Ruby Jo Walker LCSW CHT SEP

Ruby Jo Walker, LCSW, SEP, CHT, is an author, trainer, trauma therapist, and Course Partner for the Polyvagal Institute, specializing in the neurobiology of trauma and resilience. She is the founder of SW Trauma Training Services, where she developed Post-Traumatic Growth Somatic Therapy™ (PTGST)—a distinctive integration of advanced somatic therapy practices grounded in neurobiology, resilience, trauma healing, and attachment theory, grounded in Polyvagal Theory.

Certified in both Somatic Experiencing® and Hakomi Mindful Somatic Psychotherapy, Ruby Jo brings over 35 years of experience working in the field of trauma treatment. She has trained a wide range of professionals across disciplines, delivering Polyvagal-informed trauma protocols for psychotherapists, healthcare providers, trauma support agencies, behavioral health organizations, and human service groups.

Her work has been featured at numerous National Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence conferences, and she has had the honor of providing specialized training for professionals from the Navajo Nation. For more than 15 years, she has facilitated Polyvagal Theory-based trainings, offering expert guidance to individuals and organizations in understanding and addressing trauma’s impact—leading to improved therapeutic effectiveness and client outcomes. She also supports staff at various agencies in the prevention of burnout through the cultivation of resilience, using a Polyvagal Theory lens. Additionally, she has a passion for the development of the clinician for both a greater presence and expansion into their true Essence.

Deeply committed to fostering healing and resiliency, she integrates the latest understanding of neurobiology to support profound change and transformation in both clients, professionals, and agencies. As part of her dedication to community well-being, she served in a leadership capacity on a statewide Colorado task force that developed supportive resources for healthcare workers during the 2020 pandemic.

Ruby Jo is a contributing author to the Norton Press volume Somatic-Oriented Therapies: Embodiment, Trauma, and Polyvagal Perspectives (edited by Dr. Stephen Porges, PhD, 2025). Her debut book, Applied Polyvagal Theory for Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth: A Clinician’s Guide (2026)—also published by Norton Press—offers an integrative framework for clinicians seeking to apply Polyvagal Theory in clinical practice.