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Writer's pictureJustin Sunseri, LMFT

"Polyvagal Safety" Book Review / SNB136+

Updated: Dec 21, 2022



Do I recommend it?

  • Yeah and nah

  • Depends

What it covers, a sampling:

  • Play, compassion, neurocardiology, yoga therapy, mindfulness-based movement, group psychotherapy, human-animal interactions, therapeutic presence, autism and stillness

  • Key - response to critiques of the PVT

    • Still out of our league

Who it’s for:

  • For those that need to own everything relating to the PVT

  • Polyvagal enthusiasts and collectors

  • Many of these articles are available online for free (links below)



Who it’s not for:

  • People new to PVT

    • Go to PVT101 or 101-109 or eBook or Polyvagal Intro on website

  • People looking to build their Polyvagal safety

    • Not a workbook, not a journaling thing

    • Pure education, lecture, writing

    • Building Safety Anchors will do that

What I like:

  • Really really good reference book

  • Worth owning to use as a reference

  • Broad range of topics

  • Collection of topics in one book you can own and have on your shelf

  • Audio - mostly digestible if you have PVT101 knowledge

  • New wrinkles - “preparatory sets” and not states or mixed states

What I didn’t like

  • Super redundant

    • Each article touches upon the basics of the PVT

      • Seriously irritating

  • Predictable if you’re into the PVT

  • Really just for collecting and owning

    • Must be a market for it

  • Audio - not for reference use

  • Audio - can get boring af, voice is fairly monotone and lacking prosody


 

Building Safety Anchors - https://www.justinlmft.com/bsa

Intro/Outro music & Transition Sounds by Benjo Beats - https://soundcloud.com/benjobeats


Polyvagal Theory: A Biobehavioral Journey to Sociality - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497621000436

Yoga Therapy and Polyvagal Theory - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5835127/

The COVID-19 Pandemic is a Paradoxical Challenge - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8629069/


National Suicide Prevention Hotline - 1 (800) 273-8255

National Domestic Violence Hotline -1 (800) 799-7233

LGBT Trevor Project Lifeline - 1 (866) 488-7386

National Sexual Assault Hotline - 1 (800) 656-4673

Crisis Text Line - Text “HOME” to 741741

Call 911 for emergency


This podcast is not therapy, not intended to be therapy or be a replacement for therapy. Nothing in this creates or indicates a therapeutic relationship. Please consult with your therapist or seek for one in your area if you are experiencing mental health sx. Nothing in this podcast should be construed to be specific life advice; it is for educational and entertainment purposes only.


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