Unit 4. The Window of Tolerance Concept

Main ideas

1. The Window of Tolerance is a concept whose intention is to explain how the regulation of the Autonomic Nervous System and the response to certain stressful or emotionally disturbing stimuli occurs.
2. The tolerance window model has three distinct activation zones, two pathological and one optimal: the optimal activation zone, the hyperactivation zone and the hypoactivation zone.
3. The autonomic nervous system and trauma are related. What makes a given situation a traumatic experience has to do with the individual’s perception, especially if he or she perceives it as potentially life-threatening.
4. The only way to change feeling is through awareness of the inner experience, respecting it and learning to live with it

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this Learning Unit, the participants will be able to:

• Present a comprehensive understanding of the window of tolerance concept.
• Recognise the arousal states and how trauma affects them.
• Support the children to shift towards optimal arousal states.
• Introduce self-regulating strategies in the school environment.