MaleSurvivor, a 26-year nonprofit dedicated to healing and advocacy for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse, presents a free Webinar of Recovery,  “From Dissociation & Flight/Fight to Safe & Social : Polyvagal Theory for Sexual Abuse Survivors” with Justin Sunseri, LMFT. The free online webinar is Tuesday, July 20, 2021, 8:30pm ET.

The keynote speaker, Justin Sunseri, a licensed marriage and family therapist, will break down the polyvagal theory, the autonomic nervous system and apply it to a host of relational issues facing many sexual abuse survivors of all genders.  The central theme of the webinar is on empowering survivors to learn how our body’s autonomic nervous system affects the “state” we are in and influences our internal narrative “story” in relating to ourselves and others. The hour-long webinar is free and is intended for survivors of childhood and adult sexual abuse and their loved ones, and counseling and treatment professionals.

Attendees will be able to submit questions to the panelists, respond to interactive polls, and share in a sense of community with other survivors.  Discussion and questioning will extend to personal experiences shared by panelists who have volunteered to share how polyvagal theory has contributed to their healing journeys.

Staying connected to context of sexual abuse, healing, and recovery, topics include:

• Brief overview of the autonomic nervous system
  • the primary states/ the Polyvagal Ladder –
    • safe/social
    • flight/fight
      • loss of executive control
    • Shutdown
      • dissociation
• How we respond to safety and danger
  • Unconscious
  • Hardwired into us
• Neuroception
  • Healthy
  • Unhealthy
  • Being stuck and how it relates to unhealthy neuroception
• The vagal brake
• “Story follows state”
  • the world is? And I am?
  • Trauma stories live in sympathetic and dorsal
• Reconnecting with our bodies
  • Mindfulness
  • Anchoring in the present moment
• Attendee Questions

Advance Registration Required

To register, click this link: “From Dissociation & Flight/Fight to Safe & Social : Polyvagal Theory for Sexual Abuse Survivors” to complete the online registration. This link opens a new browser tab. The free Webinar of Recovery series is funded by individual volunteer donations. Every dollar donated goes directly to supporting the free online MaleSurvivor Support Forum and 24/7 Chat.  A valid email address is needed to register. You will receive an email confirmation after registering and reminder emails prior to the webinar. Donations are welcome.

About Justin Sunseri, LMFT

Sunseri is host of Stuck Not Broken, a popular podcast dedicated to applying polyvagal theory to mental health, trauma, relationships, parenting, education and more.  His website is https://www.justinlmft.com/ and the Stuck Not Broken podcast is https://www.justinlmft.com/podcast 

About MaleSurvivor 

MaleSurvivor is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, public benefit organization committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment, research, education, advocacy, and activism.

Formed in 1995, MaleSurvivor has an international membership of nearly 15,000 registered members from over 230 countries in the world.  MaleSurvivor is dedicated to providing personalized support for men at every stage of the healing process. We facilitate dialogue among survivors, as well as between survivors and professional therapists, on our online sexual assault survivor support like a vibrant and moderated sexual abuse survivors support forum, online 24/7 chat and at in-person events. We provide educational resources that help empower them to process their past and look forward to a brighter future. And we do everything in a way that recognizes and respects the diversity of survivors and their allies. Learn more at: https://malesurvivor.org/about-malesurvivor/ 

Media Inquiries

Media Inquiries Contact: Ken Stockton, (734) 358-5567, [email protected]