Summary:
Anxiety and chronic stress continue to affect millions, but advances in neuroscience demonstrate that the brain’s anxiety circuits can be modified through targeted, evidence-based interventions. This workshop for psychologists, licensed mental health professionals, medical personnel, and ministry leaders examines the neurobiological foundations of anxiety, focusing on how the limbic system and autonomic nervous system interact to generate threat responses of fight, flight, and freeze. We will explore two key neural pathways implicated in anxiety and discuss how these circuits can be reshaped through structured therapeutic approaches. Emphasis will be placed on cognitive-behavioral mechanisms, somatic and polyvagal-informed strategies, and integrative practices that support nervous system regulation. Clinicians will learn practical, research-supported tools that engage both top-down and bottom-up processes to reduce physiological arousal, strengthen cognitive control, and promote adaptive coping. Spiritual supports that complement these evidence-based approaches will also be discussed to enhance whole-person treatment.
Learning Objectives:
Describe the role of the autonomic nervous system and limbic system in anxiety as to how these systems interact during stress and serve as a foundation for clinical interventions.
Explain how polyvagal theory and somatic techniques activate the parasympathetic nervous system and can be used to alleviate anxiety.
Compare and contrast the pathways involved in anxiety and apply specific evidence-based strategies tailored to each pathway.