapy through 25 years immersive mentoring and exploration of Polyvagal Theory. This work is a survivor-centered, multi-cultural and social justice framework that reflects many years of grounded theory co-inquiry with her clients to understand how Polyvagal Theory promotes restoration and healing in the body-heart-mind-spirit for survivors of egregious human rights violations. She has been teaching this work globally since 2003 and publishes about it frequently.