CairnsMoir Connections
  • Home
  • About CairnsMoir
  • Visit our Store
  • Book of the Month
  • Training & Events
  • Other Resources
  • Contact us
  • Home
  • About CairnsMoir
  • Visit our Store
  • Book of the Month
  • Training & Events
  • Other Resources
  • Contact us
for those living or working with the impact of trauma

Book of the Month May 2023 - Polyvagal Flip Chart by Deb Dana

21/5/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
Polyvagal Flip Chart by Deb Dana 
 
It would be difficult to overstate how important polyvagal theory (PVT) has become in our understanding and treatment of trauma. The theory, first introduced by behavioural neuroscientist, Stephen Porges in 1994, describes how the autonomic nervous system responds to experiences and can be regulated/dysregulated via three pathways of the vagal nerve system. Although hugely valuable for trauma educators, support workers and therapists, PVT is a complex theory to understand and teach, and it is sometimes difficult to see how to make it work in practice. Deb Dana has made all of that much easier through her wonderful polyvagal resources, the latest of which is the Polyvagal Flip Chart.
 
The flip chart is a visual aid to use with therapy clients. The free-standing design allows the therapist to display diagrams and minimal text about the theory and its application to clients, while accessing explanatory notes on the back. Psychoeducation is such a valuable empowering aspect of trauma recovery and this tool makes it an interactive experience, a sharing of information which clients can use to make sense of their experiences in the moment or while recalling events that have been troubling them. I have used a similar flip chart about the impact of trauma The Living Legacy of Trauma Flip Chart by Janina Fisher (PESI) and seen it transform people’s understanding of their symptoms and behaviour. It’s amazing the relief people can experience when they realise there is a scientific explanation for why it has been so difficult for them to “pull themselves together”.
 
The Polyvagal Flipchart can help to take that process to the next level, enabling clients to understand the speed at which the nervous system responds to threat and engagement (and how it is outside conscious control), why threat responses differ and how social engagement can help with regulation. Using the chart in sessions can help clients identify and work with their own habitual responses. It also helps clients understand the link between trauma and physical symptoms such as digestive problems - so many trauma survivors experience chronic digestive disorders. Personal profile maps can help people work out their own triggers and glimmers – triggers being the cues for danger and glimmers the moments of safety and connection. Triggers are often easy to identify as they tend to be why the client comes for therapy but they may be less aware of their glimmers and resources.  Identifying these can make clients aware of their resources in times of need. There’s also a version of the map for children and a time and tone map to help chart a client’s state throughout a session or during an experience.
 
Like all resources, it is important to become very familiar with the flipchart before introducing it to clients. It can take a while to feel confident with the content as it is so complex, but an additional chart on recognising the symptoms relating to different states is a really helpful addition. Of all the information and resources available on polyvagal theory, I would rank this one highly. It’s definitely a valuable addition to a therapist’s toolkit.

Sheila Lavery

0 Comments

    CairnsMoir Connections

    Check out our
    Book of the Month
    - expert reviews and special offers!

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    Activities With Children
    Anxiety
    Attachment
    Autism
    Bereavement
    Children's Book
    DDP
    Education
    Empathic Behaviour Management
    Empathy
    ESSENCE
    Executive Functions
    Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Grief
    Mindfulness
    Neuroscience
    PACE
    Parenting
    Play Therapy
    Polyvagal
    Self Esteem
    Self Harm
    Sensory Processing
    Shame
    Sleep Issues
    Theraplay
    Transitions
    Trauma
    Young Adult

    Archives

    February 2025
    October 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    January 2024
    November 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015

Tweet
CAIRNSMOIR CONNECTIONS LTD  is a company registered in Scotland  No. SC488337   [Returns Policy | Privacy Policy]
Registered address: 92 Glasgow Road Bathgate United Kingdom EH48 2AH  For telephone enquiries please leave a message at 0771 242 1250
  • Home
  • About CairnsMoir
  • Visit our Store
  • Book of the Month
  • Training & Events
  • Other Resources
  • Contact us