Polyvagal theory is a theory that Karen is trained in. With Polyvagal Theory, we will look at how the Vagus Nerve is carrying messages throughout our bodies and how we use Neuroception to assess for “threats” within our environment.

It is from a Polyvagal lens that we will be looking at the various states that your system moves through, and we will recognize the sensations that arise when we move from Ventral, Sympathetic and Parasympathetic states. We will track these moves from state to state as they arise, and we will use Polyvagal exercises and grounding throughout all of our work together.

We will look not just the external world but also out internal interceptions and how that also creates our systems to react and change. Our systems look to co-regulate with others in our environment. We will look at ways we can co regulate with others as well as other exercises we can do to bring regulation back to our system.

Polyvagal theory was originally developed by Dr. Stephen Porges.

Karen works to include Polyvagal Theory into her work with all of her clients, as well as how Polyvagal, IFS and EMDR overlap.