Polyvagal Theory for Trauma

Why does your body respond with freeze, fight, or flight in situations that don't seem threatening—and how can you shift back to safety and connection? In this episode, I break down Polyvagal theory, explain how your autonomic nervous system shapes your experience of trauma, and share practical tools to befriend your nervous system and expand your capacity for healing.

What You'll Learn

• What Polyvagal theory is and how the vagus nerve regulates your responses to stress and safety
• The three key principles: neuroception (how your nervous system scans for danger), hierarchy (the ladder of responses), and co-regulation (how others influence your nervous system state)
• The three states of your autonomic nervous system: ventral vagus (safety and connection), mobilization (fight-and-flight), and immobilization (freeze and fawn)
• How trauma interrupts the natural flow between states—and why your nervous system can get stuck in chronic mobilization or shutdown
• Why childhood trauma can make safety and connection feel out of reach—and how to gradually reconnect with that state
• The role of co-regulation in therapy and relationships—and how a counsellor's calm presence supports your healing
• The difference between Polyvagal theory and the window of tolerance—and when to use each framework
• Practical techniques: befriending your nervous system through journaling, creating ventral anchors (memories, activities, people, pets), and using grounding exercises

Who This Is For
This episode is for adults healing from trauma who want to understand why their nervous system responds the way it does—especially if you experience chronic anxiety, freeze responses, hypervigilance, or difficulty feeling safe in your body or relationships. It's also for anyone who wants practical, body-based tools to regulate their nervous system, expand their window of tolerance, and gradually build more moments of safety and connection in daily life.

Additional resources

If you want to learn more about trauma and recovery, here are some additional resources:

• Healing Trauma: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reclaiming Your Life https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/healing-trauma/
• Adults with Childhood Trauma: How to Heal and Reclaim Your Life: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/adults-with-childhood-trauma/
• What is the difference between trauma and complex trauma: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/blog/what-is-the-dif

If you’d like to explore more, here are some ways to connect:

• Discover more about my work: https://brighthorizontherapies.com/
• Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brighthorizontherapies/
• Send me a message: nat@brighthorizontherapies.com

Trauma Demystified is not intended to replace professional guidance, support, medical treatment, or therapy. Please feel free to consult your physician or a mental health professional for any questions about mental health symptoms.

Bright Horizon Therapies is located in the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda. This land is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. I acknowledge the traditional caregivers of the land and the importance of a commitment to the continued decolonization of my work.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:15 What is Polyvagal Theory?
• 4:06 Neuroception as core concept of Polyvagal Theory
• 6:57 Hierarchy as a concept of Polyvagal Theory
• 11:33 Co-regulation as a concept of Polyvagal Theory
• 13:55 Polyvagal Theory and the Window of Tolerance
• 17:06 Polyvagal Theory and Trauma
• 21:44 Role of Polyvagal Theory in Trauma Recovery
• 26:32 Practical Techniques to return to Safety and Connection