What is the central premise of Polyvagal Theory?
The autonomic nervous system influences emotions, behavior, and connection through three hierarchical states (ventral vagal, sympathetic, dorsal vagal).
What nerve is central to Polyvagal Theory?
The vagus nerve.
What does the ventral vagal state represent?
Safety, social engagement, and calm connection.
What does the sympathetic state represent?
Mobilization, fight-or-flight, and survival responses.
What does the dorsal vagal state represent?
Shutdown, freeze, or dissociation when extreme threat is perceived.
What is neuroception?
The body’s unconscious detection of safety or danger.
What is co-regulation?
Emotional regulation through safe connection with another person.
What does high vagal tone indicate?
Strong ability to regulate emotions and return to calm after stress.
How can therapy support Polyvagal regulation?
Through safety cues, grounding, breathwork, and relational attunement.
What is the main therapeutic goal from a Polyvagal lens?
Helping clients move from defensive states to safety and social engagement.
What is the foundational belief of Attachment Theory?
Early caregiver relationships shape lifelong emotional regulation and relational patterns.
Who developed Attachment Theory?
John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth.
What are the four primary attachment styles?
Secure, avoidant, ambivalent (preoccupied), and disorganized.
What defines secure attachment?
Confidence in caregiver availability and comfort with closeness.
What defines avoidant attachment?
Emotional distance and suppression of attachment needs.
What defines ambivalent/preoccupied attachment?
Anxiety about rejection and excessive reassurance seeking.
What defines disorganized attachment?
Conflicting approach-avoidance behaviors due to fear and trauma.
What is earned security?
Developing secure attachment later in life through therapy or stable relationships.
How does attachment impact emotion regulation?
Secure attachment fosters resilience; insecure styles create dysregulation.
What is the therapeutic focus of attachment-informed counseling?
Building safety, trust, and consistent attunement to repair relational wounds.
What is the core belief of IFS?
The mind is naturally multiple, consisting of inner “parts” and a core Self.
Who created IFS?
Richard Schwartz.
What are the three main types of parts in IFS?
Managers, Firefighters, and Exiles.
What is the role of Managers?
To control life and prevent pain from surfacing.
