Polyvagal Therapy

A somatic-based therapeutic modality that focuses on how the autonomic nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve, influences emotional regulation, interpersonal connections, and trauma response.

Polyvagal therapy is a somatic style of therapy which weaves together the following:

• Retrain the body’s physiological responses to stress 
• Bottom up approach (body-based, somatic) versus top down (brain, cognitive, talk oriented)
• Helps you feel calm, connected, and engaged by regulations the nervous system
• A powerful tool for deeper, more meaningful healing
• Helps you reconnect and tune into your body through emotional and physical cues of stress or safety
• It blends breathing techniques, somatic regulations, and helps you manage emotional shifts
• Sound/vocal exercises stimulate the vagus nerve to activate relaxation and grounded connection (bonus: self-expression with safe and compassionate witnessing!)
• Promotes a sense of safety in the body, moving your nervous system away from states of stress
• Helps to regulate the stress response to manage worry and anxiety states
• Enhances interpersonal connection
• Recalibrates neuroception (subconscious scanner for safety or danger) within the brain to reduce the likelihood of misinterpreting safe situations as threatening 
• Trauma survivors often feel stuck in fight/flight/fawn/freeze modes – Polyvagal techniques offer way to regulate without re-traumatizing 

Who can benefit:

• Truly anyone! Polyvagal techniques can be added to the therapeutic modality you are already engaged in, or it can act as a great stand-alone modality!

Particularly, those who experience:

• Anxiety, worry and panic states
• Depression or other mood disorders
• Those who have experienced trauma or diagnosed with PTSD/complex PTSD
• Individuals with attachment disorders and interpersonal relationship issues
• Clients who struggle with emotion regulation and/or social connection

Watch a video from our wonderful therapist, Ashley Pruitt, giving you some highlights of Polyvagal therapy