What is the polyvagal ladder?

The polyvagal ladder is Deb Dana's clinical adaptation of Stephen Porges' polyvagal theory. It arranges three autonomic nervous system states as rungs on a ladder: ventral vagal (safe, social, connected) at the top, sympathetic (fight or flight) in the middle, and dorsal vagal (shutdown, freeze, collapse) at the bottom.

How do you move up the polyvagal ladder?

Movement up the ladder is called regulation. Common cues that move a person up: another safe person's calm face and voice, slow lengthened exhale, orienting to the room, gentle movement, warm eye contact, humming or singing (which tones the vagus nerve through the vocal cords). The goal is flexibility between states, not living in ventral all the time.

What does dorsal vagal shutdown feel like?

Dorsal vagal shutdown feels like numbness, heaviness, disconnection from your body, hopelessness, or the urge to disappear or sleep. It is a protective response, not a personal failing — the nervous system goes there when fight or flight didn't work or isn't safe.

Is polyvagal theory scientifically proven?

Polyvagal theory is influential clinically, especially in trauma work, and its regulation practices are widely used. Some specific claims about the ventral vagal complex remain debated in physiology research. The clinical practices — long exhale, co-regulation, orienting, safe voice and face — are supported by broader nervous-system science regardless of the finer theoretical debate.

For-clients library

For clients · interactive

Polyvagal Ladder

Your nervous system has three big states. They aren't moods — they're modes. Knowing which rung you're on is the first move toward the next one.

Tap a rung — the marker climbs to where you are

None of the rungs are "bad" — each is the body doing a job.

The goal isn't to live at the top — it's to know where you are and how to move.

Why a ladder

The states aren't separate boxes — you climb and slide between them all day. Sympathetic sits between safe and shutdown because the system usually mobilises (fight/flight) before it gives up (shutdown).

Where it comes from

The polyvagal ladder is Deb Dana's clinical adaptation of Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory. It's used widely in trauma-informed and somatic therapy as a map for nervous system states.

A therapist shared this with you? They use TherapistAssist to send tools between sessions.

Option One

Get the Polyvagal Ladder

Print-ready PDF. Instant download — no account needed. We email you a copy too.

Option Two

Or send it to your client

Every worksheet, plus 80 interactive tools your client opens on their phone. No app. No login.

Their response lands in your dashboard
Unlimited worksheet downloads

Start 7-day trial

$20/mo after · cancel in one click

Nothing you tap here is saved or sent anywhere. This page is free to use and share — therapists often send it to clients between sessions.

Polyvagal Ladder

Safe & Social

Fight or Flight

Shutdown

Get the Polyvagal Ladder

Or send it to your client