Polyvagal therapy (PVT) takes a unique approach to healing by focusing directly on the nervous system’s role in emotional and psychological well-being. Unlike traditional talk therapies that primarily address thoughts and behaviors, PVT works at a physiological level, targeting the body’s autonomic responses to regulate stress and trauma.

This body-centered approach is particularly effective for individuals who may not have found success with conventional therapies. Polyvagal therapy doesn’t just explore cognitive patterns; it addresses the physical manifestations of stress—such as muscle tension, shallow breathing, or a racing heart—and helps clients move out of survival states like fight, flight, or freeze into a place of safety and connection.

By leveraging cues of safety, such as calm environments and grounding techniques, PVT reestablishes nervous system regulation, promoting resilience and long-term healing. Its emphasis on somatic techniques allows clients to shift from reactive survival patterns to adaptive responses, enabling deeper emotional balance and psychological stability.

Polyvagal therapy uses various techniques to help you feel safe and regulated:

• Grounding Exercises: Practices like diaphragmatic breathing, gentle movements, or humming are introduced to calm your nervous system and release tension.
• Safe Co-Regulation: Your therapist creates a supportive, calming connection through a warm tone of voice, eye contact, and attuned body language, helping you build trust and emotional stability.
• Sensory Awareness: You’ll learn to tune into your body’s signals, like tension or warmth, to better understand and manage stress responses.
• Autonomic Mapping: With your therapist, you’ll identify patterns in your nervous system (e.g., fight, flight, or freeze) and develop strategies to shift into a calmer, more balanced state.

Polyvagal therapy effectively addresses a wide range of challenges, including:

• Trauma and PTSD: Release the emotional and physical symptoms of trauma like flashbacks, hypervigilance, and emotional neglect.
• Anxiety Disorders and Panic Disorder: As you calm your nervous system, it will reduce the intensity of anxiety and panic and empower you to respond with more confidence and clarity.
• Chronic Stress: You can manage long-term stress and its effects on your body, such as muscle tension, fatigue, and digestive issues through this therapeutic approach.
• Emotional Dysregulation: Cultivate emotional balance and develop tools to stay grounded in difficult situations.
• Relationship Challenges: Deepen emotional connections and resolve relationship issues, fostering healthier, more supportive relationships.
• Physical Symptoms of Stress: Address the physical manifestations of chronic stress, such as pain and exhaustion, and promote overall physical and psychological wellbeing.

Polyvagal therapy (PVT) can complement other therapeutic approaches, such as EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS). By integrating both the physiological and psychological dimensions of trauma, PVT provides a holistic and comprehensive pathway to healing, addressing the mind, body, and emotional well-being in unison.

Yes, polyvagal therapy is a highly effective approach for addressing trauma and PTSD. Healing from trauma requires a holistic approach that considers the physiological response tied to your emotional states.

As a form of somatic therapy, polyvagal therapy provides an effective way to process unresolved trauma and emotional numbing by helping you reconnect with your body’s natural ability to regulate stress. In clinical practice, your therapist provides a supportive space to guide you through this process, creating a strong sense of safety and fostering emotional regulation. It helps you confront intense feelings associated with trauma and transform them into opportunities for growth.

Over time, polyvagal therapy can help you move from feeling stuck or disconnected to experiencing peace and resilience. By restoring healthy social engagement and attuning to your body’s physiological responses, you can rebuild meaningful relationships and navigate life’s challenges with renewed confidence and ease.

While PVT is effective for trauma and PTSD, its applications extend to managing chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, and enhancing social engagement. By regulating the nervous system, PVT can influence inflammation, pain perception, and improve interpersonal relationships.

Does Polyvagal Therapy Help Beyond Trauma and PTSD?

Absolutely. Polyvagal therapy can offer relief for chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, and difficulties with social connection. PVT works by addressing the body's stress responses, which are closely tied to inflammation and pain perception. By calming the nervous system, polyvagal therapy can have profound psychophysiological effects, including reducing inflammation, enhancing pain management, and fostering deeper, more meaningful connections in relationships.

PVT helps shift your body from survival mode to a state of balance, unlocking its natural ability to heal and connect.

Moreover, the therapy’s emphasis on fostering safety and connection can profoundly improve interpersonal relationships. By creating a sense of internal balance, polyvagal therapy can help individuals engage more authentically and effectively with others, deepening their social bonds and enhancing their overall quality of life.

Online polyvagal therapy provides the same powerful benefits as in-person sessions—all from the comfort of your home. You’ll connect with your polyvagal therapist through video calls, where they will observe your body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice to assess your nervous system’s state. They will help you regulate your stress and emotions real-time. Through this therapeutic relationship, your therapist will create a safe connection, providing personalized support to foster your personal growth.

During online sessions, your therapist will lead you through polyvagal exercises, such as grounding exercises, breathing techniques, and gentle movements, all designed to help you experience a feeling of safety. These mindfulness practices are just as effective virtually, helping you reconnect with your body and find balance.