Co-Regulation
Through co-regulation, we are able to influence our own biological states and that of those around us. This promotes health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance amongst us and others.
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Throughout this article series, reference has been made to co-regulation. In essence this is the principle of Polyvagal Theory which relates to how we impact and influence the biological state of those around us. This occurs via neuroception. This understanding informs that just the same as we are able to affect the biological state of the people around us, we are similarly impacted by their respective biological states. It can be readily appreciated that, on account of co-regulation, we are all able to interchangeably impact the biological states of all those in our experience. This demonstrates the reach of the relational pathway when considered from the perspective of neuroception and co-regulation.
To describe the concept in further detail, the biological state which we are experiencing will lead to emergence of specific cues from our physiology and psychology which can impact those around us through the process of neuroception. If we present cues of safety and connection, emerging from a ventral vagal state, it is more likely that those around us will shift towards ventral vagal states. Conversely, if we project cues of uncertainty, risk, or threat, emanating from sympathetic or dorsal vagal states, they will likely lead others to shift towards sympathetic and dorsal vagal states. As stated above, the same process is occurring for each of us on account of the cues provided to us by those around us.
The principle of co-regulation has been described and applied in other articles in this series. The purpose of this article will be to detail the significance of co-regulation through specific examples within the healthcare system. These applications can be equally applied across all professionals in high demand domains.
Patient care across all aspects of the healthcare system can be significantly impacted through co-regulation. As has been discussed in past articles, a ventral vagal state is necessary in order to promote recovery, restoration, and homeostasis. For patients being treated within the healthcare system, a common element is the need for recovery from whatever condition led to their presentation for care. Given these considerations, the degree to which the treating healthcare professionals are able to co-regulate their patients will positively contribute to those patients’ ability to heal and recover. This concept can be extended across all professionals whose craft is involved in the care and integration with others.
Across all areas of the healthcare system there are numerous professionals with various roles and experiences. In order to optimize care to patients and foster a collaborative and collegial culture and environment, co-regulation is crucial. The patient care component has already been described. Across all interactions with other healthcare professionals, the numerous experiences which occur can be ameliorated through co-regulation by providing cues of safety and connection amongst each other. This can lead not only to increased feelings of being grounded but, on account of the ventral vagal stabilized states which result, improved ability to perform to the limits of each professional’s ability, given the importance of the blended ventral vagal-sympathetic system within the context of performance.
It should also be noted that within the interactions healthcare professionals have with patients and each other, there is also the potential for shifts towards sympathetic and dorsal vagal states if the biological states are within those states. In essence, this could be considered to be a form of ‘co-dysregulation’. Just as provision of cues of safety and connection promote co-regulation and resulting increased ventral vagal tone along the relational pathway, so can cues of uncertainty, risk, and threat lead to shifts towards sympathetic and dorsal vagal states amongst others. Given the high demand and high consequence nature inherent within the practice of medicine, this potential is frequently present. It then becomes important and beneficial for healthcare professionals to integrate an intentional practice to increase their ventral vagal tone, thereby increasing the likelihood that they will co-regulate, rather than co-dysregulate, others.
The necessary element in order to co-regulate others is to maintain a ventral vagal stabilized state. As described previously and in past articles, from such a state there will be emergence of cues of safety and connection. This provides the necessary circumstances to co-regulate those around us. It is important to note that the required ventral vagal stability needed for co-regulation cannot be faked or manipulated. Attempts to co-regulate others from anything other than a ventral vagal stabilized state, for example by trying to create cues of connection with an insincere intention, are highly likely to be neurocepted by others as cues of uncertainty or risk. Such a scenario actually creates the conditions for co-dysregulation. For this reason, it is necessary to employ mind-based and body-based strategies and tactics to shift into a ventral vagal stabilized state in order to co-regulate those around us.
The final consideration within this article is that co-regulation is a two-way street. Just as we are able to influence the biological state of others on the basis of our biological state, so too are others able to impact our state. It is important to acknowledge this reality so that we are able to appropriately employ polyvagal informed tactics in situations in which we are exposed to others in sympathetic and/or dorsal vagal states to reduce the likelihood that we will shift into similar states. This process is, by its nature, continuous and dynamic.
The principle of co-regulation is an important element within the Practices of the Healthcare Athlete. Understanding and applying these considerations has many beneficial impacts on account of improved ability to regulate our own biology when we encounter others in sympathetic or dorsal vagal states as well as to enhance our ability to support others in their pursuit of health, wellbeing, and sustainable high performance. To learn more, including about polyvagal informed coaching for healthcare professionals and others in high demand domains, please visit www.darindavidson.com.
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REFERENCES
Allison, M. The Play Zone: A Neurophysiological Approach to our Highest Performance. https://theplayzone.com.
Dana, D. Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory. Boulder, Colorado: Sounds True, 2021.
Dana, D. Polyvagal Practices: Anchoring The Self in Safety. New York: W.W. Nortan & Company, 2023.
Porges SW, Porges S. Our Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us. New York: W.W. Norton & Company; 2023.