Polyvagal-Informed Embodied Mindfulness™ (PIEM™)
at Nest Behavioral Health
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™ Group?
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 effects 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.
Watch This Short Video About PIEM™
PIEM™ Frequently Asked Questions
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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 thepeople 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? 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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The cost of PIEM™ 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. The 8-session cycle costs $960, which is $120 per session. If cost is an important concern, ask your therapist about opportunities we have made available for a reduced rate.
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Nest has invested substantial resources in developing and launching the PIEM™ protocol as an integral part of our therapeutic offerings because we believe it works. We are highly committed to helping as many people access this unique and incredible resource as possible. We occasionally offer promotional rates, and we reserve a number of sliding scale spots for financial hardship. If cost is an important concern, let your therapist know, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
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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™ at Nest Behavioral Health is currently available to patients whose individual, couple’s, or family psychotherapist is a member of the Nest team and whose therapist has suggested that this group would be a good fit for them at this time. If you aren’t working with a Nest therapist but would like to start, click here to request a complimentary phone consultation. If you are working with an outside therapist who has recommended this group to you, let us know, and we will add your name to our waiting list.
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This is a virtual group. The next group cycle will begin on Zoom in mid-September 2024. Check back here soon for the exact day and time.
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.