You have a nervous system.

Why am I feeling anxious? You have a nervous system.

Why am I having trouble being present? You have a nervous system.

Why am I doing what I don't want to be doing? You have a nervous system.

The most significant scientific concept shaping my approach to healing is Polyvagal Theory. An observation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) developed by Dr. Stephen Porges in 1994 at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I have layered it over my theology, my favorite therapeutic tool (Internal Family Systems or IFS) and just about every other construct of humanity I am exposed to. It adds color to relationships and has made the "inner world" of myself and others less mysterious and more so at the same time. I wish everyone knew they had a nervous system.

What we don’t understand, we fear. What we fear, we judge as evil. What we judge as evil, we attempt to control. And what we cannot control…we attack. -unknown

As a therapist, I've developed an awareness of how much we fear our "inner worlds" and how much we don't understand our bodies. Mental health as a discipline has tried to fix, control, or manage our bodies' symptoms, experiences and ultimately its messages. We are culturally oriented in the West to dominating our bodies. Talk therapy for decades has primarily been obsessed with controlling thoughts in order to change feelings and behavior. This can work for a while but becomes exhausting to keep up. Insight around our stories and behaviors can be helpful and soothing but doesn't necessarily mean we stop experiencing the associated uncomfortable feelings.

Enter Polyvagal theory.

The same ANS that beats our heart and breathes without us having to think about it, is the same system that kicks in to help us survive threats of disaster. It's why, under duress, a human can pick up a car or have cat-like reflexes. I don't want to think in the face of death. I love that my ANS will kick in and take over.

We cannot, and I would argue if we understood it, we would not want to fight our ANS. It's ultimately futile and exacerbating! As my clients begin to understand their ANS, they fear it less and even begin to appreciate its often uncomfortable messages. When this happens, healing is exponentially more possible.

At Steyn Integrative Counseling, all of our therapists and our specialist guide clients towards this experience of being curious and compassionate toward the symptoms their ANS provide. It's how we are able to bring calm and relaxation to the ANS. We actually are in the business of helping people earn trust with their unique ANS and we do so by bringing a curious and compassionate presence to one ANS sensation at a time rather than run away from it, control it with rationale or try to push it down by sheer will. If you are open to trying something new in your approach to mental health, text us!