Jan is an author, teacher, and psychotherapist with more than 40 years of experience working with addiction and trauma. She is an adjunct lecturer at the University of Toronto and the director of Focusing on Borden, a psychotherapy and training centre. Jan presents internationally on trauma and addiction, and her most recent book: “Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model” has attracted praise from the likes of Gabor Maté, Stephen Porges, and Marc Lewis.

In this conversation, we discuss:

— Why it’s vital that we bring the body more and more into psychotherapy, particularly when working with trauma and addiction.

— How polyvagal theory can help us understand the “mechanism” underlying addictive behaviour

— The importance of looking at addictions as adaptive in their historical context

— How addictions can be thought of as “state regulation strategies” for the autonomic nervous system.

And more.

You can learn more about the great work Jan is doing by going to: www.janwinhall.com, and you can find her course with the Polyvagal Institute by going to bit.ly/jw-course.

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Jan Winhall, MSW, FOT is an author, teacher, and psychotherapist in Toronto, Canada. She is author of “Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model”, by Jan Winhall, Routledge, 2021. Jan is an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Social Work, University of Toronto and Co-Director of Borden Street Clinic, a psychotherapy and teaching centre. Jan is a Coordinator with The International Focusing Institute and Director of Focusing on Borden, a psychotherapy and training centre. Jan presents internationally on trauma and addiction.

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Interview Links:

— Jan’s book: https://amzn.to/3Du6eko

— Jan’s website: https://janwinhall.com

— Jan’s course with the Polyvagal Institute: https://bit.ly/jw-course

— Polyvagal Theory: A Very Simple Introduction: https://niallmckeever.com/polyvagal-theory-simple-introduction

— Polyvagal Theory & Trauma - Deb Dana: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-SVdQ-CHkA

— Revolutionising Addiction Treatment with The Felt Sense Polyvagal Model - Jan Winhall & Stephen W. Porges: https://bit.ly/jw-paper

3 Books Jan Recommends Every Therapist Should Read:

— Focusing - Eugene Gendlin: https://amzn.to/3WiAmYF

— Trauma and Recovery - Judith Herman: https://amzn.to/3FzWmsc

— The Pocket Guide to Polyvagal Theory - Dr Stephen Porges: https://amzn.to/3t6F52t