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Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory: The Emergence of Polyvagal-Informed Therapies
Innovative clinicians share their experiences integrating Polyvagal Theory into their treatment models.
Clinicians who have dedicated their work to bringing the benefits of the Polyvagal Theory to a range of clients have come together to present Polyvagal Theory in a creative and personal way.
Chapters on a range of topics from compassionate medical care to optimized therapeutic relationships to clinician's experiences as parents extract from the theory the powerful influence and importance of cases and feelings of safety in the clinical setting.
Additionally, there are chapters
elaborate on the principle of safety in clinical practice with children with abuse historiesexplain the restorative consequences of movement, rhythm, and dance in promoting social connectedness and resilience in trauma survivorsexplains how Polyvagal Theory can be used to understand the neurophysiological processes in various therapiesdiscuss dissociative processes and treatments designed to experience bodily feelings of safety and trustexamine fear of flying and how using positive memories as an active "bottom up" neuroceptive process may effectively down-regulate defenseshed light on the poorly understood experience of griefThrough the insights of innovative and benevolent clinicians, whose treatment models are Polyvagal informed, this book provides an accessible way for clinicians to embrace this groundbreaking theory in their own work.
Clinicians who have dedicated their work to bringing the benefits of the Polyvagal Theory to a range of clients have come together to present Polyvagal Theory in a creative and personal way.
Chapters on a range of topics from compassionate medical care to optimized therapeutic relationships to clinician's experiences as parents extract from the theory the powerful influence and importance of cases and feelings of safety in the clinical setting.
Additionally, there are chapters
elaborate on the principle of safety in clinical practice with children with abuse historiesexplain the restorative consequences of movement, rhythm, and dance in promoting social connectedness and resilience in trauma survivorsexplains how Polyvagal Theory can be used to understand the neurophysiological processes in various therapiesdiscuss dissociative processes and treatments designed to experience bodily feelings of safety and trustexamine fear of flying and how using positive memories as an active "bottom up" neuroceptive process may effectively down-regulate defenseshed light on the poorly understood experience of griefThrough the insights of innovative and benevolent clinicians, whose treatment models are Polyvagal informed, this book provides an accessible way for clinicians to embrace this groundbreaking theory in their own work.
425 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 12, 2018
90 people are currently reading
725 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 17, 2021
I have been deep diving (binging) on Polyvegal Theory (PVT) lately.
PVT is still somewhat controversial in terms of it’s technicalities, and there is a somewhat unsettling new age flare to the PVT faithful.
That being said.
PVT has enormous utility and explanatory power when posited as the fundament of otherwise disparate forms of mental health diagnosis e.g. addiction, personality disorders, attentional disorders, depression and anxiety, phobia, OCD and (of course) PTSD.
This is a compendium of articles by a diversity of clinicians and researchers, on various clinical applications of PVT.
I have read several of these recently, but this is one of the better volumes of this sort.
Not a great place to begin your PVT journey.
But a pretty darn good vehicle to further it.
4/5 ⭐️
PVT is still somewhat controversial in terms of it’s technicalities, and there is a somewhat unsettling new age flare to the PVT faithful.
That being said.
PVT has enormous utility and explanatory power when posited as the fundament of otherwise disparate forms of mental health diagnosis e.g. addiction, personality disorders, attentional disorders, depression and anxiety, phobia, OCD and (of course) PTSD.
This is a compendium of articles by a diversity of clinicians and researchers, on various clinical applications of PVT.
I have read several of these recently, but this is one of the better volumes of this sort.
Not a great place to begin your PVT journey.
But a pretty darn good vehicle to further it.
4/5 ⭐️
June 15, 2024
Picture this. You're wearing your earbuds, working away in your garden, which has several standing metal trellises for climbing beans. After weeding a small section, you stand to move to a new location, but your attention must be diverted, because you walk headlong into one of the heavy woven-metal arches. You're numb for a moment, then a wave of pain drops you flat. You hold your head, mention God's name, check for blood (yep, it's there), and writhe around. As you lie there, considering brain damage and the possibility of passing out, you hear your dog whining from the edge of the garden. Although you haven't been down for long, she knows something is wrong but she's too obedient to step onto the forbidden garden ground.
"Good dog," you call out between waves of pain. Then you reach for your phone. You FaceTime your husband, who doesn't pick up, then a friend, who shows immediate concern (bloody foreheads have that effect). After talking for a few seconds, you sit up, then start to cry. Something about her face and concern has made it safe enough to feel the intensity of this surprising event.
Spurred on by your dog's worried whines, you gimp to the edge of the garden, then walk, still on FaceTime with your friend, to your house. You're feeling considerably better by now, so you hang up the phone and, bolstered by both canine and human support, you tend to your still-bleeding head.
The amazing part of this story? It happened while listening to THIS incredible book, and illustrates the theory to a T!
Polyvagal theory states that the mammalian nervous system is wired for connection. Indeed, according to Porges, connection is a biological imperative. The two branches of our vagus nerve constantly send and receive information about ourselves, our surroundings, and our relationships, conveyed via primarily pre-cognitive pathways to impact our internal sense of safety, danger, or life-threat. When we feel safe, we feel free to be curious and connect, which enhances every aspect of our physical and mental well-being. We instinctively assess for the likelihood of connection at all times, and when this desire is met with warmth and reciprocity, we thrive: When it isn't, our nervous system devolves into lower and lower levels of functioning until we dissociate and sometimes even die.
This trait applies to all mammals, and across many disciplines, as Porges/Dana's book demonstrates. Their collection of essays from fields as varied as veterinary medicine and cardiology, nursing and Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT), show that a safe mammal is a healthy mammal, and that professionals and laypeople alike may influence not only their own well-being, but that of the world at large by understanding and implementing polyvagal principles.
I admit to skipping a few chapters due to time constraints and lack of relevance for my work, but only a few. I am confident that the book in its entirety is superb, and so grateful for this practical showcase of the wonders of this recently-uncovered theory. And I LOVE that I had both a good dog and a good friend to illustrate the tenets in real time. :)
"Good dog," you call out between waves of pain. Then you reach for your phone. You FaceTime your husband, who doesn't pick up, then a friend, who shows immediate concern (bloody foreheads have that effect). After talking for a few seconds, you sit up, then start to cry. Something about her face and concern has made it safe enough to feel the intensity of this surprising event.
Spurred on by your dog's worried whines, you gimp to the edge of the garden, then walk, still on FaceTime with your friend, to your house. You're feeling considerably better by now, so you hang up the phone and, bolstered by both canine and human support, you tend to your still-bleeding head.
The amazing part of this story? It happened while listening to THIS incredible book, and illustrates the theory to a T!
Polyvagal theory states that the mammalian nervous system is wired for connection. Indeed, according to Porges, connection is a biological imperative. The two branches of our vagus nerve constantly send and receive information about ourselves, our surroundings, and our relationships, conveyed via primarily pre-cognitive pathways to impact our internal sense of safety, danger, or life-threat. When we feel safe, we feel free to be curious and connect, which enhances every aspect of our physical and mental well-being. We instinctively assess for the likelihood of connection at all times, and when this desire is met with warmth and reciprocity, we thrive: When it isn't, our nervous system devolves into lower and lower levels of functioning until we dissociate and sometimes even die.
This trait applies to all mammals, and across many disciplines, as Porges/Dana's book demonstrates. Their collection of essays from fields as varied as veterinary medicine and cardiology, nursing and Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT), show that a safe mammal is a healthy mammal, and that professionals and laypeople alike may influence not only their own well-being, but that of the world at large by understanding and implementing polyvagal principles.
I admit to skipping a few chapters due to time constraints and lack of relevance for my work, but only a few. I am confident that the book in its entirety is superb, and so grateful for this practical showcase of the wonders of this recently-uncovered theory. And I LOVE that I had both a good dog and a good friend to illustrate the tenets in real time. :)
February 27, 2019
A very informative book, and glad I had a read - but it became a bit specific in areas I wasn't quite looking to delve into for the scope of my work. If you read through the chapters that are applicable to your own profession, you may have a better time and feel more connected to the work. Overall, a very interesting and informative book!
November 24, 2019
This book sat on my shelf for over a year because I thought it would be dry and too clinical. Actually very easy to read and makes good sense, has lots of great and varied examples of how to apply the information.
December 6, 2019
A great compilation of individual therapists integration of Polyvagal theory from different perspectives
This demonstrates the numerous ways of integrating the theory into practice with clients as well as our own lives. I learned much from the different stories of how each therapist put their own spin or interpretation of how to best connect with their clients. My personal favorites were the therapist simply tells their own story, however the authors who felt inclined to fill in with quoting research journals left me feeling cold or indifferent. Their stories lacked the human touch for me. As a mental health therapist who is on the Autism Spectrum the Polyvagal Theory finally explains why I relate to the world in the way I do.
This demonstrates the numerous ways of integrating the theory into practice with clients as well as our own lives. I learned much from the different stories of how each therapist put their own spin or interpretation of how to best connect with their clients. My personal favorites were the therapist simply tells their own story, however the authors who felt inclined to fill in with quoting research journals left me feeling cold or indifferent. Their stories lacked the human touch for me. As a mental health therapist who is on the Autism Spectrum the Polyvagal Theory finally explains why I relate to the world in the way I do.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews