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The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy

Written by: Deb Dana,Stephen W. Porges - foreword
Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
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Publisher's Summary

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

What listeners say about The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy

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Life Changing and Paradigm Shifting

I've read several other books including by Drs. van der Kolk, Peter Levine and Gabor Maté. I've found them all useful and these and many other books also mention Polyvagal Theory. However, this book by Deb Dana transformed my life!! Understanding where I am on the ladder and how to recognize and cope even if I'm in Dorsal collapse (at times frequently) has been cathartic. Learning simple tools (humming, music, taking a hot bath, getting out into nature etc.) to help get myself back to Ventral Vagal. The fact that this theory can so conveniently work alongside, compliment and enhance most modalities of therapy is such a blessing. Told my therapist I was reading this book and even though he was already aware of the Stephen Porges theory, he did not have a copy so immediately went online and ordered the book and the accompanying workbook.

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concrete and clear

this book brings clarity to the concepts of polyvagal theory in practice. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of play therapy, art, touch, movement etc in the exercises.

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2 people found this helpful

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This book is written for therapists, but...

As a layman myself, I learned a lot of thinga I could apply to my life.

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Fantastic resource

Finally I understand how to use pendulation and titration when working with the central nervous system. I’m wishing I had read this book earlier, but appreciate having read it now. It has nicely tied up loose ends in my previous understanding of how to use the Polyvagal theory with clients.

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Well written and worked out

Very well written and worked out. Helpful in many ways of how to bring awareness to the different states and how to apply the theory in practice.

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essential

An excellent book and essential to enrich understanding of both trauma, attachment, and how everything is connected

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Great resource.

Very helpful for clinicians!
A model that improves interaction and respects the nervous system in such a way that the most basic signals can now become therapy. Recognize your client’s state, be compassionate and remember you are sensory input to your clients.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 2019-07-12

great resource

I'm a mindfulness meditation teacher. I teach in the prison and in urban communities and young men dealing with trauma. This book was a tremendous resource and I am not a therapist

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28 people found this helpful

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  • Ellyn Reid
  • 2020-03-07

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.

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27 people found this helpful

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  • Altadenamom
  • 2019-10-22

Most helpful book for my work with clients

In 27 years practicing as a clinical psychologist, this is one of the most helpful and practical books on helping my work with clients, particularly treatment resistant clients with rage, complex PTSD, and various disorders or disregulation. Integrating it with DIR Floortime theory has been one of the most productive ways to help staff therapists and parents in their work with children with neurodevelopmental challenges.

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15 people found this helpful

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  • Jennifer
  • 2020-04-21

For non-therapists too

I'm not a therapist, just someone trying to heal and understand my struggles with c-ptsd. I found the information really helpful and I have gained a lot of insight into my setbacks and patterns. I'm excited for the possibilities with this new understanding of myself.

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9 people found this helpful

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  • BRI
  • 2020-06-16

Audio Quality is Poor

I had been listening to this book and then took a break for a while. When I'm revisiting it, the beginning words of the sentences are cut-off, so it is hard to tell what she's saying - parasympathetic or sympathetic. I'm finding myself pretty distracted from the content because the narration is odd. I re-downloaded it to make sure, but that didn't help.

This theory is very intriguing, however, I'll likely just buy the hardcopy of the book.

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  • Jennifer Brown
  • 2019-12-29

the narrator is boring to listen to

this book has great content, but the narrator is really hard to listen to.

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  • Incognito
  • 2020-04-26

Love the narrator. Interesting but too abstract.

Struggled to finish but I loved the narrators voice so I put it on whenever I wanted to listen to a calming voice. Not a therapist, so if you are maybe its perfect for you. The subject interests me greatly but this book felt like it lacked the meat. It organized the bones neatly, you can see its a mammal, but some muscle, fur and a miao would have made it easier to picture the cat. It ends with two case stories that got me excited but even those are dealt with mostly in the abstract. A bit more pragmatic real-life examples/case stories could have illustrated better, made it stick in your mind better, and helped the theory come to life.

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  • James Burke
  • 2020-04-02

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.

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  • Rhill65
  • 2019-08-01

Great overview of polyvagal theory for therapists.

This book invites you to explore more about polyvagal theory. This is a great overview!

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  • Faith Storms
  • 2021-03-20

excellent

This book was so useful and practical and hopeful. I strongly recommend this to anyone.

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