Healing Through the Vagus Nerve (2024) by: Amanda Armstrong, M.A.
Amanda Armstrong is a life coach whose practice is built on the foundation of helping clients cultivate tools to support increased capacity for nervous system regulation through a focus on understanding the physiological role of the nervous system and its impact on mood. Armstrong has done her research on the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system, on Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, and a variety of exercises a person can practice to strengthen Vagal tone to improve capacity for self-regulation. Early on in the book, Armstrong references two scenarios that may contribute to dysregulation: 1. One’s “bucket” being too full and 2. Past experiences that are impacting current reactions (trauma history). I think this book is perfect for scenario number one.
While I do appreciate that it does not seem like treatment of trauma is within Armstrong’s scope of practice and I appreciate that she doesn’t seem like she is trying to “treat” it. On the other hand, I have concerns about Armstrong’s reference to her “mental health practice”, the lack of acknowledgement about the impact of trauma on the nervous system, how some of these exercises may negatively trigger a person depending on their trauma history (without appropriate support), and the negative commentary when vaguely referencing therapy (especially when it compares to her work with clients) combined with only once in the book recommending folks seek support from a “trauma provider” as needed. All that to say, I do think it’s an important caveat to make to identify more clearly the beneficial application of the content of this book, as well as where the limits on this book’s topics may be.
How did I hear about this book: It popped up in my library search for Anchored
Would I recommend it to colleagues: Sure, it has some helpful content in it.
Would I recommend it to clients: Sure, with caveats. It can be helpful as a supplement to what we are already doing and has some good tips and recommendations for exercises and regimens they can be practicing in-between sessions.
How do I apply this content to my work: This book largely sums up my first three (or so) sessions with clients: Following my intake assessment, I provide psychoeducation about Polyvagal Theory and apply the information provided during the assessment to the theoretical information. I facilitate Deb Dana’s Autonomic Mapping exercise to help the client personalize their experience from this new lens, and then introduce them to (what I refer to as) state-specific coping skills under the guise of learning to meet oneself where you are at, and then facilitating an experiential exercise of moving them “up the ladder” from Dorsal Vagus to Ventral Vagus utilizing a progressive series of exercises (within the context of co-regulation). After we debrief on the exercise, we review how they are able to take these skills home and continue to implement and practice them on their own in-between sessions. Some techniques are encouraged on a daily basis to strengthen vagal tone, as Armstrong reviews, as well as to strengthen the effectiveness when needing to manage stressors/triggers. This provides clients with strategies they can implement right away to help find some relief in their symptoms and feel like they have some agency over how they feel. Additionally, as they continue to strengthen their vagal tone, it helps to support internal sense of safety to access deeper trauma healing work such as EMDR. These early sessions provide the opportunity for us to build rapport and increase the sense of safety environmentally (in my office) and interpersonally to further support that deeper healing work as well.
Disclaimers: These reviews are based on my own personal experience reading these books and do not reflect on the book’s author or publisher. I have not received any commissions or other incentives to promote my reviews. My reviews express my own unbiased opinions.
