The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy

Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation

By: Deb Dana, Stephen W. Porges - foreword

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

This book offers therapists an integrated approach to adding a polyvagal foundation to their work with clients. With clear explanations of the organizing principles of Polyvagal theory, this complex theory is translated into clinician and client-friendly language. Using a unique autonomic mapping process designed to effectively track autonomic response patterns, this book presents practical ways to work with clients' experiences of connection. Through exercises that have been specifically created to engage the regulating capacities of the ventral vagal system, therapists are given tools to help clients reshape their autonomic nervous systems.

Adding a polyvagal perspective to clinical practice draws the autonomic nervous system directly into the work of therapy, helping clients re-pattern their nervous systems, build capacities for regulation, and create autonomic pathways of safety and connection. With chapters that build confidence in understanding Polyvagal theory and introduce practices for re-patterning, as well as a series of autonomic meditations, this book offers therapists a guide to practicing polyvagal-informed therapy.

©2018 Deb Dana (P)2019 Tantor

Content good

This book has tons of great info. But I really didn’t like the voice of the reader. I guess it’s just a personal thing. Listen to sample first to make sure you’re ok with the voice!

Content great, narrator robotic

I loved the content and will be using it with my clients- so helpful!! However listening to this narrator was difficult! The emphases of the words made it difficult to know when sentences ended and started.

Written for practitioners, useful for all

This book enhanced an important perspective that healing through understanding not just psychology but also physiology is possible. I appreciated the repetition, as listening for me can be more challenging than, for example, seeing a chart that breaks things down. There were lots of examples and stories that were direct and to the point but illustrated well the steps to healing.

Essential to Physicians everywhere

If you have read Dr Bessel Van Der Kolks book you have your introduction to Dr Stephen Porges theory. This book allows the perspective of separating stories we tell ourselves to the states of ventral vagal and sympathetic neural states we all experience in our own bodies as well as in the patients we treat in every specialty. I highly recommend this practice.

The foundation of all somatic sensitive therapy.

Highly recommend this book. Great overview of polyvagal theory and how to apply it. Lots of exercises are shared.

Wonderful book - terrible as Audible

LoveloveLOVE the book, nothing wrong with the narration either, but unless you're looking specifically to read this during another activity like driving/cleaning, you're better off just purchasing the kindle. Absolutely none of the chapters are labeled, good luck knowing where the exercises are; just kinda click and guess at the end of each chapter and pray you didn't miss anything. There are no additional pdf's like other therapeutic books so that you can access diagrams or worksheets which is why I recommend the Kindle version only unless you need someone to read the book to you.

Very useful and practical

I would recommend having a paper copy of this but excellent on Audible too since there are some images, useful written exercises to help understand concepts both for therapist and client. If you are a therapist, teacher, medical professional, this theory I believe is the future of how we understand those in our care and also ourselves. It moves away from pathologising the client's condition and more into helping us understand the physiology behind the human condition.

wonderful!

This book is a wonderful overview of the Siri, and also provides great practical interventions. I will definitely be using this in my therapy practice!

Polyvagal Theory in Practice

This book is extremely useful for therapist looking to add polyvagal work to their practice. Deb Dana is particularly effective at communicating how to use the theory as a template instead of directed techniques. I would not recommend this to anyone planning on using the theory outside of therapy (hence the title), but for any therapist searching for ways to help clients communicate their experiences in their own language, this book offers a superb pathway toward coregulation.

Excellent listen

Very informative and practical. Will be listening again to practice some of the interventions offered.