This second webinar in the Therapas professional development series offers a fresh and vital lens on therapist wellbeing, grounded in the science of Polyvagal Theory. Designed for psychologists and allied health professionals, The Resilient Therapist explores how burnout is not a personal failure, but a state-based response to chronic threat and emotional overload.
Too often, those in caring professions experience emotional exhaustion and disconnection—mislabelled as “compassion fatigue.” This presentation debunks that myth, revealing why empathy fatigue, not compassion, is the real source of depletion. Drawing from neuroscience and clinical experience, Paul North explains how empathy activates the brain’s pain and fear centres, while compassion arises from a regulated nervous system, promoting resilience, connection, and longevity in the work.
Attendees will learn to recognise their own state shifts, use micro-regulation strategies between sessions, and adopt nervous system hygiene practices that prevent collapse. The webinar also introduces compassion-based practices such as Loving-Kindness Meditation, which research shows can rewire the brain toward emotional strength and steadiness.
Whether you’re new to Polyvagal Theory or building on existing knowledge, this webinar will help you move from survival mode to sustainable presence—so you can keep doing the work you love, without burning out..