Karen Onderko is committed to advancing the understanding of the nervous system through Polyvagal Theory to enhance therapeutic care and foster greater connection and acceptance among individuals. She was instrumental in transitioning Dr. Porges’s Safe and Sound Protocol from the research laboratory into practical, widespread use as an accessible tool now available to therapists across various disciplines worldwide. Karen was the director of research and education for Integrated Listening Systems and Unyte Health and is a cofounder and current board member of the Polyvagal Institute. She serves on the board of directors for Developmental FX and has served as a board member for Aspen Brain Institute, Denver Film Society, Colorado Academy, and Stanley British Primary School. Before her work in neuroscience, she spent the first half of her career specializing in financial risk management, teaching the use of derivatives to international and central bankers, marketing financial products to banks and corporations, and managing an options business to ensure the safety of retirement investments. Karen holds a degree from Georgetown University and lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and three daughters.

Author photo © Marea Evans Photography