Polyvagal-Informed Embodied Mindfulness™ (PIEM™) for Behavioral Health Professionals
at Nest Behavioral Health
Whether you work directly with your own clients or devote your energies to the management and operations of a behavioral health organization, you have probably found that your professional calling invites you to turn to yourself with the same compassion, care and mindful attention you are dedicated to fostering in others. But answering that invitation is not always easy. This is why we have created a specialized PIEM™ for Behavioral Health Professionals track, allowing you to learn the same mindfulness skills we teach our patients, in the company of other Behavioral Health Professionals like yourself.
The state of our nervous system affects our physiology, thoughts, actions, and capacity to connect. Whether mobilized for action, immobilized in shutdown, or ready for social engagement, the state of our nervous system influences how we think, feel, and behave, which in turn informs the stories we tell ourselves and each other. In short: our stories follow our state.
Polyvagal-Informed Embodied Mindfulness™ (PIEM™) is a researched-informed protocol for integrating the brain-body complex to foster stability through increased awareness and attunement to our nervous system patterns. PIEM™ is not just a set of tools, but a unique, integrative protocol taught and practiced over eight weekly one-hour live online sessions.
Incorporating decades of research on the intersection of neuroscience and mindfulness-based interventions, the PIEM™ protocol offers patients the opportunity to manage emotions, mitigate anxiety, and engage in prosocial behaviors that help regulate the nervous system. PIEM™ empowers participants to ask themselves - and answer - the questions: What story is my body telling me? And what do I need right now? Patients resourced through PIEM™ are more fully able to discern what is happening in the present.
Our bodies are continually telling us a story. If only we could listen with curiosity and compassion.
What To Expect From a PIEM™ for Behavioral Health Professionals?
Research shows contemplative practices are life-enhancing: they foster greater nervous system stability and adaptability, setting us up to cultivate successful long-term relationships with self and others. PIEM™ not only creates the capacity for change, it actually affects change in the moment. The program's impact is direct and immediate - participants report experiencing benefits in real time. These practices also build an indispensable foundation to benefit more deeply from other elements of Nest’s multidimensional therapeutic approach.
Although PIEM™ is conducted in a group, it is a highly individualized experiential practice including mindfulness, gentle movement, breathwork, self-massage, non-verbal gestures, and compassionate inquiry. Participants track the impact of the session using our online health tracker to assess their physiological state and feelings of safety or threat.
The PIEM™ protocol is invitational. Participants are encouraged to practice autonomy and agency at each session by engaging in only those exercises that feel appropriate for them in the moment. PIEM™ does not require special equipment and the skills learned can be practiced in session, at home, at work, at school, and just about anywhere.
The way the group is structured, there is very little personal self disclosure by participants, so you don’t need to worry about there possibly being other professionals in the room whom you know. Similarly, we ask that participants not use the PIEM™ group time as a networking opportunity.
Watch This Short Video About PIEM™
PIEM Testimonials
Having worked with Maria Kratsios for nearly a decade, I trust her compassion and insight implicitly — so when she and Stephanie D'Angelo launched their PIEM (Polyvagal Informed Embodied Mindfulness) group, I eagerly joined. Over 8 weeks, I gained practical tools to recognize my nervous system patterns, manage my emotions, and stay grounded in the present moment. Stephanie's gentle approach empowered each of us to truly self-regulate, and I find myself drawing on these skills in daily life.
- Scott Apgar, Vice President of Clinical Outreach, Choice House Colorado
“My experience with PIEM was a grounding reminder of the necessity of self-care.
As a provider with a busy practice and hectic life, tuning into self as instrument is critical to my health and wellbeing. PIEM helped me to begin my day with an intentionality that gave me, and hopefully those I encountered compassionate presence.
I highly recommend.”
-Betsy Auray, Trauma-Informed Private Practice Therapist based in Manhattan
PIEM™ FAQ’s for Behavioral Health Professionals
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One main goal of traditional mindfulness and meditation is to bring awareness to the present moment by finding an anchor (breath, body, etc) and then noticing the pattern of discursive thinking that takes us out of the present moment. While the awareness skills learned in these traditional practices can be very useful foundations, research suggests that for those of us who may have experienced a lot of adversity, mind training alone can elicit reactivity in the body and therefore not be appropriate for all people. As a result, some people have tried and then become turned off from “mindfulness” practice generally. PIEM™ addresses these concerns with a protocol that enhances nervous system stability, and flexibility, building the capacity to tolerate what somatic awareness reveals. With enhanced nervous system stability and flexibility, PIEM™ practitioners develop greater capacity to respond effectively to their own needs and those of the people around them.
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Group experiences can be challenging for a wide range of reasons, all of which this group is designed to address. The group is highly structured, making it easier for participants who don’t like unpredictability. At the same time, the exercises are inherently flexible - modifications are offered to help each participant find the “just right” exercise for them. Participation is invitational - meaning nothing is required and you cannot “fail” at the protocol. If you are someone who sometimes experiences difficulty “tracking”, the facilitator assures no one is left out. While everyone’s overall experience will be enhanced by hearing from other group members, you’re not required to share your own thoughts with the group.
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Time is our most valuable resource, and it should be allocated thoughtfully. So, what is more valuable to invest our time in than the well-being of ourselves and those we love? While it might seem counterintuitive, pausing for self-awareness and mindfully responding to our physical and emotional needs ends up saving us time due to reduced stress, distraction and unproductive worry. Designed as only eight online hours from the convenience of your home or office, the PIEM™ protocol has been shown to be one of the simplest and most efficient ways to improve your relationship with yourself and others. The nervous system stability it engenders will also help you make better use of your weekly one-on-one or family therapy.
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No, this is not a training program. Rather, you will be learning to practice PIEM in your own life. However, we have found that those of us who regularly practice this type of mindfulness increase our attunement to others’ nervous systems as well as our own. As a result, you can expect to be increasingly aware of when your clients would benefit from greater ANS self-regulation skills and to find selective opportunities to introduce these skills to them. Furthermore, you will have the confidence to refer your clients to Nest’s PIEM Group, knowing what they will gain by attending.
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The cost of PIEM™ for Professionals at Nest reflects the extensive research and practice history that supported its development, the high degree of specialization of the facilitator, the intentional integration of the practice into the course of participants’ therapy, and the small size of our live groups, which are capped at ten participants, allowing the facilitator to give individualized attention to each group member. As a health care professional you can subscribe to the 8-session cycle for $895, our Professional Courtesy Rate, which is approximately $112 per session. We also offer an additional discount to organizations who purchase packages of 4 or more participants for their employees, demonstrating their commitment to foster nervous system attunement as part of their corporate culture. If cost is an important concern, let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
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Since PIEM™ is an integrated protocol taught over eight sessions, you must commit to the entire program. However, if you miss a session, you are welcome to make it up the next time it comes up in the cycle, availability permitting. We offer one make-up session without charge as a courtesy, while additional make-up sessions are charged at the full rate.
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PIEM™ for Health Professionals at Nest Behavioral Health is currently available to people working in the behavioral health profession, including those in direct service as well as those in behavioral healthcare administration, outreach and operations. This group is ideal for therapists, counselors, sober and mental health coaches, registered dieticians, psychiatrists, nurses, outreach professionals, administrators and behavioral health technicians. We do not require participants in our Health Professionals cohort to be in concurrent psychotherapy, but we do ask that you fill out a short questionnaire about your behavioral health status prior to registering, for us to assess the suitability of this group for your needs.
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This is a virtual group that meets several times a year for eight one-hour weekly sessions, typically once per quarter. The group typically meets on Tuesdays, either early in the morning or in the evening. Prior to the start of each cohort, we ask our participants about their scheduling needs and adjust the time of day accordingly. To find out when the next cohort is launching, contact us here.
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Yes, upon completion of the PIEM group, you will be eligible for The Embodied Mindful Nest, an on-line mindfulness community that meets weekly for 30 minutes for a brief, facilitated PIEM practice followed by group discussion about participants’ mindfulness experience.
Stephanie D’Angelo MA, CMT-P
Embodied Mindfulness Consultant, Nest Behavioral Health
Meet The Developer
Stephanie D’Angelo is the developer of the PIEM™ protocol and facilitates the PIEM™ Group at Nest. As a clinically informed Certified Trauma Support Specialist with training in Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness, somatic regulation strategies, embodiment, and Polyvagal Theory, Stephanie’s goal is to empower all people with the skills to support self-regulation so they may experience a greater sense of internal stability no matter what storm they may be facing. Stephanie is certified to teach Mindfulness by UC Berkeley’s Awareness Training Institutes, has a BA in Psychology, and holds a Master’s degree in Mindfulness Studies.
Stephanie’s early career serving economically disadvantaged, mentally, and physically challenged populations at Somerset County Board of Social Services fueled her passion for bringing a polyvagal and trauma-informed lens to traditional mindfulness practices for people with a history of adversity. Today, Stephanie uses this lens to create, implement, and facilitate polyvagal and trauma-informed programming for the Polyvagal Institute. In addition to her work at Nest, Stephanie is the Director of Community Development at PVI, where she is focused on empowering participants with the tools to alleviate suffering and promote flourishing communities.