Paul North is an Australian psychologist with more than thirty-five years of clinical experience in developmental disabilities, trauma therapy, and nervous system-informed care. His work with children, families, teachers, and adults has been shaped by a deep interest in how safety, connection, and compassion support healing and resilience. Paul began integrating polyvagal-informed care into his clinical work, teaching, and writing in 2011. He has led assessment services for children with suspected autism and developmental delay, held senior clinical and consulting roles in public health and disability services, and presented internationally on polyvagal theory and the Safe and Sound Protocol. Paul holds a Master of Arts (Honors) in psychology from the University of Wollongong, and a master's degree from the University of Sydney. Lydia So is a developmental pediatrician, researcher, and author whose work focuses on child development, including disability, autism, ADHD, and emotional and behavioral difficulties. She is committed to helping parents and professionals look beneath behavior and respond to children with more confidence, compassion, and connection. So leads a multidisciplinary child development assessment team, integrating clinical care, teaching, research, and quality improvement to improve developmental assessment and support for children and families.

She received a bachelor of medicine and surgery from the University of Auckland, and a master of public health and tropical medicine with distinction from James Cook University. She is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Pediatrics and Child Health Division. Michael Allison is a performance consultant specializing in optimizing health, resilience, and performance for various clients--from executives and athletes to sports psychologists and creatives. He has certified hundreds of professionals worldwide in his Play Zone methodology, which applies polyvagal theory and is endorsed by Stephen W. Porges. He writes for Psychology Today on his platform, The Pressure Paradox, and consults for major sports organizations. Michael is a keynote speaker and educational partner with the Polyvagal Institute, offering accredited programs and authoring influential works on polyvagal theory, including coauthoring a chapter on empathy and compassion with Stephen Porges in Polyvagal Perspectives . Foreword writer Stephen W.

Porges, PhD , is Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University. An internationally recognized researcher, he developed polyvagal theory, a groundbreaking framework that links the autonomic nervous system to emotional regulation, social connection, trauma, and mental health. He is also the creator of the Safe and Sound Protocol(tm) and cofounder of the Polyvagal Institute.