This is the second presentation of a two-part series. The first presentation was held in February 2025 entitled “What is Polyvagal Theory? Applications for Navigating Stress & Resilience in the Legal Profession” which provides a helpful foundation to continue this conversation.
This latest session is designed to provide legal professionals with valuable insights into how understanding and applying Polyvagal Theory can enrich their professional skills, promote integrity and resilience in their legal practice.
Polyvagal Theory, developed by scientist and researcher Dr. Stephen Porges, revolutionizes our understanding of the autonomic nervous system by highlighting how its three key branches—ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal vagal—affect our responses to stress, safety, and social engagement. This presentation provides insights into how our physiological states influence emotional regulation and interpersonal connections which can significantly impact a lawyer’s ability to handle challenging situations in professional and personal settings.
Watch now for:
- A brief overview of polyvagal theory and how the autonomic nervous system influences stress, resilience, and social engagement which is crucial for legal professionals
- A fresh framework through which lawyers can better understand and achieve best ethical practices
- A discussion about supports to enable lawyers to enhance resilience through a deeper understanding of the nervous system and polyvagal theory
RELATED RESOURCES
VIDEOS
Stephen Porges: What Is the Polyvagal System
Stephen Porges: Helping Clients Regulate Distressing Emotions
BOOKS
The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation by Stephen W. Porges – This foundational text delves deeply into the science behind the theory and its implications.
The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe by Stephen W. Porges – A more accessible version of the core tenets of Polyvagal Theory, offering practical insights.
Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection by Deb Dana – This book provides practical exercises to apply Polyvagal Theory for enhancing safety and connection in therapy and everyday life.
The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation by Deb Dana – Focuses on applying the theory in therapeutic settings to help clients achieve emotional regulation.
Loving What Is by Byron Katie is a self-help book that teaches readers how to relieve suffering by questioning their thoughts and beliefs. The book offers a simple yet powerful technique to help us find inner peace and freedom from mental anguish.
Peak Mind: Find Your Focus. Own Your Attention. Invest 12 Minutes a Day by Amishi P. Jha. STOP FOR A MOMENT. Are you here right now? Is your focus on this page? Or is it roaming elsewhere, to the past or future, to a worry, to your to-do list, or to your phone? Whether you’re simply browsing, talking to friends, or trying to stay focused in an important meeting, you can’t seem to manage to hang on to your attention. No matter how hard you try, you’re somewhere else. The consequence is that you miss out on 50 percent of your life–including the most important moments. The good news: There’s nothing wrong with you–your brain isn’t broken. The human brain was built to be distractible. The even better news: You can train your brain to pay attention more effectively. Stay with me a little longer and soon you will be able to: Focus without all the struggle. Take back your attention from the pull of distraction. And function at your peak, for all that truly matters in your life.
Whistling Vivaldi: How Stereotypes Affect Us and What We Can Do (Issues of Our Time) by Claude M. Steele. Steele, who has been called “one of the few great social psychologists,” offers a vivid first-person account of the research that supports his groundbreaking conclusions on stereotypes and identity. He sheds new light on American social phenomena from racial and gender gaps in test scores to the belief in the superior athletic prowess of black men and lays out a plan for mitigating these “stereotype threats” and reshaping American identities.
ARTICLES
Meet Our Presenters
Stacey Best, Esq.
Executive Director, LCLMA
Stacey A. L. Best, Esq. joined LCL in 2021 as the Executive Director and, in that role is responsible for the strategic direction, daily operation, and management of the staff of both LCL and LOMAP. Stacey represents and participates with key stakeholders at various agencies and Committees of the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC), including the SJC Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being, the BBO, and the Standing Advisory Committee on Professionalism to improve the quality of the legal profession.
Stacey joined LCL after spending 18 years with the Board of Bar Overseers (BBO) and the Office of Bar Counsel (OBC). Most recently Stacey served as the Acting Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the BBO, a newly created role. At the BBO, Stacey investigated alleged violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct and litigated all stages of the disciplinary proceedings including all appeals.
Stacey began her career as a staff attorney in the trial division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS). She tried cases at the district and superior court levels representing indigent clients charged with felonies. Stacey is also a former clinical instructor at the Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) at Harvard Law School, where several of her students tried cases. Stacey enjoys mentoring and teaching in a variety of settings including CLE, bar associations and law schools.
Stacey is a “transplant” from California to the Boston, Massachusetts area. She is a 1995 graduate of the Boston College School of Law.
Tracey Meyers, Psy.D.
Staff Clinician, LCLMA
Dr. Tracey Meyers joined LCL in 2020 following her work for the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services where she spent over 17 years working as a clinical neuropsychologist and most recently as the director of behavioral intervention services for inpatient services. In addition to her over 25 years of neuropsychological assessment and psychotherapy experience, Tracey has a strong commitment to integrative medicine for mental health and wellness and leads mindfulness and yoga programs for groups, individuals, and professionals in the workplace.
Tracey graduated from Skidmore College in 1992 and completed her doctorate in clinical psychology from Florida Tech in 1997. She completed her internship and post-doctoral training in neuropsychology at the Miami VA and University of Miami. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Neuropsychology, the International Neuropsychological Society, and the National Register of Healthcare Providers in Psychology. Tracey is a licensed clinical psychologist in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. In addition, she is an advanced yoga teacher, certified trainer in Mental Health First Aid, certified yoga therapist, and an instructor in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindful-Self Compassion, Breath-Body-Mind, and Integrative Restoration (iRest).
Tracey has authored several publications including articles and book chapters around integrative medicine, positive behavioral support treatment for different mental health conditions, and developing collaborative relationships in healthcare settings. Tracey is the author of the book, Yin Yoga Therapy and Mental Health, a guide for well-being using the healing practices of yoga and meditation.
Tracey runs our Weekly Yoga for Busy Legal Professionals and Weekly Mindfulness for Busy Legal Professionals, as well as office hours and groups at Massachusetts law schools. She is on the board of Mindfulness and the Law Society (MILS) and regularly leads mindfulness practices for their national organization. Tracey is committed to reducing stigma around mental health in the law and co-facilitates Mental Health First Aid certification trainings for legal professionals.
Tracey can be reached at (617) 482-9600 or tracey@lclma.org.