Deb Dana about the Polyvagal Theory in psychotherapy

Deb Dana talks with Serge Prengel about using the Polyvagal Theory in clinical practice. From the Active Pause podcast (activepause.com)
Experientially understanding the role of the autonomic nervous system helps to creatively involve clients in their healing process.
Deb Dana, LCSW, specializes in treating complex traumatic stress and lectures internationally on the ways Polyvagal Theory informs clinical interactions with trauma survivors. She is the Coordinator of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium in the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and the developer of the Rhythm of Regulation clinical training series.
ActivePause.com explores creative approaches to mindfulness in therapy and everyday life. For experiential therapy skills, see activepause.com/category/cour....

[@user-qp1jq3eh3e]

Impressed with the level of insight here, amazing gift this lady has.

[@curtisgrindahl446]

I'm a childhood trauma survivor who has spent the last 37 years trying to make sense of my experience. This theory and its application finally put all the pieces together in a way my graduate education in psychology and time as a licensed therapist didn't. I feel I'm being given the tools to work with my own nervous system. After beginning this video I bought this woman's book on the topic... it will be my new bible as I continue to unpack the residue of trauma I didn't remember until I was over fifty years old. Thanks for posting this.

[@jennysmith9591]

I like the interviewer's comment around 17:30 about people's trauma stories being regarded "as if the person were omnipotent", whereas it is a perfectly natural response to go into a sympathetic or dorsal vagal state in response to trauma. Even if we think we cognitively know all the relevant factors when we experience a trauma ,and should therefore just be able to "get over it already"(in a perfectly rational way!), our body can be telling us a different story, one we need to respect.

[@tinahalle3575]

This is soooo very helpful . My 15 year old daughter has an anxiety disorder which is preventing her from even going to school so I’m just a mom looking for answers . This makes so much more sense to me than all that “ just push yourself through it to overcome it stuff we’ve been trying for years with minimal ( if any ) progress . It even made me think about how many parents with young children who haven’t developed good mood regulation that this would be helpful to. I shared the video on a stay at home mom Facebook group . Just seems like something all parents should know. It’s the most common sense thing I’ve heard yet lol.

[@in8Videos]

Excellent stuff. Deb Dana's book "Polyvagal theory in therapy" is vital reading for anyone working with trauma survivors.

[@wkrapek]

You are a very kind lady. And a treasure. Thank you so much for being alive!

[@kristinroberts651]

Wonderful dialogue!

[@tjsantoro1795]

This is an awesome theory for psychotherapy. I have a bachelors degree in Psychology and certification of addiction studies by end of 2021. I would love to use this theory with my addiction, trauma, and anxiety disorder clients

[@michellemcdonnell5197]

‘It’s the autonomic story rather than the cognitive story’. Thankyou, this is the gamechanger for me on my journey (18:25)

[@drsandhyathumsikumar4479]

🎉 great conversations .very helpful. Thanks a lot

[@BHAVENZ]

So valuable ..grateful for your depth of practical functional translation

[@donnavermette2786]

Excellent clinical approach. Will purchase Dana's book.

[@jennifermckenzie1006]

Fantastic Deb, so interesting and so very useful.

[@robynadelman4462]

Wonderful information. Deb Dana is brilliant.

[@hz7988]

great exposition of the application of stephen porges polyvagal theorie. i think it is a very practical practice for the masses with short term results thank you🙏

[@Pro2Metin]

Very enlightening talk/ session

[@RichardZRoss-ip1zz]

This Poylvagal system makes complete sense as it’s so focused on the experience of a client along with their intellectual unfolding (“their story”). For those that can identify what they feel it’s great. However, you don’t in any of your videos, address how a therapist would use this system with clients that have much difficulty in even knowing what they feel. There are those clients who have deadened their bodies due to their pathology, and or, particular circumstances of their life. Tell us how you work with that client.

[@jennysmith9591]

I don't know much yet about mapping polyvagal states, but what you describe sounds pretty much like a dorsal vagal shutdown response to me. I think not knowing what you feel sounds like a big clue that the client is in a state of dissociation. I could be wrong. I would love to learn more about this also.

[@francois315900]

i asked this question to Larry heller (you know him?) who created the method narm which is linked to PVT. It doesn't answer to your question exactly of course because it's not the same approach but maybe it can interest you . In narm we explore "what's gettin in the way" for example of allowing connection to the client emotions and body . So if the demand of the patient is to connect more to his body and emotions , we can explore with him what could be dangerous about connecting , and how keeping distance is a good idea for him, and what does he do to stay distant from his body . In doing so we explore the "resistance" and what nurrishes her , without pushing on it , we explore which beliefs herited from childhood or choc traumas of the past are here . We see that with curiosity and when the adult consciousness sees it and wonders if it's still justified , then the connection begins to open and we support it ... And when the patient says "i don't feel anything", then we can give him more feedbacks from what we see at certain moments to help him . The need for connection (to others and to ourselves) is the first need in narm and in the development of the child it's related to traumas happening so early that it makes the mind build itself on a "shaky foundation" . So the fear and the activation can be very strong . One of the habitual defenses is to stay on an intellectual level in order not to connect with emotions . We can so navigate with him in his intellectual plan without demanding him to go to his emotions or body and when something happens that provokes an expansion or a increased positive connection that we can see in his body , we reflect it back to him in order to support it. But we never pushes him to feel if he fears to feel, instead we would recognize it and explore the reasons why it feels dangerous to feel . I try to repeat to you his answer as much as i can remember but i'm newly trained in narm and s.e . Hope you find something interesting :)

[@radicalhonesty3628]

I try and watch this video but my mind is so distracted, I'm in sheer paralyzed traumatized overwhelming panic. I've got no money. what the fuck am I going to do? I'm in terror. I am absolutely desperate for a miracle...

[@samantha-kemp-therapy]

excellent

[@claytonh6781]

A councilor asked me to watch this, is there a video that just gets to the freaking point already

[@shellebel1]

Very interesting but the technical language keeps it somewhat abstract and hard to relate to, e.g. 'sympathetic mobilization.' That takes a very clear and simple feeling and makes it overly clinical and unrelatable.

[@tmi925]

Interviewer does a fair share of mansplaining.. interrupting, talking over and questioning the ending.. but Deb delivers very kindly..

[@estherraquelherrera7395]

Yes

[@lisaalton]

please fix the audio! The interviewer is very loud compared to Deb

[@free2beme773]

Does this method work when you are in relationship with a narcissist? Can someone who exhibits all the patterns of NPD use this map and find their way to co-regulation with others?

[@peopleunite3605]

so, where's the map?

[@7Butter7fly]

The book ? Is expensive ... is it in libraries? I can not find it

[@WH-hi5ew]

Its about £20 in hardback... you should be able to find it on Bookdespository, Amazon etc. "The Polyvegal Theory in Therapy" by Deb Dana.

[@BasicBuddhist]

Interestingly, the cough around 14:35 happens to be one of the same explanations from Scientology and some of their processes. Not so crazy now are they? It is explained the same way, also with yawning.

[@claytonh6781]

Use words your clients can understand

[@philipsmale4721]

😆😆😆😆😆😆 thank you.😇

[@abutterfly7975]

this sounds soooo complicated and i dont understand the different terms

[@WH-hi5ew]

Its actually not that complicated once you have a rough idea of the 3 main states.

[@dr.davidgerstenaminoacidth2421]

We can talk about dorsal and ventral and sympathetic nervous system...or Collapse, Fight-Flight, and Connection. I use both sets of terms and let my patients decide which language they want to use. Deb Dana’s book is very helpful. I studied Peter Levine’s work starting in 2004, then dove in head first when I heard about Polyvagal Theory. I immersed myself in books and videos. Sometimes I wanted to learn more about techniques. Sometimes I wanted to just get absorbed in the knowledge of several people. I explain Pokyvagal Theory in the first or second session. My patients usually feel a shift quickly, sometimes 5 minutes, but those committed to practicing do much better then those who “try” to practice. Polyvagal Theory is a game changer, a huge discovery that will shift psychotherapy, body work, and education. Thank you, Deb Dana

[@kristinroberts651]

Wonderful dialogue!