Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection: 50 Client-Centered Practices

by Deb Dana

Overview

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.

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780393713855
Publisher:	Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
Publication date:	04/21/2020
Series:	Norton Series on Interpersonal Neurobiology
Pages:	360
Sales rank:	68,118
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Deb Dana, LCSW, is a clinician, consultant, and speaker specializing in complex trauma. She is the leading translator of Dr. Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory for both clinical and general audiences, and the best-selling author of Polyvagal Practices, Polyvagal Card Deck, The Polyvagal Flip Chart, Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection, The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy, and co-editor with Dr. Stephen Porges of Clinical Applications of The Polyvagal Theory. She trains therapists around the world in how to bring a Polyvagal approach into their clinical practice, and also works with agencies and larger systems to explore how to incorporate a Polyvagal perspective.

She is founding member of The Polyvagal Institute, a consultant to Khiron Clinics, and an advisor to Unyte. Visit her website at http://rhythmofregulation.com/.

Table of Contents

Foreword xiii

Acknowledgments xix

Introduction xxiii

Section I The Autonomic Nervous System: Patterns and Pathways 1

Chapter 1 The Autonomic Hierarchy 7

Chapter 2 Neuroception 19

Chapter 3 Co-Regulation 26

Section II Navigating Autonomic Pathways: The Basic Approach 35

Chapter 4 Befriending the Autonomic Nervous System 41

Accurate Autonomic Awareness

Exercise: Autonomic Landmarks 43

Exercise: Ventral Vagal Anchors 47

The Art of Befriending

Exercise: Befriending The Hierarchy 51

Exercise: Autonomic Trees 53

The Practice of Reconnecting

Exercise: Body Language 58

Exercise: The Continuum Between Survival and Social Engagement 60

Exercise: The Social Engagement Scale 62

Exercise: A Neuroception Notebook 64

Chapter 5 Attending to Autonomic States 68

Attending to the Nervous System

Exercise: Autonomic Alphabets 71

Exercise: Autonomic Names 73

Exercise: Autonomic Short Stories 74

Exercise: Attending Over Time 76

Attending To Autonomic Pathways

Exercise: Daily Pie Charts 81

Exercise: Daily Tracker-Three Different Things 83

Exercise: The Autonomic Request for Connection 85

Playfulness

Exercise: Pathways to Playfulness 88

Exercise: Playful Moments 89

Rethinking Solitude

Exercise: Personal Preferences Around Solitude 92

Exercise: Attending to Stillness 94

Moments to Savor

Exercise: Savoring Snapshots 96

Expanding Outward

Exercise: Attending Through Art 100

Exercise: Attending In Nature 101

Chapter 6 Shaping the Autonomic Nervous System 104

The Right Degree of Challenge

Exercise: Energy and Actions Map 106

Glimmers and Glows

Exercise: Finding Glimmers 108

Exercise: From Glimmer to Glow 110

Shaping Your Story through Sound

Exercise: The Sound of Your Voice 113

Exercise: The Music in Your Life 115

Shaping Through Movement

Exercise: Moments of Movement 117

Exercise: Imagined Action 120

Exercise: Labyrinth Walking 122

Shaping Through Breathing

Exercise: Find Your Breath 125

Exercise: Understand Your Breath 126

Exercise: Follow Your Breath 128

Shaping Through the Environment

Exercise: Green, Blue, and Flowering 133

Exercise: A Ventral Vagal Space of Your Own 137

Shaping Through Reflection

Exercise: Writing Your Reflections 140

Exercise: Reflecting with Compassion 142

Chapter 7 Integrating New Autonomic Rhythms 146

A New Rhythm of Regulation

Exercise: Recognize 149

Exercise: Reflect 151

Exercise: Regulate 152

Exercise: Create "If-Then" Statements 153

Exercise: Re-Story 156

Resilience

Exercise: Exercise the Vagal Brake 159

Exercise: Resilience Routines 164

Chapter 8 Connecting to Others 168

Belonging

Exercise: Rules of Reciprocity 171

Exercise: Personal Connection Plan 173

Exercise: Clusters of Connection 175

Connection to Something Greater Than Self

Exercise: With Gratitude 179

Exercise: Compassionate Connections 181

Exercise: Awe Inspiring 184

Conclusion 190

Appendix 198

Exercise Worksheets 203

References 295

Index 315

Editorial Reviews

"Whether or not you are familiar with Polyvagal Theory, I highly recommend this invaluable resource and guide. Deb Dana eloquently explains the physiology of fight/flight/freeze responses and offers creative strategies to increase self-awareness while simultaneously providing resourcing for re-grounding, self-soothing, resilience, and the capacity for safe connection with others. Step-by-step guidance for incorporating breathwork, guided imagery, somatic resourcing, journaling, art modalities, and movement provide a terrific roadmap for healing work that can be achieved both in and out of the therapist's office."

Lisa Ferentz. LCSW-C

"Written with great intelligence and clarity, Deb Dana's Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection provides clinicians with everything they need to help clients become adept at managing the dysregulating survival responses of their nervous systems. Clients can immediately learn to implement a wealth of precise and practical tools, within and beyond the therapy room, to respond to and recover from the challenges of daily living with competence and courage."

Linda Graham

"This book is a beautiful example of the notion that ‘sensing, naming, and identifying what is going on inside is the first step to recovery.’ Deb Dana lucidly guides you to travel deep inside of yourself to become aware of how your internal surveillance system—the safety settings of your autonomic nervous system—is the foundation of the way we feel, act, and think. This is a valuable manual to help you address your inner physiology and thereby create the necessary conditions for safety and connection."

Bessel A. van der Kolk

"Deb Dana has given a very clear, illuminating guide for therapists to help their clients embody deep healing. This essential book has excellent, user-friendly, and practical interventions that support polyvagal-informed treatment based on Stephen Porges' research, which validates the success underlying all somatic therapies. This book is a must-read for any therapist working with trauma and interested in efficient and effective treatment."

Diane Poole Heller