Workshop Recording: Somatic Nervous SystemMastery
In our recent Nervous System Mastery workshop, participants joined from across the globe to explore innovative approaches to understanding and supporting the nervous system. Co-led by Adam Carney, cofounder of Unconventional Therapy and the Institute for Integrative Trauma, alongside Mollie Mendoza, this online session gathered healers, therapists, and individuals seeking personal growth through enhanced nervous system resilience.
Adam opened the session by sharing the importance of moving beyond outdated concepts of “fight-or-flight” (sympathetic) and “rest-and-digest” (parasympathetic) states. Instead, he introduced polyvagal theory, a modern framework that brings a nuanced view of how our bodies respond to stress and safety. Polyvagal theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, helps explain how the nervous system operates through modes such as social engagement, freeze, and fight-or-flight, thus providing a more layered understanding of human reactions to trauma, stress, and connection.
This more comprehensive view of the nervous system suggests that achieving balance isn’t just about toggling between “on” or “off” states. Instead, optimal nervous system function is about being “attuned” — a dynamic, responsive state that allows us to meet life’s challenges without getting stuck in hypervigilance or lethargy. This perspective challenges conventional views of the nervous system and invites practitioners to look beyond simplistic models toward an understanding that honors the system’s complexity.
To embody these ideas, Mollie introduced the participants to the fascial system—an often-overlooked web of connective tissue that communicates with the nervous system and can store tension, memory, and trauma. Mollie’s work emphasizes how intentional movement can help release fascia, fostering a deeper sense of ease and alignment within the body. She then led the group in a guided practice that invited participants to connect with their bodies and the sensations within, using a series of movements and breathing exercises to enhance somatic awareness and support nervous system regulation.
One of the session’s highlights was a 20-minute guided movement practice, where participants engaged in a gentle shaking exercise to stimulate the nervous system and connect with inner sensations. Mollie explained that such practices allow individuals to access their body’s “intuition,” an essential tool for self-regulation and resilience. This embodied approach to nervous system care provides practitioners with firsthand experience in techniques they can share with clients, fostering greater nervous system resilience and adaptability.
The workshop also served as an exciting introduction to Unconventional Therapy, a new project created by Adam, Mollie, and Christian Gonzalez, aimed at creating community and ongoing learning opportunities for practitioners and individuals. Through both online and in-person events, Unconventional Therapy seeks to transform the therapeutic landscape, offering resources that encourage proactive nervous system health and community support.
By the end of the workshop, participants left with not only new insights into polyvagal theory and the fascial system but also practical tools to bring these concepts into their personal lives and professional practices. For those looking to deepen their journey into somatic work and nervous system resilience, this was a transformative start.