FOR
Curious People
Befriending Your Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system responds to the challenges of daily life by telling us not what we are, or who we are, but how we are. Once we understand the role of the autonomic nervous system in shaping our lives, we can never again not see the world through that lens.
The goal of the autonomic nervous system is to protect us by sensing safety and risk, listening moment by moment to what is happening in our bodies, in our environments, and in the connections we have with others. Deb Dana is known for translating Polyvagal Theory into a language and application that is both understandable and accessible. This work continues to bring clinicians, therapists and practitioners into the wider polyvagal community.
We wholeheartedly invite those from non-clinical arenas and communities to explore the offerings here. Those who are interested in understanding their nervous systems are welcomed to feel safe and not intimidated by the material - and encouraged to become curious to learn more and to begin to see themselves in the science.
Around this site, you will find a rich resource of offerings and experiences for everyday curious people. Some useful links include the free PDF Beginner’s Guide to Polyvagal Theory, amongst various other material on our Resources page. Publications designed for a more inclusive audience include the audio course Befriending the Nervous System and Deb's latest books, Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory and Polyvagal Practices: Anchoring the Self in Safety.
SUGGESTIONS FOR CURIOUS PEOPLE
Begin to befriend your nervous system with The Beginner's Guide to Polyvagal Theory. This is a short intro to PVT & the main concepts, presented in an accessible, understandable way. We also have some guided audio meditations on the Resources Page. We will be adding more free guides and meditations here soon - sign up to the newsletter to stay in touch.
If you are new to Deb Dana's work then this is one of the best places to dive in and get an insight into her passion for making PVT accessible for all. Deb can be found participating in presentations and interviews around the world. Listening to some of these Conversations can be a great way to become familiar with what Polyvagal-guided living has to offer.
We offer a variety of Resources for the non-clinical community, including the Beginner's Guide, the audio program Befriending The Nervous System, and Deb's latest publications, Anchored and Polyvagal Practices. Deb presents ways for us all to discover how valuable it is to develop an awareness of the role of the nervous system in everyday life.
Deb enjoys presenting to non-clinical audiences, and is frequently invited to speak at conferences and present workshops which are open to the public. Find these on the Events page and watch for a a non-clinical workshop coming in 2023 based on Deb's latest book Anchored. 2023 will also see the launch of a new Signature Mapping Series.