This book provides a practical approach to Polyvagal theory. Filled with quotes, prompts, and exercises to help you recognise and respond to where you are on the Polyvagal ladder. It also includes a beginner's guide to Polyvagal theory explaining the ins and outs of Polyvagal theory in an accessible way for those who read this book with little prior knowledge.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Polyvagal Prompts was my first foray into polyvagal theory. The information was presented thoroughly but also not too technically. It was readable and provided me with some tips to be more grounded.

I'd heard of polyvagal theory before but didn't have any understanding of what it was and how it could be used. I found this book to be very good at explaining briefly what the different states are (although at the end of the book not where I might have expected it to be, at the start). The prompts are useful for practical ways to reflect on the different states and build up in complexity as you go through.

So I think overall this is very useful for an absolute beginner, as well as those with some experience.

This book offers action and reflection prompts related to understanding and regulating your nervous system. After each prompt, there is a generous blank space where someone can write or draw their responses. There are also pages with short quotes about polyvagal theory and regulation interspersed throughout the book.

I found this book somewhat helpful, but it is very heavy on therapy-speak, with lots of insider language and esoteric phrasing. I minored in psychology and frequently read books like this, but I still felt like I had to mentally translate some of the prompts. I also felt that some of the prompts began to run together and overlap, and the other encouragements and quotations throughout the book also become repetitive.

A glossary at the end of the book defines specialized vocabulary, and the backmatter also includes a beginner's guide to polyvagal theory. I think that these sections should have appeared at the beginning of the book, so that someone doesn't have to flip all the way to the back to find this kind of foundational information.

People who are new to the concepts in this book can definitely benefit from it, but they should be prepared to feel like they have been dropped into confusing, unfamiliar territory. Overall, this book will appeal most to clinicians and to people who are already very knowledgeable about polyvagal theory.

“Naming our experience begins the process of letting go of judgment and self-blame and making room for curiosity.”

I first encountered Polyvagal Theory about a year ago but initially had trouble getting past the sciencey bits so hadn’t made it to the understanding part. That changed when I read Our Polyvagal World by Stephen Porges and Seth Porges. So many lightbulbs went off in my head I may as well have had the sun in there.

Suddenly I made sense to me. Not only that, other people also made sense. My optimism was tempered by a history of thinking something’s a great idea, knowing it would be better for me if I incorporated it into my life and momentum fading as life invariably happens.

This stuck, though, so much so that I now think in terms of colours. Thanks to the bazillion times I watched Twister in the late 90’s, I began to think of the ventral vagal state as ‘greenage’. Thanks, Dusty!

And you know what? It also stuck and I’m delighted to report that apparently it’s contagious. The fun of hearing people who usually speak quite formally casually mentioning greenage makes my green that much brighter.

Needless to say, I couldn’t wait to read more about Polyvagal Theory. I started at the end of this book because of course I did. Actually, it is suggested as an option in the Introduction so this wasn’t me going rogue.

There you’ll find A Beginner’s Guide to Polyvagal Theory and a glossary. The Beginner’s Guide can act as either an introduction or a refresher. I found it helpful to revisit what I’d previously learnt.

The guided prompts are presented in a logical progression, although you can work through them in any order. I’d be interested to discover how my answers change over time.

I absolutely loved the haiku examples to describe each state. I’ve gotten so used to understanding what state I’m experiencing in terms of colour, I tend to get confused when I read dorsal, sympathetic and ventral. These helped a lot.

“Dorsal:
How long have I sat
No voice, no movement, slow breath
Far away from you
Sympathetic:
Look around, danger
Who is safe and who is not?
Get me out of here
Ventral:
A bright heart beaming
Wrapping all with love and warmth
Holding space for you”

Overall, I was encouraged, knowing that I’m still implementing what I learned from reading Our Polyvagal World. I also appreciated being reminded of some things I’ve unintentionally let go of along the way. I plan to pay closer attention so I notice glimmers throughout my day and will be on the lookout for awe inspiring moments.

I’m keen to read more about Polyvagal Theory so don’t be surprised if you hear more about it from me in the near future.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the opportunity to read this book.

"Imagine you have dials for compassion, for connection, and for curiosity." This alone is something I'll be thinking about for a long time, imagining into - where can I take a different approach? Am I used to acting out or being reactive, could I be more curious or compassionate instead? I love that for each exercise, there's "taking it a step further" exercises - feel like I could go through this training and just continue to learn a new response, a new way of being. Thanks for the ARC!

I didn’t know much about Polyvagal Theory when I requested this book but now I do! In addition to the prompts, which I now understand, there’s an excellent section at the back of the book explaining it in language that is easily comprehended by the non-scientific person.

Thanks to the author and publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

No surprise, this is a good one friends. Deb Dana is well-known as a polyvagal expert for good reason. Lately, I’ve been hearing her quoted more often than Porges himself! This was my personal favorite among her books. I found it accessible, and full of actionable work. It works as a self-help, as well as a great help for any therapist/counselor. Wonderfully helpful.
Thanks to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for granting access to a digital ARC.

Finally! A book that actually guides and helps with how to work through trauma. It's so frustrating to watch an Instagram or TikTok telling us to use 'vagal prompts' but they never tell us how or what to do it's just to use a prompt with zero guidance. Deb Dana and Courtney Rolfe provide a framework for trauma work that is self paced and provides a safe ground to start.

"Polyvagal Prompts" by Deb Dana and Courtney Rolfe unveils the fascinating intricacies of the nervous system's role in safeguarding and nurturing well-being. A profound tool drawing from the transformative Polyvagal Theory, originally conceived by Dr. Stephen Porges and brought to life by therapist Deb Dana, this book has touched innumerable lives, reshaping therapeutic approaches and offering healing avenues for those grappling with adversity or trauma.

Within these pages, readers are warmly invited to embark on an exploratory voyage through their nervous systems using engaging inquiries and exercises grounded in Polyvagal Theory. These prompts encourage individuals to keenly observe their internal systems, approach them with an inquisitive ear, and contemplate the invaluable insights gained. Whether employed as a daily ritual or for a deeper dive into specific themes, they empower readers to set their own pace. Additionally, they provide therapists with a valuable tool to facilitate reflective polyvagal-centered therapies with their clients.

"Polyvagal Prompts" extends an invaluable opportunity to initiate a life-altering journey of building a harmonious rapport with one's own nervous system, allowing readers to transform their understanding of self and healing.