Deb Dana on connecting

Deb Dana has brought the Polyvagal Theory to life in a very accessible way for therapists. Today we catch up with Deb and talk about a number of things including the difficulties and opportunities of co-regulation over the internet in a time of lock down.

The Rhythm of Regulation – Polyvagal Theory with Deb Dana – Foundation I – Online Workshop Saturday, 6 June 2020 from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm (AEST)

For more about Deb, and her workshops, please go to The Rhythm of Regulation

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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.

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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, standardised 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 and keep a page of the hierarchy visible when working with a client’s habitual response pattern.

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Written for all therapists who want to understand this groundbreaking theory as it might actually show up in their day-to-day practice, this book offers a comprehensive approach to polyvagal-informed intervention. Worksheets and experiential exercises designed to map and shape autonomic response provide therapists with a road map for bringing polyvagal theory into their clinical practice.