Polyvagal Theory-Informed Therapy
The portion of your nervous system that is most active at any given moment determines how you feel, what thoughts and assumptions you're likely to be focused on, and the overall experience in your body.
This understanding is based in "polyvagal theory" (PVT), which was first developed in the 1990s by Stephen Porges as a scientific explanation for how the very structure of our nervous systems shapes the way we navigate our lives and interpersonal relationships.
When we feel safe and connected, the upper branch of the vagus nerve is activated, and we feel fully alive and well. When safety and connection are disrupted, we drop into survival modes: fight or flight (sympathetic nervous system) or freeze (activation of the lower branch of the vagus nerve). And amazingly, it works this way for every mammal - for you, for those close to you, for people you'll never even meet, and also for your dog, cat or horse (not to mention monkeys, elephants and whales)!
Problems arise if we get stuck in a survival level of activation. When that happens, we need to "bring online" the upper branch of the vagus nerve to come into a state of relative well-being and effective response. This is a learnable skill, and the essence of what I help you develop in PVT-informed therapy.
PVT-informed techniques are creative, collaborative, and often make use of imaginative imagery and even music. This doesn't mean they are "lightweight." PVT-informed therapy can be very effective in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, and difficulties related to overall emotional dysregulation (extreme or overwhelming emotions you can't seem to manage). Learning how to intervene directly with your nervous system allows you to elegantly work on feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations all at once.
In working together, we can combine PVT techniques with other tools, as appropriate for what you're working on and what works best for you.