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.
Julius (verified owner) –
MSW, LSW, Trauma Therapist here, I work mainly with kiddos and adolescents…but these exercises could be applied to this population if I “alter” some of the ideas. I am a huge fan of Deb Dana and Stephen Porges. PVT has helped me clinically and I HIGHLY recommend this book along with Deb Dana’s Polyvagal Theory book too!
George S. Thompson (verified owner) –
I have just received my copy of Deb Dana’s newest book and am trembling with excitement. Deb was kind enough to share early versions of her polyvagal exercises and allow the agency where I am Chief Medical Officer to pilot using them. We used Deb’s exercises with the staff of our psychiatric residential facility, the children who had experienced developmental trauma, and the parents who are raising those children now. Most all found the polyvagal theory to be an eye-opening explanation for what had been happening emotionally with the children and the adults. Most all found that the exercises helped them to take control of their autonomic nervous system, and move “up the polyvagal ladder” to states of open-hearted connection and wisdom.
I will make sure to report back once I get a chance to dive into how Deb has expanded on her explanations and created additional exercises.
Tournier (verified owner) –
Merci
TB (verified owner) –
Great product.
KarenM (verified owner) –
Great exercises to use with clients to help them understand polyvagual theory made simple. How to take charge emotional well-being and move to states of emotional safety
Ami (verified owner) –
Great book
hotforyoga (verified owner) –
This book and all of Deb Dana’s work has informed my therapeutic practice tremendously. Her practices are easy and they work for Clients. I can’t recommend this book more.
Booklover (verified owner) –
Absolutely amazing. Textbook for body workers and healing professionals
Suzanne Patterson (verified owner) –
Deb has done it again with yet another wonderful resource for clinicians!
Charlotte (verified owner) –
Such an interesting and interactive resource
Margar (verified owner) –
An excellent book that brings to life the Polyvagal Theory in the context of healing and therapy.
Marber (verified owner) –
Great book for therapists!
Rhonda W. (verified owner) –
I am not a psychotherapist, but I am interested in how the autonomic nervous system works and how it interacts with past trauma. I did all of these exercises myself and found them to be very helpful. I’m actually considering going back time school to become a clinical psychologist now. These practices are amazing!
mez08 (verified owner) –
Interesting book
Sora (verified owner) –
i love it
Tracy Wilson (verified owner) –
The information is clear and concise and a great resource to assist client work.
nicola (verified owner) –
Highly recommended
One of the unfortunate customers (verified owner) –
Really good product, fast delivery! Very professional service on every level!!
Roxana Linazasoro (verified owner) –
One of my favorite books for working with trauma. I’m a trauma professional, and definitely it’s part of my practice as a clinician.
Fiona (verified owner) –
great book for psychotherapist to use for self and with clients.
Great explanations in plain language.
Luchador (verified owner) –
This is a very readable, practical book on polyvagal theory. It explains the theory in a comprehensible way in the several chapters and then provides practicable exercises. It is an important tool for professionals providing services for trauma survivors, as well as anyone who has an interest in how to better understand and support emotional regulation.
Shorty (verified owner) –
Amazing psychodynamics and physiology.
Lenore Davi (verified owner) –
Very clear explanations of each process, this is my second copy…. and 3 people l loaned it to have also purchased it afterwards. Great for therapists, counsellors, or anyone needing practical steps to calm the nervous system and reconnect with themselves.
Ms. J. Collier (verified owner) –
I purchased this to help use polyvagal theory in my work with an autistic PDA student. I also purchased “The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy: Engaging the Rhythm of Regulation” and I would suggest only buying this book rather than both if you know a little about polyvagal theory already. The other book covered very similar content but was more explanatory whereas the 50 exercises book was far more practical.
I use this book’s techniques every day to calm myself down with my own children – it suggests doing the exercises yourself first so I did and it really helped me personally which was unexpected. If you want help but can’t afford therapy then this would be a good thing to read as long as you are willing to put the work in yourself to do the exercises.
There are 50 and you don’t need to do them all but it might be worth putting a recurring calander event in so you do one per week/two per week so the book doesn’t end up gathering dust on your shelf.
I did some with my husband and discussed them afterwards which was really lovely and felt very safe and a lovely bonding activity (e.g imagining your polyvagal tree and seeing how ours differed, which helped us to understand each other more).
This book has also been really helpful at work so to sum up – if you’re on the fence, purchase it!
Therartmom (verified owner) –
just what I taught. exercises.
Breindy Gold (verified owner) –
Great book
Robin Chaustowich (verified owner) –
Looking for activities and interventions? Then this is your one stop shop! So many helpful and creative exercises which can be applied to a variety of clients ! This is a fantastic toolkit for both clinician and client.
Dee (verified owner) –
I love how Deb Dana has made polyvagal theory, and exercises to promote safety and connection so accessible, another wonderful contribution to the world