Our treatment framework uses Mindfulness, Polyvagal, and Attachment theories and features interconnected pillars that support your complete well-being.
Attachment Theory & Polyvagal Theory in Therapy
The Flourish Mental Wellness Framework
Learning how and why your nervous system holds attachment wounds, trauma or stress can bring sustainable emotional regulation.
With so many variables influencing mental health, we start our work by conceptualizing your past and present symptoms and patterns using attachment theory, polyvagal theory and mindfulness-based therapy models.
At Flourish we often use The Ladder during psychotherapy sessions to help our people visualize what is happening within their bodies when they are feeling anxious, angry, depressed, tired, or trapped. The Ladder helps to get us started.
Your autonomic nervous system as seen through the Polyvagal Theory
Where does your ANS go at various times throughout the day?
Are you...
Thriving?!
Ventral Vagal is a parasympathetic state that senses safety
Physically you might feel:
- Slower heart rate
- Like laughing or hugging
- Creative or sleepy
- Ease in breathing
Some of your behaviors might be:
- Open, social or sexual
- Playful or creative
- Productive
- Calm, relaxed
- Introspective
Are you experiencing...
Anxiety, panic or overwhelm?
The Sympathetic state, or the fight or flight state, senses a perceived threat
Physically you might feel:
- Your heart rate quicken
- Shallow breath
- Clammy
- Muscle Tightness
- Nausea
Some of your behaviors might be:
- Worried with catastrophic thoughts
- Confrontational or angry
- Defensive, protective
- Desire to leave the situation, run away
- Ruminative thoughts that repeat
- Loss of appetite and/or sex drive
Are you feeling...
Shut down or depressed?
Dorsal Vagal is a parasympathetic state that might cause you to withdraw or freeze
Physically you might feel:
- Fatigued, depleted
- Collapsed, slumped over
- Numb, not present
- Small, curled up
Some of your behaviors might be:
- Withdrawn
- Silent
- Disconnected
- Frozen
What is the best way to learn how to embrace and shift your Autonomic Nervous System responses?
Autonomic nervous system states respond to messages received through senses and implicit experiences. These messages travel to and from the body and brain by the vagus nerve. Nervous system states cannot change by thoughts alone. Telling yourself ‘I am safe’ or ‘let it go’ will not disengage the fight or flight physiological state. However, your nervous system will calm if it receives a signal of safety. For instance, one type of safety signal is knowing someone is present and that they see you. They let you know they can see you are upset or scared and offer comfort or protection.
Polyvagal Theory
Dr. Stephen Porges’ research on the polyvagal theory discovered we are social creatures and are wired for connection. We are not meant to be isolated or alone especially when feeling upset, scared or hopeless. When we feel seen and heard, our nervous systems are calm and we can thrive. Therapists at Flourish do just this. They ensure you feel seen and heard. Our therapists bring empathy, compassion and a non-judgemental stance into the therapeutic relationship. Using polyvagal theory as one of our foundations in therapy helps our clients to feel safe when vulnerability or painful emotions show up.
Attachment Theory
Our therapists also bring in attachment theory and other family system models. We do not want to blame your parents or encourage you to vent about your past. But your experiences within your family and childhood can influence adult relationships, patterns and behaviors. Additionally the way you cope with adversity as an adult can be influenced by childhood experiences. Attachment and polyvagal theories together can help us to make sense of why your autonomic nervous system goes into certain states when you are trying to cope with adverse events or situations.
Mindfulness-based Therapist
Working with a mindfulness-based therapist that conceptualizes challenges using polyvagal and attachment theory may accelerate the therapy process. By getting familiar with how your whole body responds to adversity, big or small, you feel empowered with emotional regulation. Your therapist can introduce easy to learn coping techniques to help you cope with overwhelm or disconnection when it occurs outside of session.
Your Flourish therapist may bring in additional treatment models such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR or Mindful Self-Compassion which can help you feel better sooner than traditional talk therapy.