The Slippery Slope: Trauma Treatment and Staying in Your Lane

The “slippery slope” in trauma treatment often begins with care. In equine work, connection can blur roles in subtle ways that impact safety. In this webinar, on May 27, 2026 at Noon (ET), Dr. Rebecca Bailey offers a grounded look at how maintaining clear roles supports the nervous system, builds trust, and creates the conditions for real therapeutic change.

Dr. Rebecca Bailey is a leading trauma therapist who specializes in complex case scenarios. With over 30 years of experience in the field, she remains dedicated to the belief that authenticity, common sense, and kindness are the most essential components of effective treatment. A lifelong equestrian and animal lover, Dr. Bailey continues to find that animals, particularly horses, have much to teach humans about curiosity, compassion, and connection.

She is the author of Safe Kids: Smart Parents and Equine Connections, Polyvagal Principles: A Book of Story, Theory, Practice, and Hope, co-written with Margie McDonald and Jaycee Dugard. She is also the co-author of several peer-reviewed articles on abduction, high-conflict families, and, in collaboration with Dr. Stephen Porges and Jaycee Dugard, the concept of appeasement as a survival strategy.

Dr. Bailey co-founded the Polyvagal Equine Institute to support the application of polyvagal principles in therapeutic and educational settings, using the power of horse-human interaction to foster connection and healing. Her work continues to bridge neuroscience, trauma recovery, and the healing power of the human-animal bond.