An IFS and Polyvagal integration with Ruth Culver

Ruth Culver, an Internal Family Systems therapist, discusses her Survive Thrive Spiral, which integrates polyvagal theory and IFS to help individuals understand the connection between their nervous system and parts. Culver explains the spiral chart maps physiological responses alongside psychological experiences, providing a tool for self-understanding and regulation, especially in group settings. She details the five zones within the spiral—self, managers, exiles, fight-flight, and freeze—and their corresponding states of being and doing. Culver emphasizes that understanding the biological basis of behaviors can reduce shame and facilitate self-connection. She also touches on attachment styles, clarifying how they relate to the spiral's zones.