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, standardized 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,
- keep a page of the hierarchy visible when working with a client’s habitual response pattern,
Author Bio:
Deb Dana, LCSW is a clinician, consultant, lecturer, Coordinator of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium in the Kinsey Institute, and developer of the Rhythm of Regulation Clinical Training Series. She also lectures internationally on ways in which Polyvagal Theory informs work with trauma survivors.
- Spiral bound
- 20 pages
The polyvagal flip chart is based on the constructs and principles developed and named by Dr. Porges to explain his theory. On each page of the flip chart, concepts related to Polyvagal Theory are presented. For those interested in reading the foundational source references are listed on the last page of the flip chart.
