Polyvagal Theory & the Brain-Gut Axis Course: An Intro to Neuro-Integrative Medicine at Polyvagal Institute - Join The Waitlist
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The Autism Iceberg™ Course
By BG Mancini, AP, MHSc
The Autism Iceberg™ is a framework created for autistic individuals, parents, clinicians, educators, and professionals who want to understand what lies beneath the behaviors and challenges we can see on the surface.
So much of what shapes regulation, comfort, and connection happens below the waterline - in the biological processes that drive inflammation, sensory load, and threat perception. This course offers a lens for seeing those hidden factors clearly, and a step-by-step way to understand how they interact, how to support them, and when.
When we understand what the system is responding to, we can help the whole person feel safer, more connected, and more at home in their own body.​​​​​​​​​
Inside The Framework
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Understanding The Autism Iceberg™
The core concept: what's visible above the surface, and the biological drivers underneath that shape how a person experiences the world. We'll explore interoception, the connection with our inner life, and neuroception, the way the nervous system reads safety and threat through every sense. You'll walk away with a new lens for understanding yourself, your child, or your clients, and a clear picture of why the base of the iceberg matters most.
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What's Beneath The Surface
The hidden factors that are so often missed: LPS bacteria, food sensitivities and the inflammation they create, and functional vision and auditory processing. These quietly shape stress in the system long before we see it in behavior. You'll walk away able to recognize the underlying drivers at play, instead of only responding to what shows up on the surface.
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The Role of Diet & The Microbiome
How diet and gut health influence inflammation, regulation, and overall capacity, including the Nemechek Protocol in action. We'll look at how the microbiome shapes the brain-gut connection and what that means for daily support. You'll walk away understanding how food and gut function affect the whole nervous system, and where to begin.
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Sensory & Movement Foundations
The body-first inputs that build capacity: auditory listening programs, the importance of exercise, and the impact of retained reflexes. These foundations create the stability that makes everything else more accessible. You'll walk away knowing how movement, sound, and reflex integration support regulation, and why sequence matters.
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Targeted Support & The Right Timing
It's not enough to know that something is creating stress in the system. We'll cover the appropriate timing for supplementation, the benefits of photobiomodulation, and how to sequence each intervention so it actually helps. You'll walk away with a practical sense of which tools to use, and when to use them, for you or your child.
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The Bigger Picture: Environment & Healing
How environmental factors fit in, including the connection between mold and autism and the role of Lyme disease. Above all, we'll come back to the heart of this work: understanding the underlying processes is the first step toward feeling better, regardless of diagnosis. You'll walk away with a roadmap grounded in autonomy, equipped with the information you need to decide your own path forward.