Addiction, Attachment & the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model with Jan Winhall (193)

Many answers to our challenges are already inside of us.

In today’s episode, find new perspectives on how culture and trauma affect our navigation within the world. Using bottom-up approaches, she explains how addictions are regulation strategies and provides tools to deeper connect to our nervous systems and ourselves. Join social workers Sue Marriott and Jan Winhall as they explore Winhall’s “felt sense” model, where she blends neuroception and interoception through a polyvagal lens.

Jan Winhall is a highly experienced therapist and author who has dedicated her life to understanding and challenging dominant structures. From her years of group therapy and studying with figures like Dr. Stephen Porges, she has combined her findings into her recent book Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Plyvagal Model: A Bottom-Up Approach.

“Felt sense is all about the capacity in the body to notice what we’re experiencing and to carry us forward in the direction of healing and growth.” – Jan Winhall

About Jan Winhall

Jan Winhall, MSW, FOT is an author, teacher, and psychotherapist. She is an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Social Work at the University of Toronto. She is the director of Focusing on Borden, a psychotherapy and training center. Jan presents internationally on trauma and addiction. You can find many resources for both clinicians and clients on her website, including videos, PDFs (see below) and training opportunities. Time Stamps for the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model

3:47 – Tying the autonomic nervous system to addiction

6:02 – Breaking down bottom-up processing

8:13 – The relationship between interoception and neuroception

14:17 – Rethinking the term “sex addiction”

18:46 – Neuroception temperature example

21:16 – Introducing the intervening variable

27:53 – The six F’s and their branches

36:01 – The learning model of addiction

41:34 – Winhall’s perspective on polyvagal theory

Resources for the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model

Treating Addiction & Trauma Together – Youtube Video

Trauma and Recovery – Book by Judith Herman

Jan Winhall Models 6 F’s client and clinician version

Revolutionizing Addiction Treatment with The Felt Sense Polyvagal Model – Article

International Body Psychotherapy Journal

Jan Winhall Website

The Conspiracy of Silence – Book by Sandra Butler

The Politics of Giving Therapy – Eugene T. Gendlin, Ph.D.

Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D. – Website

Doug Braun-Harvey, Fellowship in Sexual Compulsive Behavior – Website

Focusing on Borden – Jan Winhall

Other Relevant Therapist Uncensored Episodes

https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/tu18-polyvagal-theory-understanding-irrational-threat-responses-in-relationships/

https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/tu93-polyvagal-theory-in-action-the-practice-of-body-regulation-with-dr-stephen-porges/

https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/tu94-the-science-of-self-regulation-breaking-down-polyvagal-theory/

https://therapistuncensored.com/episodes/tu110-story-follows-state-investigating-polyvagal-theory-with-guest-deb-dana/

CLICK here for Jan Winhall Transcripts – Episode 192

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