Published in the Relational Child & Youth Care Journal
Year: 2023
Authors: Nancy Marshall and Lisa Marucci
Child and Youth Care (CYC) practitioners have intuitively and theoretically aspired to create a field of practice that embodies a felt sense of safety within relationships. At the same time, we are aware that our aspirations have yet to be realized in many of the care settings we work in. In this paper, the authors present possibilities for a polyvagal-informed practice that is grounded in neuroscience. With knowledge of some basic principles of neuroscience, CYC practitioners can further advance key tenets of CYC practice. Of particular importance are the opportunities that neuroscience provides to enhance needs-based relational practice and relational safety. Beginning with a brief explanation of polyvagal theory (PVT), followed by a discussion of our field’s history and possibilities for a more justice-oriented future, this paper aims to briefly introduce a few of the universal aspects of human connection that neuroscience has to offer. CYC practitioners can apply this knowledge as a lens by which to continue the many creative interventions already established in their repertoire of relational approaches to care.
Key Words
relational safety; needs based CYC practice; polyvagal theory; neuroscience