Autonomic Ladder Laminated Card

By Deb Dana

Though Stephen Porges's Polyvagal Theory has proven to be revolutionary in the context of psychotherapy, it is not always easy for clinicians to explain this complex theory to clients. To aid in this psychoeducation, Deb Dana developed the concept of the Autonomic Ladder to depict how the autonomic nervous system moves between states of safety and threat. The ladder has since become one of the most popular metaphors used to explain and understand Polyvagal Theory. Now clinicians can easily access a full-color, laminated diagram of the Autonomic Ladder to share with clients during sessions. The client-facing side of this 8-1/2 x 14 inch card depicts a large illustration of the Autonomic Ladder labeled with essential terms, while the clinician-facing side includes explanatory text to guide conversation on the ladder and its three autonomic nervous system states. This is an essential resource for any trauma-informed clinician.

• Format: Misc.
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1324125721
• ISBN13: 9781324125723
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 2 Pages