Are you familiar with the Polyvagal Theory? If you would like to know more, go ahead, and keep reading.
If you wish to know even more and understand how to apply this theory to your clients, train now with the creator of the Polyvagal Theory, click here.
Many popular researchers and professors joined together to talk about PT and its application in the psychological field.
Stephen Porges, Jan Winhall, Daniel Siegel, Jonathan Baylin, Deb Dana, Vittorio Gallese and Dafna Lender all contributed to the importance of the study of the mind and their webinar goes into details of Polyvagal Theory to give you a deep understanding of what it is and its clinical application.
Who is the founder?
Dr. Stephen Porges, PhD, holds the position of Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and serves as the Director of the Kinsey Institute Traumatic Stress Research Consortium, dedicated to studying trauma. His current focus as a neuroscientist revolves around investigating the nervous system and its responses to various stimuli, particularly those associated with human behavior.
What is the theory about?
Dr. Porges introduced the Polyvagal Theory (PVT) in 1994, which explores the interaction between the body and its nervous system, explaining how our perceptions of safety, danger, or life-threatening situations influence our behavior. PVT integrates neuroscientific and psychological principles concerning the role of the vagus nerve in regulating emotions, encouraging social connections, and managing fear responses.
The Polyvagal Theory emphasizes the role of the autonomic nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve, plays in regulating our health and behavior. The theory describes the physiological and psychological aspects present in our daily behaviors as well as challenges related to our wellness and mental health. PVT can be applied to other disciplines such as education, medicine, and management to better understand how safety, co-regulation and connection are fundamental to a healthy human experience.
Polyvagal Theory provides insights into how our bodies and brains collaborate in responding to stressors encountered in daily life, as well as more impactful experiences like trauma. According to PVT, our nervous system has three main response states:
– Fight or flight (Sympathetic State), activated in response to a traumatic event or threatening situation.
– Collapse (Dorsal Vagal State), a response that activates when overwhelmed or powerless.
– Social engagement (Ventral Vagal State), a response to the feeling of safety and connection to others.
Whilst each of the three states is controlled by different components of our nervous system, all are under the direct influence of the vagus nerve. Extending from the base of the brain to the gut, the vagus nerve serves as a vital link between brain and body, overseeing functions such as heart rate, breathing, digestion, and emotional regulation. According to PVT, grasping the dynamics of these various states enables us to enhance our self-care and interpersonal understanding, thereby fostering improved health and well-being.
What is it used for?
Polyvagal Therapy is well-suited for individuals that suffer and struggle with anxiety, stress, trauma, emotional regulation, and interpersonal challenges. PVT techniques and treatments can be applied on both adults and children and have successful treatments outcomes. PVT is mainly used when treating people who are dealing with history of traumas, or those who are seeking to understand physiological responses to find relief.
Its Benefits
Polyvagal Therapy (PVT) offers a multifaceted approach to healing with a range of benefits. By regulating the autonomic nervous system (ANS), PVT helps individuals manage stress, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation while addressing trauma-related symptoms and disorders. Through the development of safety and connection, PVT enhances emotional regulation and resilience, promoting greater satisfaction in interpersonal relationships. Integrating body-oriented interventions further stimulates mind-body integration, empowering individuals to reconnect with their bodily sensations and promote healing on physical and emotional levels. Ultimately, PVT empowers individuals by increasing self-awareness and self-efficacy, enabling them to positively engage in their healing journey and make positive changes in their lives.
Its clinical application
While PVT focuses on the role of the vagus nerve in regulating our physiological and emotional responses, particularly in relation to safety and social engagement, there are some key aspects of the clinical application:
• Regulation of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): PVT aims to regulate the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate. By understanding the different states of the ANS (ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal vagal), therapists can help clients regulate their physiological responses to stress and trauma.
• Trauma Resolution: PVT is often used in the treatment of trauma-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, and attachment disorders. By addressing the physiological aspects of trauma responses, therapists can help clients feel safer and more grounded, leading to improved emotional regulation and resilience.
• Emotional Regulation: PVT emphasizes the importance of building a sense of safety and connection in therapeutic relationships. Therapists help clients identify triggers that activate their sympathetic or dorsal vagal responses and develop strategies to shift into a more regulated state, characterized by social engagement and connection.
• Body-Oriented Interventions: PVT incorporates body-oriented interventions, such as breathwork, mindfulness, and somatic experiencing, to help clients reconnect with their bodily sensations and regulate their physiological responses. These interventions can be particularly beneficial for individuals who have experienced trauma or have difficulty accessing their emotions.
• Social Engagement: PVT emphasizes the importance of social connection and relationships in promoting health and well-being. Therapists help clients cultivate a sense of safety and trust in their relationships, leading to greater resilience and emotional regulation.
When is the Event happening?
Stephen Porges and others will help you discover how to use the Polyvagal Theory in clinical settings to help your client’s overcome trauma and addiction related issues. Find out how here.
