Hey there!

Not long ago, I got a text from a good friend.

“How are you handling all this polyvagal talk?”

They were referencing some public chatter stemming from an article that exposed many erroneous ideas and unsupported assertions comprised within Polyvagal Theory.  

I checked in with my nervous system before responding. I was surprised to find that, despite having studied Polyvagal Theory and employing it in how I’ve explained nervous system functioning, I was not shaken.

My body knows that my work is still valid, relevant, and scientifically supported.

My colleague and I agreed that this “debunking” was necessary – using untrue and faulty science as a foundation for the tender work I do with you is neither responsible nor acceptable.

So, here are some ways that I’m moving forward:

• I’ll be more explicit in honoring the true origins of co-regulation. Polyvagal Theory did not invent, nor does it justify, co-regulation. Indigenous peoples have co-regulated with the Land for thousands of years.

• I’ll focus on what is consistently supported through science and lived experience: helping you notice patterns, build safety, and increase adaptability in your (and your dog’s) nervous systems.

• I’ll continue teaching tools that help you breathe more deeply, find a sense of grounding, and track your patterns, but I won’t use oversimplified models to explain why they work. 

• I’ll focus on lived experience over nerve-specific explanations, clarify distinctions to illuminate the complexity of nervous system functioning, and present patterns as helpful maps, not biological facts.

For an example of how all this will look in my work, click below to view and download my free Nervous System Mapping Guide.