Nervous System Regulation in Refugee Survivors

Refugee survivors of torture and trauma often face profound, long-term disruptions to emotional, physiological, and psychological regulation. Prolonged exposure to violence, persecution, displacement, and loss can leave the autonomic nervous system trapped in persistent states of hyperarousal, shutdown, or structural instability. For many survivors, these physiological responses impact their everyday capacity to feel safe, build meaningful connections, and remain grounded.

As the landscape of trauma-informed clinical practice evolves, understanding and supporting the restoration of nervous system regulation and embodiment has become a crucial focus. Traditional talk therapies can sometimes fall short when a client’s body remains trapped in a chronic survival response. This is where the study and clinical application of heart rate variability (HRV) offer a valuable, objective pathway forward.

To explore these concepts deeply, STARTTS is hosting a specialised Clinical Master Class webinar titled HRV and Trauma Treatment: Supporting Nervous System Regulation in Refugee Survivors. This session brings together leading experts to bridge the gap between neurophysiological theory and practical, body-based clinical interventions.

Understanding Heart Rate Variability in Trauma Treatment

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating our heart rate, which naturally fluctuates across the breathing cycle and over time. This constant fluctuation is known as heart rate variability. In clinical healthcare settings, HRV serves as a reliable, non-invasive tool for assessing overall autonomic health and stress responsiveness. Generally, higher HRV indicates better health, adaptability, and emotional well-being, whereas lower HRV reflects a decreased capacity to manage the everyday challenges and stressors of life.

Chronic stress or severe trauma frequently disrupts this delicate autonomic balance. This dysregulation often manifests as a significant decrease in HRV, which can be coupled with an elevated heart rate, prolonged sympathetic arousal, and the destabilisation of other stress-system components.

Because the body is a complex matrix of multiple interacting systems that crosstalk in complex ways, integrating HRV metrics helps clinicians pinpoint exactly where a patient’s stress response is failing to recover. Consequently, incorporating interventions that actively help increase HRV has emerged as an increasingly important element of modern clinical practice.

Learning from Experts in Trauma and Neurophysiology

This masterclass features insights from two prominent practitioners who operate at the intersection of neuroscience and trauma recovery.

Dr. Kasia Kozlowska is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and clinician researcher at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the Westmead Institute for Medical Research. Affiliated with the University of Sydney, Dr. Kozlowska leads a multidisciplinary consultation-liaison team and runs the Mind-Body Program for young people disabled by functional neurological symptoms. Her extensive research into the activation of the stress system informs her clinical model, offering a comprehensive look at how HRV acts as a key indicator of autonomic health, emotional regulation, and overall well-being.

Melissa Beit, a dedicated STARTTS Neurofeedback Counsellor complements this scientific foundation by sharing real-world clinical applications. Beit will present a compelling case study detailing her work with a 40-year-old Ezidi woman who survived the 2014 genocide.

The client, who has been engaging with STARTTS since arriving in Australia in 2018, initially demonstrated slow therapeutic progress. However, the introduction of body-based interventions and systematic HRV training marked a pivotal turning point in her recovery. By developing a clear awareness of the connection between her physical sensations, traumatic memories, and emotional states, the client transitioned from experiencing her body as an agonising source of distress to reconnecting with it as an integrated, embodied self. She beautifully described this profound shift as beginning to feel like she had a body again, rather than simply being overwhelmed by unpleasant sensations.

Key Takeaways for Clinicians

By exploring this case through a biopsychosocial lens, attendees will gain knowledge and practical understanding of autonomic nervous system functioning and stress physiology. The presentation outlines the client’s background, initial symptom presentation, and specific therapeutic interventions, demonstrating exactly how HRV acts as a core stabilisation and regulation strategy in complex trauma treatment.

Participants will walk away with actionable strategies to support emotional and physiological stability in refugee trauma work, alongside a greater confidence in integrating nervous system-informed interventions into their therapeutic practice. The webinar also concludes with a live Q&A session alongside STARTTS CEO, Jorge Aroche, providing a direct opportunity to engage with the presenters.

Webinar Event Details

This Clinical Master Class is ideal for psychologists, counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, and mental health clinicians specialising in complex PTSD. It is equally valuable for occupational therapists, neurofeedback clinicians, and humanitarian workers seeking to enhance their trauma-informed care toolkits.

• Webinar Title: HRV and Trauma Treatment: Supporting Nervous System Regulation in Refugee Survivors
• Live Broadcast Date: 22 July 2026

To secure your place in this vital clinical conversation and learn how to implement these body-based pathways to recovery, please visit the official STARTTS Training Event Page to register.