Healing begins by understanding what your body has been trying to tell you—and learning how to work with it, not against it.
When clients begin EMDR therapy with me, one of the first things we focus on is not the past—but the nervous system.
Before we work through painful memories, we need to understand how the body responds to stress, why emotions can feel overwhelming, and how we can build a foundation of safety inside the body.
This is where Polyvagal Theory becomes an essential part of our preparatory work.
What Is Polyvagal Theory?
Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, explains how our nervous system constantly scans for cues of safety or threat—even when we’re not aware of it.
This automatic process shapes how we think, feel, and react. According to this theory, our nervous system has three main states:
Ventral Vagal – The 'Safe and Connected' State
You feel calm, grounded, open, and able to think clearly. This is the state we aim to strengthen because it supports healing, connection, and emotional resilience.
Sympathetic – The 'Fight-Flight-Fawn' State
Your body prepares to take action. You might feel anxious, restless, overwhelmed, angry, or panicked. This is not a “bad” state—it’s protective—but it can become exhausting if it’s chronic.
Dorsal Vagal – The 'Shutdown / Freeze' State
You may feel numb, disconnected, exhausted, or like everything is “too much.” This is another protective response, but it can make it hard to function or feel present.
These states aren’t choices—they’re automatic survival responses.
Why Polyvagal Work Matters Before EMDR
EMDR is powerful, but it requires emotional stability and nervous system regulation. Without this preparation, clients can feel overwhelmed or flooded during processing.
By integrating Polyvagal Theory into EMDR preparation, we:
✔ Build the capacity to stay grounded during difficult emotions
Clients learn how to shift out of fight-flight or shut down and back into a supported, regulated state.
✔ Strengthen awareness of body cues
Many trauma survivors become disconnected from their internal signals. Learning to “read” your nervous system helps you better understand what you’re feeling and why.
✔ Increase your window of tolerance
This means you are less likely to feel overwhelmed during EMDR processing.
✔ Create a sense of internal safety
You learn practical, somatic skills that help the body feel steadier—even when discussing painful memories.
✔ Reduce emotional reactivity
Polyvagal tools help you respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively or shutting down.
Preparing the nervous system ensures EMDR is not just effective, but safe, grounded, and sustainable.
How We Use Polyvagal Theory in Our Sessions
During our preparatory phase of EMDR, I’ll guide you through:
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Somatic grounding (settling the body)
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Breathwork that actually works with your physiology
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Polyvagal-aligned strategies for anxiety, overwhelm, or shutdown
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Parts-informed regulation when different internal states feel triggered
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Mapping your nervous system states so you can identify and shift them
These are not just coping techniques—they’re nervous system training tools, and clients often notice improvements in daily life long before EMDR desensitization begins.
Why This Matters for Emotion Regulation
Trauma memories are stored in the body just as much as the mind.
When your nervous system feels dysregulated, even small stressors can spark big emotional reactions.
Polyvagal-informed EMDR preparation helps you:
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Feel more emotionally steady
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Handle conflict or stress with more clarity
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Improve relationships by feeling more connected and less reactive
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Reduce symptoms of anxiety, panic, depression, or dissociation
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Build confidence in your own resilience
When the nervous system is regulated, healing becomes possible.
A Foundation for EMDR—and for Life
For many clients, learning Polyvagal Theory becomes a turning point.
It provides a language for their internal world—one that reduces shame and increases self-understanding.
It helps clients see that their reactions aren't personal failures, but automatic nervous system responses designed to protect them.
By integrating Polyvagal Theory into EMDR preparation, we ensure that you begin trauma processing with:
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More emotional stability
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Greater internal safety
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Stronger self-awareness
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And tools you can use long after therapy is complete
This groundwork helps EMDR unfold more smoothly and allows healing to take root in a deeper, more embodied way.
The past is alive in the present. This short video explains how trauma is stored in the nervous system and why certain experiences still feel activating today.
Ready to start working with your nervous system instead of against it? Let’s connect and find the approach that feels right for you.
