Polyvagal Podcast

Many many thanks to Carla-Jo Geraghty, who sets a very high bar for what a Super Fan/Trauma Nerd is!  

Check out more from Carla-Jo:

All about consequences in this episode:

1. Why they are important
2. When they mean nothing
3. Positive consequences vs gift/reward/bribe
4. Natural consequences

Your homework assignment - Plan out your consequence structure and discuss with everyone that needs to be a part of it.

More detailed show notes on justinlmft.com/post/episode28

Deb Dana - one third of my Polyvagal Trinity.  Deb Dana is called "the Pied Piper of the Polyvagal Theory," and honestly someone I want to be like when I grow up.  She does the stuff I do, but better and first.  I gotta be honest.  We talk in depth about:

1. "Story follows State"
2. Climbing the Polyvagal Ladder
3. Diagnosing

We go in depth into each of these four ways to express love.  It's not enough to just love your kiddos, you also need to express it.  And express it in ways they will be able to get.

1. Say it out loud

2. Write it down

3. Physical affection

4. Play

We answer two questions from our amazing Listeners.  We originally answered these on our weekly Instagram Live segment, which you can be a part of every Sunday at 915pm PST.

Lots of co-regulation ground covered in this episode:

1. Kids neurocepting danger cues
2. your state vs your empathy
3. your empathy vs your compassion
4. face to face interaction
5. self-regulation (for you, parent)

Self-regulation is built upon co-regulation.  Kids aren't born able to self-regulate, but they are born ready to receive a parent's co-regulation.

We apply the polyvagal theory to the process of psychotherapy.

Welcome to the first installment of the Bad Therapy series.  We need to first understand some basics of what therapy is and how it works.  Clients are walking into sessions with a combination of hope and desperation - this is easily taken advantage of by a "therapist" that isn't up to snuff.  We want you to be able to enter your sessions with some clarity on what YOU want out of your time/money as well as some clarity on what is SUPPOSED to be happening.  

We tackle the issue directly - you're normal, you survived, your body is awesome and is probably working fine.  Plus a whole lot more.  

More detailed show notes are available here - https://www.justinlmft.com/post/episode18

Mercedes & I discuss how we personally use different bottom-up techniques to climb the polyvagal ladder and reach a more safe & social state - music, dance, play, breathing and more.  We also discuss what it means to "allow" the process to happen in simple day to day application.

JUSTIN

Full show notes are available on https://www.justinlmft.com/post/episode16

We got some Listener submissions for how they use the polyvagal theory to climb their ladders!  Thanks to Carla-Jo, Theresa and Emily!  

JUSTIN

Full show notes are available on justinLMFT.com/post/episode15

I had the distinct pleasure of being able to talk in-depth with Dr Porges about the Polyvagal Theory and how it applies to various things, such as clinical disorders, the role of psychiatry, empathy vs compassion and much more.  It's a jam-packed 50 minutes.  Thanks to all my listeners that submitted questions for Dr Porges.

DR PORGES

This is the Polyvagal Schools series,  part 4 of 5 -  A slew of trauma-informed ways for educators to improve relationships with their students.  After the relationship is improved, with safety being the priority, things like motivation and behavior will improve.  

JUSTIN

Polyvagal Schools episode part 3 of 5 - The Polyvagal Theory applied to the classroom structure.  We look at suspensions, fidgets, quiet zones in the classroom, suspensions, consequences  and a lot more.  Also, learn how my hands turned orange during a meeting at work!

JUSTIN

Part 2 of 5 of the Polyvagal School series - Danger cues in the classroom: the environment, the teacher and peers!  And we give you some unique ways to problem-solve around these.

JUSTIN

Mercedes Corona, LMFT joins me to talk in depth about what the Path of Transition is and how it applies to the school environment.  Part 1 of our Polyvagal School Series!

JUSTIN

Attachment is integral to the mechanics of how generational trauma is actually passed on.  I take a look at this through the lens of the amazing polyvagal theory (but you probably know that by now).

I cover the other Fs that I've been seeing, like "flop," "friend" and "fawn."  Plus an in depth look into why I don't think these are primary autonomic responses to danger or life threat.  And more, much  more.

We've covered the primary states (Safe, Flight, Fight & Freeze), now let's look at a couple of state combos: play & stillness.

A look at the vagus, the vagal brake, the window of tolerance AND co-regulation.  It's a jam-packed episode from your host, Justin Sunseri, LMFT99147.

A way way in-depth look into how trauma works plus what shame and disgust have to do with it.  From Justin Sunseri, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist 99147.

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE

Justin goes in depth into the Freeze response - the bottom of the polyvagal ladder!

NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE

I dive into the sympathetic autonomic nervous system and how flight/fight arousal can become chronic and affect our day to day lives.

Justin Sunseri, LMFT 99147

We start at the top of the Polyvagal Ladder with the Safety & Social Engagement autonomic nervous system, the face to heart connection!

An intro to the Polyvagal Theory from Dr Stephen Porges.  Autonomic state shifts, creating narratives, neuroception and more!