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Polyvagal Theory is a framework that helps explain how the nervous system responds to stress and trauma through the autonomic nervous system, with a focus on the vagus nerve. It highlights that many reactions—panic, hypervigilance, shutdown, numbness, or withdrawal—are not “character flaws.” They are physiological survival responses shaped by cues of safety or threat.
In therapy, a polyvagal-informed approach helps you recognize your nervous system patterns and build regulation skills that support steadier mood, clearer thinking, and safer connection with others.
Polyvagal Theory describes three broad physiological states that can shape emotion, behaviour, and connection:
In this state, the body is regulated and you can think more clearly, connect with others, and respond flexibly. People often describe feeling grounded, calm, and present.
This is an activated state designed for protection. It can show up as anxiety, restlessness, racing thoughts, irritability, muscle tension, or feeling “on edge.”
When stress feels overwhelming or inescapable, the system may move into shutdown. People may feel numb, disconnected, fatigued, or emotionally flat, sometimes with dissociation.
These states are not choices. They are body-level responses that can shift quickly depending on perceived safety.
The vagus nerve helps regulate heart rate, breathing, digestion, and overall autonomic balance. A polyvagal lens emphasizes that improving regulation often involves working with the body—not only with thoughts.
Many people find it helpful to understand the concept of “vagal tone,” which refers to how flexibly the nervous system can move from activation back to regulation. The goal is not to eliminate stress responses, but to recover more effectively and return to a calmer state more reliably.
Polyvagal-informed therapy can support you in:
Your therapist may incorporate skills that support nervous system regulation, such as:
At The Cohen Clinic, polyvagal-informed therapy is integrated into treatment when it supports the client’s goals—especially when stress responses feel intense, confusing, or hard to control. If you are seeking support for anxiety, trauma responses, chronic stress, or shutdown patterns, our psychologists, psychotherapists, and social workers can help you understand what your nervous system is doing and build practical strategies to improve regulation and wellbeing.