Polyvagal Exercises For Safety And Connection

Book Description :

A practical guide to working with the principles of polyvagal theory beyond the therapy session. Deb Dana is the foremost translator of polyvagal theory into clinical practice. Here, in her third book on this groundbreaking theory, she provides therapists with a grab bag of polyvagal-informed exercises for their clients, to use both within and between sessions. These exercises offer readily understandable explanations of the ways the autonomic nervous system directs daily living. They use the principles of polyvagal theory to guide clients to safely connect to their autonomic responses and navigate daily experiences in new ways. The exercises are designed to be introduced over time in a variety of clinical sessions with accompanying exercises appropriate for use by clients between sessions to enhance the therapeutic change process. Essential reading for any therapist who wants to take their polyvagal knowledge to the next level and is looking for easy ways to deliver polyvagal solutions with their clients.

Book Description :

Offers therapists a low tech–high impact, interactive way to explain polyvagal theory to clients. When clients are stuck in the cognitive experience of their story, an explanation of polyvagal theory helps to bring their attention to the autonomic experience— to bring the importance of the biology of their experience back into awareness. Yet polyvagal theory can be challenging and intimidating to explain. This flip chart offers therapists an easy, standardized way to support clients in understanding the role of the autonomic nervous system in their lives. Using a flip chart makes psycho- education an interactive experience. Therapists can feel confident in teaching their clients polyvagal theory by following the chart. With a flip chart visible during sessions, the therapist can: remind clients of the ways the autonomic nervous system has been shaped and is active in their daily living experience, display a page corresponding to the present moment, thus anchoring that experience in the theory, keep a page of the hierarchy visible when working with a client's habitual response pattern.

Book Description :

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 which: elaborate on the principle of safety in clinical practice with children with abuse histories explain the restorative consequences of movement, rhythm, and dance in promoting social connectedness and resilience in trauma survivors explains how Polyvagal Theory can be used to understand the neurophysiological processes in various therapies discuss dissociative processes and treatments designed to experience bodily feelings of safety and trust examine fear of flying and how using positive memories as an active "bottom up" neuroceptive process may effectively down-regulate defense shed light on the poorly understood experience of grief Through 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.

Book Description :

Discover your body’s neural pathways to calmness, safety, and connection. An intense conversation, a spat with a partner, or even an obnoxious tweet—these situations aren’t life-or-death, yet we often react as if they are. That’s because our bodies treat most perceived threats the same way. Yet one approach has proven to be incredibly effective in training our nervous system to stop overreacting and start responding to the world with greater safety and ease: Polyvagal Theory. In Anchored, expert teacher Deb Dana shares a down-to-earth presentation of Polyvagal Theory, then brings the science to life with practical, everyday ways to transform your relationship with your body. Using field-tested techniques, Dana helps you master the skills to become more aware of your nervous system moment to moment—and change the way you respond to the great and small challenges of life. Here, you’ll explore: • Polyvagal Theory—get to know the biology and function of your vagus nerve, the highway of the nervous system • Befriending Your Nervous System—attune to what’s going on in your body by developing your “neuroception” • Using Your Vagal Brake—discover key techniques to consciously regulate the intensity of your emotions • Connection and Protection—learn to recognize and influence your internal cues for safety and danger • Your Social Engagement System—find ways to create nourishing relationships with others and the world around you • Practices and guidance to gently shape your nervous system for greater resilience, intuition, safety, and wonder Through guided imagery, meditation, self-inquiry, and more, Anchored offers a practical user’s manual for moving from a place of fear and panic into a grounded space of balance and confidence. “Once we know how our nervous system works, we can work with it,” teaches Deb Dana. “We can learn to access an embodied, biological resource that is always present, available, and there to guide us toward well-being.”

Book Description :

A collection of groundbreaking research by a leading figure in neuroscience.

Book Description :

This practical guide to understanding the cranial nerves as the key to our psychological and physical well-being builds on Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal Theory—one of the most important recent developments in human neurobiology. Drawing on more than thirty years of experience as a craniosacral therapist and Rolfer, Stanley Rosenberg explores the crucial role that the vagus nerve plays in determining our psychological and emotional states and explains that a myriad of common psychological and physical symptoms—from anxiety and depression to migraines and back pain—indicates a lack of proper functioning in the vagus nerve. Through a series of easy self-help exercises, the book illustrates the simple ways we can regulate the vagus nerve in order to initiate deep relaxation, improve sleep, and recover from injury and trauma. Additionally, by exploring the link between a well-regulated vagus nerve and social functioning, Rosenberg’s findings and methods offer new hope that by improving social behavior it is possible to alleviate some of the symptoms at the core of many cases of autism spectrum disorders. Useful for psychotherapists, doctors, bodyworkers, and caregivers, as well as anyone who experiences the symptoms of chronic stress and depression, this book shows how we can optimize autonomic functioning in ourselves and others, and bring the body into the state of safety that activates its innate capacity to heal.

Book Description :

Whether it’s a critical comment from the boss or a full-blown catastrophe, life continually dishes out challenges. Resilience is the learned capacity to cope with any level of adversity, from the small annoyances of daily life to the struggles and sorrows that break our hearts. Resilience is essential for surviving and thriving in a world full of troubles and tragedies, and it is completely trainable and recoverable — when we know how. In Resilience, Linda Graham offers clear guidance to help you develop somatic, emotional, relational, and reflective intelligence — the skills you need to confidently and effectively cope with life’s inevitable challenges and crises.

Book Description :

A practical guide to working with the principles of polyvagal theory beyond the therapy session. Deb Dana is the foremost translator of polyvagal theory into clinical practice. Here, in her third book on this groundbreaking theory, she provides therapists with a grab bag of polyvagal-informed exercises for their clients, to use both within and between sessions. These exercises offer readily understandable explanations of the ways the autonomic nervous system directs daily living. They use the principles of polyvagal theory to guide clients to safely connect to their autonomic responses and navigate daily experiences in new ways. The exercises are designed to be introduced over time in a variety of clinical sessions with accompanying exercises appropriate for use by clients between sessions to enhance the therapeutic change process. Essential reading for any therapist who wants to take their polyvagal knowledge to the next level and is looking for easy ways to deliver polyvagal solutions with their clients.

Book Description :

** 55% OFF FOR BOOKSTORES! LAST DAYS! ** Have you been facing feelings of anxiety for a long time now?Have you been fighting depressing feelings, and wondering if everything is or will be alright with you in the end? Statistics have shown that some of the highest causes of death in the world are anxiety, depression and feelings of boredom and loneliness. Our world has become one of survival of the fittest. People wake up in the morning with countless activities lined up for the day that often consume the time meant for resting and self-reflection. We go to our jobs and work hard until late in the evening and sometimes head to other events before going home for the night. When it comes to managing issues such as anxiety and stress, there are a number of things that come to mind. However, the Polyvagal Theory which was expounded by Stephen Porges and Stanley Rosenberg would turn out to be one of the best guides out there. This book will thus focus on these theories and provide many keys and tools from which to choose. Some of these will include: ● Learning the various parts of the autonomic nervous system and how they influence certain reactions ● Understanding the various reactions humans are prone to when faced with various challenging circumstances ● Learning how the polyvagal theory can be applied in your life ● Understanding how the polyvagal theory affects the management of autism and stress in general. There are a lot of quick-and-easy ways to activate and exercise the nerve, strengthening its function and restoring your body to good health. Packed with easy-to-follow exercises and activities, this book will show you how to unlock the power of the vagus nerve to heal your body and get back to a state of balance.

Book Description :

How sustained disruptions to children’s safety have physical, behavioral, and mental health impact that follow them into adulthood. At its heart, polyvagal theory describes how the brain’s unconscious sense of safety or danger impacts our emotions and behaviors. In this powerful book, pediatrician and neonatologist Marilyn R. Sanders and child psychiatrist George S. Thompson offer readers both a meditation on caregiving and a call to action for physicians, educators, and mental health providers. When children don’t have safe relationships, or emotional, medical, or physical traumas punctuate their lives, their ability to love, trust, and thrive is damaged. Children who have multiple relationship disruptions may have physical, behavioral, or mental health concerns that follow them into adulthood. By attending to the lessons of polyvagal theory—that adult caregivers must be aware of children’s unconscious processing of sensory information—the authors show how professionals can play a critical role in establishing a sense of safety even in the face of dangerous, and sometimes incomprehensibly scary, situations.

Book Description :

Deb Dana is the leading clinical translator of Stephen Porges's influential polyvagal theory. Here she further extends the reach of this groundbreaking perspective on mental wellness in the form of a card deck. These cards have been thoughtfully created to provide polyvagal concepts and prompts grouped into four areas representing three sections of the autonomic hierarchy: ventral; sympathetic; dorsal (a section about regulating the system); and a bonus section exploring play, stillness, and change. The cards will enable clients to enhance a broad understanding of their nervous system as well as guide them through a process of tuning in. Clinicians can use the cards at the beginning of a session to frame the work or at the end to create a plan for ongoing work. Clients can reach for the cards any time they want some nervous system support.

Book Description :

Outlining a new, optimistic way to understand autism, this concise and accessible book offers practical ideas to help children on the spectrum grow. The Polyvagal Theory suggests autism is a learnt response by the body - a result of the child being in a prolonged state of 'fight or flight' while their nervous system is still developing. This book explains the theory in simple terms and incorporates recent developments in brain plasticity research (the capacity of the brain to change throughout life) to give parents and professionals the tools to strengthen the child's brain-body connection and lessen the social and emotional impact of autism.

Book Description :

Are you struggling with chronic illness, PTSD, and depression? Are you chronically fighting with illnesses like anxiety, inflammation, fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue? If so, you've found the right book. Learning about the polyvagal theory is learning about the science of security, the science of feeling safe enough to fall in love with life, and take the risk of living. The polyvagal theory provides a physiological and psychological understanding of how and why patients move through a continuous cycle of mobilization, disconnection, and commitment. Through the lens of the polyvagal theory, we see the role of the autonomic nervous system as it shapes patient safety experiences and influences their ability to connect. The autonomic nervous system does not respond to the challenges of everyday life by telling us what we are or who we are, but by telling us how we are. This system manages the risk and creates connection patterns by changing our physiological state. These changes can be slight for many people, and, at times, when there are significant changes of state, their system is resilient enough to help them return to a regulated state. Trauma disrupts the process of building the autonomous circuit of secure connection and diverts the development of regulation and resilience. Patients with a traumatic history often experience more intense and extreme autonomic responses, which affects their ability to regulate and feel safe in relationships. This book helps everybody to incorporate polyvagal theory into daily life. It provides a comprehensive approach to the intervention by presenting ways to map the autonomous response and configure the autonomic nervous system for safety. With this book, the polyvagal theory is at your disposal, and empirical records and exercises either. In this book, you will find: The Benefits of Vagus Nerve How to Stimulate the Vagus Nerve to Relieve Stress How to Improve the functioning of your body How to Daily Activate Your Vagus Nerve Several Vagus Exercises Anxiety Exercises to relieve the pain The book puts a lot of emphasis on friendship with the nervous system, presents the science of connection, and provides an essential fluency in the language of polyvagal theory. These chapters set out the crucial elements of the method, build a solid knowledge base, and set the stage for working with the clinical applications presented in the rest of the book. With this book, you will learn how to stimulate your Vagus Nerve with practical self-help exercises. You will overcome Anxiety, Chronic Illness, Depression, PTSD, Inflammation, and more with remedies that are already present in your body. ➚ Scroll up and click on "Buy Now"!

Book Description :

The foundational role of safety in our lives. Ever since publication of The Polyvagal Theory in 2011, demand for information about this innovative perspective has been constant. Here Stephen W. Porges brings together his most important writings since the publication of that seminal work. At its heart, polyvagal theory is about safety. It provides an understanding that feeling safe is dependent on autonomic states, and that our cognitive evaluations of risk in the environment, including identifying potentially dangerous relationships, play a secondary role to our visceral reactions to people and places. Our reaction to the continuing global pandemic supports one of the central concepts of polyvagal theory: that a desire to connect safely with others is our biological imperative. Indeed, life may be seen as an inherent quest for safety. These ideas, and more, are outlined in chapters on therapeutic presence, group psychotherapy, yoga and music therapy, autism, trauma, date rape, medical trauma, and COVID-19.

Book Description :

Feel empowered with your finances and discover the route to economic equality in this astonishing dissection of the gender wealth gap 'Uncovers the realities of money in the modern world' Stylist 'This book will open your eyes' 5***** Reader Review 'Goes beyond talks of glass ceilings and gender pay gaps' Dazed 'Shocking and brilliant' 5***** Reader Review ________ Did you know? Nearly 70% of Britain's homeless are women. There are more men called Dave running the UK's top 100 companies than there are women altogether. Women outperform men educationally at every level from high school to PhD - but still get paid less. In this astonishing dissection of the gender wealth gap, financial journalist Annabelle Williams explains why so few women rank among the super-rich and why women are the majority of those in poverty. From the personal - feeling financially confident and liberated - to the political - demanding systemic support and representation - this ground-breaking exposé will empower your financial decisions and arm you with the knowledge needed to demand equality. ________ 'It is refreshing to see Williams challenge well-worn sexist myths' i 'Annabelle Williams uncovers the realities of money in the modern world, and what exactly we can do about the fact that women are poorer than men' Stylist 'Goes beyond talks of glass ceilings and gender pay gaps to a more nuanced look at the institutional oppression faced by women on a daily basis' Dazed

Book Description :

Bridging the gap between research, science, and the therapy room. When The Polyvagal Theory was published in 2011, it took the therapeutic world by storm, bringing Stephen Porges’s insights about the autonomic nervous system to a clinical audience interested in understanding trauma, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. The book made accessible to clinicians and other professionals a polyvagal perspective that provided new concepts and insights for understanding human behavior. The perspective placed an emphasis on the important link between psychological experiences and physical manifestations in the body. That book was brilliant but also quite challenging to read for some. Since publication of that book, Stephen Porges has been urged to make these ideas more accessible and The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory is the result. Constructs and concepts embedded in polyvagal theory are explained conversationally in The Pocket Guide and there is an introductory chapter which discusses the science and the scientific culture in which polyvagal theory was originally developed. Publication of this work enables Stephen Porges to expand the meaning and clinical relevance of this groundbreaking theory.

Book Description :

Applying somatic principles to the Internal Family Systems model Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy introduces a new therapeutic modality that blends principles of somatic therapy--like movement, touch, and breathwork--with the traditional tools of the Internal Family Systems framework. Broadening the benefits and applications of the IFS model, author Susan McConnell introduces 5 core practices that mental health professionals can apply to their practice: somatic awareness, conscious breathing, radical resonance, mindful movement, and attuned touch. Clinical applications include the treatment of depression, trauma, anxiety, eating disorders, chronic illness, and attachment disorders. Within the IFS framework, clients will learn to identify their "inner worlds"--the discrete subpersonalities within each of us that hold emotions, perceptions, and belief systems, and that affect our behavior and emotional wellness. Body-based somatic tools are incorporated into therapy as patients learn to recognize different facets of their internal family and reconcile the needs of subpersonalities--like their inner child or internal manager--to bring more harmony to their physical and emotional well-being.

Book Description :

A practical, integrated approach for therapists working with people (both adults and children) who have been impacted by developmental trauma and attachment difficulties Kathy L. Kain and Stephen J. Terrell draw on fifty years of their combined clinical and teaching experience to provide this clear road map for understanding the complexities of early trauma and its related symptoms. Experts in the physiology of trauma, the authors present an introduction to their innovative somatic approach that has evolved to help thousands improve their lives. Synthesizing across disciplines--Attachment, Polyvagal, Neuroscience, Child Development Theory, Trauma, and Somatics--this book provides a new lens through which to understand safety and regulation. It includes the survey used in the groundbreaking ACE Study, which discovered a clear connection between early childhood trauma and chronic health problems. For therapists working with both adults and children and anyone dealing with symptoms that typically arise from early childhood trauma--anxiety, behavioral issues, depression, metabolic disorders, migraine, sleep problems, and more--this book offers fresh hope.

Book Description :

Release tension, boost your mood, and heal from traumatic experiences with therapist-approved activities in this easy-to-use guide to somatic therapy. The effects of a traumatic event are more than just mental. Trauma can manifest in the body as well as cause chronic pain, sluggishness, and even depressed mood. Somatic psychology is an alternative therapy that analyzes this mind-body connection and helps you release pent-up tension and truly heal from past trauma. The Somatic Psychology Workbook offers a primer to this life-changing approach as a means for personal growth, designed for beginners or those already using somatic techniques in their current therapeutic process. This safe and approachable look at somatic psychology includes: - journal exercises - body-centered prompts for personal inquiry - movement exercises - real-life experiments Readers will come away with a new ability to process and accept their emotions and an understanding of how to live a somatically-oriented and embodied life.

Book Description :

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 The autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the reactions of the body, is also responsible for the responses and recoveries from the challenges of daily living. #2 The autonomic nervous system is made up of three parts, each with its own set of protective actions. The earliest dorsal vagal system brings strategies of immobilization. The sympathetic system, next to arrive, adds fight and flight. The most recent ventral vagal system offers the ability for safety through connection and social engagement. #3 Neuroception, detection without awareness, describes the way the autonomic nervous system interfaces with the world. Reshaping the autonomic nervous system involves first making the implicit experience explicit by bringing perception to neuroception and then adding context through the lens of discernment. #4 Co-regulation is a biological imperative. It is essential to survival. The ability to self-regulate is built on ongoing experiences of co-regulation. With a reliable, regulating other, we engage in the rhythm of reciprocity and build experiences of safety in connection.