The framework behind the work

Our work is grounded in an evolving clinical and theoretical framework concerned with how complex human systems regulate, lose coherence, and restore it over time. While our work has included understanding and incorporating wisdom obtained with the development of the Polyvagal Theory, we have needed to move beyond that and collaborate with other colleagues who practice based theory development.

A central component of this framework involves Respiratory Profiling Analysis (RPA)—a signal-based analytic approach that examines respiratory patterning alongside other observable markers of regulation. Abdominal fluctuations reveal pulse, respiration, digestive activity and indeed, all of the pulsative rhythms of the body, most of which are yet unknown. Breath is an organizing signal that reflects broader system dynamics.