Polyvagal Therapy
Discover how to retrain your nervous system to consistently send signals of peace and calm.
Polyvagal therapy is based on polyvagal theory, which aims to activate the body’s natural calming responses by stimulating the vagus nerve. Techniques may include specific breathing exercises, social engagement activities, or muscle relaxation strategies, all intended to promote a state of safety and relaxation. These approaches are used to help individuals manage anxiety, trauma, and stress more effectively by fostering a sense of safety that allows their nervous system to recalibrate and function optimally.
Polyvagal therapy works beautifully with EMDR
Welcome to the wonder of YOUR nervous system!
Read on to see how Polyvagal therapy in Phoenix, AZ can help you
Here’s how polyvagal work can help you heal your anxiety, panic, depression, or dissociation:
Imagine your nervous system as a staircase, a simple yet helpful analogy I found in Hillary McBride’s book The Wisdom of Your Body. At the top step, you’re in a state of peace and calm—everything feels just right, and there seem to be no threats. But when stress kicks in, it’s like stepping down a level to where we lean on social connections. We look to the people around us, gauging their reactions to see if we’re still safe or if we need their support. If we don’t find the reassurance we need, especially when we’re young, we might step down again to a state where our body gears up for fight or flight, ready to tackle the threat head-on. And if those efforts feel futile, we might find ourselves at the bottom step, where we might feel disconnected, down, or even depressed.
If we keep finding ourselves navigating these steps often, these responses can become deeply ingrained—leading to chronic anxiety, panic, or depression.
But here’s the hopeful part: these responses aren’t flaws. They’re proof that your nervous system is doing exactly what it’s supposed to do to protect you. And just as it learned to respond this way, it can learn to return to a state of regular peace and calm. That’s the incredible adaptability of your nervous system!
Individual Counseling Services From Wise Body Therapy:
- Trauma Focused
- EMDR
- Parts Work
- Compassion Focused
- Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
- Somatic
Populations We Serve with Individual Therapy and Counseling Services:
- Adults
- Teens
- All genders
Wise Body Therapy is a Safe Place For All:
- Health at Every Size (HAES) Aligned
- Size Diversity
- Polyamory
- Sex Worker Allied
- Racial Justice Allied
- GLBTQIA+
- Single Parent Allied
- Little Person Allied
Counseling Services Are Offered For These Issues and More:
- Trauma and PTSD
- Secondary traumatic stress for first responders, child welfare investigators and case managers, probation/parole officers, and so forth.
- Eating Disorders
- Anxiety
- Addiction
- Alcohol Use
- Anger Management
- Codependency
- Coping Skills
- Depression
- Faith deconstruction and purity culture reconstruction
- Family Conflict
- Self Esteem
- Sexual issues
- Spirituality
- Stress
- Substance Use
- Women’s Issues
Let's talk.
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