Understanding Polyvagal Informed Therapy

Polyvagal Informed Therapy: How It Works

Polyvagal Informed Therapy is an approach that focuses on the powerful link between our nervous system and emotional well-being. At Curio Counselling in Calgary, we incorporate polyvagal principles into our therapy sessions, offering a unique, body-centred approach to support healing from trauma, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. In this blog, we’ll dive into what polyvagal-informed therapy is, how it works, and how it can support individuals looking to regain a sense of safety, balance, and resilience.

What Is Polyvagal Informed Therapy?

Polyvagal Informed Therapy is based on Dr. Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, which examines how our nervous system responds to stress and shapes our behaviours, emotions, and relationships. The Polyvagal Theory suggests that our autonomic nervous system—specifically the vagus nerve—controls how we respond to safety, danger, and life’s challenges. This theory highlights three primary states:

1. Ventral Vagal State (Social Engagement): When we feel safe and connected, we are in a ventral vagal state. This is where we experience calm, social engagement, and emotional balance.
2. Sympathetic State (Fight or Flight): In response to perceived danger, our nervous system activates a “fight-or-flight” response, leading to increased heart rate, adrenaline, and a focus on survival.
3. Dorsal Vagal State (Shutdown): In cases of extreme stress or trauma, our body may enter a dorsal vagal state, where we feel numb, disconnected, or “shut down” to conserve energy and protect ourselves.

Polyvagal Informed Therapy leverages an understanding of these states to help individuals increase their awareness of how their nervous system responds to stress and learn skills to return to a state of calm and connection.

How Does Polyvagal Informed Therapy Work?

In polyvagal-informed sessions, therapists guide clients in identifying their unique triggers and stress responses. The therapy integrates mindfulness, somatic practices, and grounding techniques to help clients become attuned to their body’s signals, known as “neuroception.” This awareness allows individuals to recognize when they are shifting into a fight-or-flight response or feeling disconnected and helps them learn to move back into a balanced, ventral vagal state.

Key techniques in Polyvagal Informed Therapy include:

• Breathwork: Slow, rhythmic breathing exercises can help activate the ventral vagal system, promoting a state of calm.
• Body Scanning: This helps clients become aware of tension or sensations in the body, aiding in recognizing shifts in their nervous state.
• Grounding Practices: Simple exercises, like connecting with your environment or focusing on a calming image, can help soothe an activated nervous system.
• Movement and Sensory Input: Gentle movements or engaging the senses (e.g., soft textures, pleasant smells) encourage the nervous system to return to a place of safety.

Who Can Benefit From Polyvagal Informed Therapy?

Polyvagal Informed Therapy is particularly effective for individuals dealing with trauma, anxiety, panic disorders, and other stress-related challenges. Since trauma can often create lasting impacts on the nervous system, individuals may feel stuck in a heightened or shutdown state. Polyvagal Informed Therapy offers a pathway to help regulate these responses and achieve a greater sense of control over one’s emotional and physical well-being.

Conditions that may benefit include:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety Disorders
• Depression
• Panic Attacks
• Chronic Stress or Burnout

How Polyvagal Therapy Supports Healing And Resilience

Through polyvagal-informed work, clients learn to better understand their nervous system and develop strategies to regulate their emotions. Over time, this approach can lead to increased resilience, better emotional regulation, and enhanced well-being. Learning to identify and shift out of defensive states, clients often find they experience improved relationships and can engage more fully in daily life.

Benefits of Polyvagal Informed Therapy include:

• Enhanced Self-Awareness: Becoming attuned to how your body reacts to different situations promotes self-empowerment.
• Increased Resilience: By learning to regulate your nervous system, you build greater emotional resilience.
• Reduced Anxiety and Panic: Clients experience fewer panic attacks and feel more in control during stressful situations.
• Improved Social Connection: When in a calm state, individuals feel safer connecting with others and forming relationships.
• Balanced Emotions: Clients report less frequent emotional highs and lows, achieving a stable sense of well-being.

Why Choose Curio For Polyvagal Informed Therapy?

At Curio Counselling, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where you can explore the powerful mind-body connection and discover healing through polyvagal-informed practices. Our experienced  Calgary therapists in  are trained in body-centred approaches and specialize in helping clients build self-awareness and resilience.

If you’re ready to experience a deeper level of healing and resilience, reach out to Curio  Counselling. We’re here to support you on your journey toward a balanced, fulfilling life through the transformative power of polyvagal-informed therapy.

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