Rabbit Medicine: Manual Healing, Movement and Story for Healing Trauma
When: Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Where: University of New England in Biddeford, Maine.
Price: $100 - $195
MD, DO, NP: $195 (Includes 5.5 CME/CE)
General Admission: $100 (No CME/CE)
Register: HERE
Join us this year in person for a special pre-conference workshop featuring Magili Chapman, D.O., Josie Conte D.O., C-NMM/OMM, Lewis Mehl-Madrona MD, PhD, and Barbara Mainguy, MA, LCSW.
Embodied approaches to trauma have emerged as necessary and vital to healing in recent years. Yet, the question remains how to release the effects of trauma from the body. Osteopaths and other manual therapists are uniquely positioned to accomplish this. Through a combination of discussions, demonstrations, and practice exercises, we will deepen people’s understanding of trauma-associated healing and the ability to practice in this way.
We have been calling our approach “Rabbit Medicine”, for Rabbit dwells in the south on the medicine circle – the place of compassion and relationship. Rabbit Medicine is gentle and persistent. Here in the Wabanaki territory of Maine, Rabbit lost its beautiful, bushy tail through its altruism for others. What seemed a terrible wound became a great gift, for it enabled Rabbit to run faster through the forest and escape Fox. The wandering, winding way of Rabbit is to turn wounds into advantages. In this story, Gluskabe, the cultural hero of the Wabanaki people, serves as the narrative therapist for Rabbit.
During our time together, we will integrate manual medicine, movement, narrative therapy, and yoga into our work to varying degrees, depending on our individual backgrounds. Together, we will also illustrate a team approach to trauma healing. We will provide practical ways to use polyvagal theory, power-threat-meaning concepts, and dissociachosis in healing work.
We know that uninvited, unanticipated events that remain unprocessed can manifest as physical, emotional, or psychological challenges—from digestive, reproductive, and neurological issues to anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. Together, through Rabbit Medicine, we will explore ways to heal and transform these afflictions. We will learn to remember that we are all angels with a single wing; only by embracing each other are we able to fly.
Rabbit Medicine Workshop Itinerary
9:00 - 10:00 AM: Gathering: Meet, greet, and establish the circle (All)
10:00 - 11:00 AM: Introduction to the History of Working with People Who Have Experienced Trauma (All Faculty)
We will draw on the work of Peter Levine, Gabor Maté, and Bessel van der Kolk from the Western perspective; Still and Hildreth from the Osteopathic tradition; wisdom shared by Indigenous peoples; the practices of Benedicaria from Southern Italy; Ayurvedic teachings; and the Five Element perspectives of Eastern medicine as represented in Chinese and Japanese healing traditions.
11:00 - Noon: The Science of Trauma; an Osteopathic View (All Faculty)
We will explore polyvagal theory, the Power-Threat-Meaning framework, and dissociachosis, with attention to the anatomy and physiology of shock. We will also examine how the four tenets and five models of Osteopathy inform approaches to healing trauma, and consider the burden of the perpetuated stress response.
Noon - 1:00 PM: Lunch
1:00 - 2:00 PM: Demonstration and Discussion of Narrative Interviewing: Skills for Gathering Trauma Stories and Sitting in the Company of the Wound (Mainguy)
2:00 - 3:00 PM: Demonstration: Integrating Story and Osteopathy (All Faculty)
3:00 - 4:30 PM: Hands-on practice of lessons, followed by Q&A (All Faculty)
Rabbit Medicine Workshop CME/CE Details:
The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNE COM) is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the Maine Medical Association (MMA) Council on Continuing Medical Education and Accreditation to provide continuing medical education for physicians. UNE COM has requested that the AOA Council on Continuing Medical Education approve this program for a maximum of 5.5 hours of AOA Category 1-A CME credits. Approval is currently pending.
UNE COM designates this educational activity for a maximum of 5.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM.
UNE COM designates 5.5 University of New England contact hours for non-physicians. Contact hours may be submitted by non-physician, non-PA health professionals for continuing education credits.
Physicians and other attendees should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity. The University upon receipt of this completed and signed form, will submit the osteopathic credits to the AOA.
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Maine Medical Association through the joint providership of University of New England, and Coyote Institute. University of New England is accredited by the Maine Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.