The Ginkgo Circle | Ginkgo Collective

An Embodied Approach – Bringing Brendan McKiernan Back to Ginkgo Collective

An embodied approach to working with Trauma Back in March, we welcomed Brendan McKiernan to Ginkgo Collective for The Science of Rhythm and Regulation, a day exploring how rhythm, song and group experience shape our nervous systems. It…

Guest post – bridging theory and embodied practice

Guest post, Community, Polyvagal Theory

Thanks so much to Paula O'Connor for sharing her thoughts around bridging theory and embodied practice in our workshop with Brendan McKiernan and Anna Mitchell I recently had an opportunity to attend The Science of Rhythm and Regulation…

Guest post – singing together can foster connection and improve wellbeing

Guest post, Community, Polyvagal Theory

Thanks to Philip McLaughlin (tuneouttinnitus.com) for sharing his experience at the Science of Rhythm and Regulation where he felt a real sense of how singing together can foster connection and improve wellbeing: The science and rhythm and…

Guest post – the power of connection

Guest post, Community, Polyvagal Theory

Thanks to Grace Healy for her perspective on the power of connection at our workshop with Brendan McKiernan and Anna Mitchell. The Science of Rhythm and Regulation workshop was a fantastic experience. I went in unsure of what to expect and…

Guest post – it wasn’t just about understanding the science, it was about experiencing it firsthand

Guest post, Community, Polyvagal Theory

Thanks to Kerry McDonagh for our next guest blog post, highlighting how we moved beyond understanding to experiencing the science. I recently attended a seminar titled The Science of Rhythm and Regulation, which explored how rhythm, sound,…

Collective - guest blog Jennifer Kerwick

Guest post – Being part of the collective

Guest post, Community, Ginkgo Collective

Our next guest blog post comes from Jennifer Kerwick, thank you so much! Spent the day diving into polyvagal theory at a beautiful event run by my friend Mary Walsh who is one of the founders of Ginkgo Collective. So much to take in about…

Guest post – Instead of just learning about regulation, we got to feel it

Guest post, Co-Regulation, Community, Ginkgo Collective

Our first guest blog post following our event on 29 March, the Science of Rhythm and Regulation, with Brendan McKiernan and Anna Mitchel. Thanks so much to Ciara Crotty I spent the day at a workshop exploring polyvagal theory through movement,…

The Heartbeat of the Community: Making Connections on 29 March

Community, Ginkgo Collective

Community exchange: at Ginkgo Collective, our goal for the 29 March is simple: to create a space where we can learn together and feel a sense of shared community. We know that the "Science of Rhythm and Regulation" isn't just theory; it’s…

Science of Connection: Brendan McKiernan

The Science of Connection: Welcoming Brendan McKiernan to the Ginkgo Collective

Ginkgo Collective

The Science of Connection At the heart of the Ginkgo Collective is a focus on how our nervous systems navigate connection, rhythm and regulation. To explore these themes, we look for facilitators who bring a grounded, clinical perspective. We…

The Shared Breath: Co-Regulation and Polyvagal Theory in the Blarney Community Choir

Co-Regulation, Polyvagal Theory

In this guest post, Anna Mitchell explores the transformative power of the Blarney Community Choir, revealing how communal singing serves as a biological bridge to deep human connection. By blending her musical journey with the science of Polyvagal…

Singing, Sighing and Safety: Why Your Voice, and your Vagus Nerve, is Your Secret Tool for Calm

Co-Regulation, Ginkgo Collective, Polyvagal Theory

We all know that feeling: that twinge of anxiety, the quick pulse or the tightness in your chest. When life speeds up, your body reacts instantly. In previous posts, we established the core concepts of Polyvagal Theory and the power of co-regulation…

Stressed, Stuck or Safe? A Simple Guide to Polyvagal Theory

Ginkgo Collective, Polyvagal Theory

Still wondering what it Polyvagal Theory? We’ve all experienced it: the electric joy of a winning goal at a match or the spine-tingling harmony of a great concert. In our previous posts, we explored how these moments aren't just "fun", they…

The Magic of Co-Regulation: Why We Partnered with Musician Anna Mitchell for PVT Learning

Co-Regulation, Ginkgo Collective, Polyvagal Theory

In our previous post, we explored how a great concert or a winning match makes us feel incredibly joyful, revealing that the answer lies in ventral vagal co-regulation. Now, we introduce the expert who not only brings that concept to life…

What Do Football Matches, Oasis Concerts and Polyvagal Theory Have in Common?

Ginkgo Collective

Think back to the best gig or the best match you’ve ever been to. For Robert, that was recently seeing Oasis twice, a highlight of his year. For many, it’s that match where your team won and the atmosphere almost carried you in from the…

Why We Chose the Name Ginkgo Collective

Ginkgo Collective

We promised to tell you why we chose the name Ginkgo Collective for our new venture. It's a story filled with personal history, serendipity and a lot of very old trees! My love for trees started a long time ago. My sister Nora and I planted…

The Story Behind Ginkgo Collective

Ginkgo Collective

Ginkgo Collective began as a conversation between two people (the founders, Robert Hawkes and Mary Walsh) who had spent several years immersed in the world of psychotherapy learning. Through our work with PCPSI, we supported events, collaborated…