The Polyvagal Flip Chart: What It Is (and a Free Printable)

ByHamza K. Siddiqui

The Polyvagal Flip Chart is a physical desk-top teaching tool by Deb Dana, made for therapists to explain nervous-system states to clients. If that is what you need, it is worth buying. If you just want a clear visual of the three states for yourself, our free printable chart below does the core job at no cost.

4 min read. Written by Hamza K. Siddiqui, nervous-system educator. Educational content, not medical advice. Full disclaimer below.

People search “polyvagal flip chart” for two different reasons. Some are clinicians wanting the real product for sessions. Others just want the picture to understand their own states. This page sorts out which one you are and points you to the right thing.

The quick version

  • The Polyvagal Flip Chart is a printed, easel-style chart by Deb Dana, published by W. W. Norton, subtitled “Understanding the Science of Safety.”
  • It is designed for therapists to show clients during psychoeducation, with plain-language explanations of the three states.
  • It is a paid physical product, not a free PDF, and there is no official free flip-chart download.
  • If you want a free visual for personal use, take our printable polyvagal chart instead.

What the flip chart is

The Polyvagal Flip Chart is one of Deb Dana’s clinician tools, alongside her books and her card deck. It stands on a desk like a small easel, and each page explains part of polyvagal theory in accessible language on the client-facing side, with notes for the therapist on the back. The idea is that a therapist can flip through it in session to help someone understand why they shut down or panic, without a lecture.

It is a genuinely useful object for the people it is built for. It is also a physical product you buy, which is why there is no legitimate “polyvagal flip chart PDF” floating around for free. If a site offers you one, it is almost certainly a pirated copy.

Who should buy it, and who shouldn’t

Buy it if you are a therapist, coach, or educator who explains nervous-system states to people regularly and wants a polished tool to do it with. In that setting it earns its price.

Skip it if you are an individual just trying to understand your own states. You do not need a clinician’s easel chart for that. Our free polyvagal chart gives you the same three-state picture to print and keep, and the ladder guide explains it in full. Save the money for one of Dana’s books if you want to go deeper, since Anchored will do more for a general reader than the flip chart will.

Get the free chart instead

If you landed here wanting the visual rather than the clinician product, this is the one for you. Enter your email and we will send our free printable polyvagal chart.

[ Email field and download button go here ]

Questions people actually ask

What is the polyvagal flip chart?
It is a printed, easel-style teaching tool by Deb Dana, published by Norton, that therapists use to explain the three nervous-system states to clients in plain language. It is a paid physical product, not a free download.

Is there a free polyvagal flip chart PDF?
There is no official free PDF of Deb Dana’s flip chart; it is a product you buy, and free copies online are usually pirated. If you want a free visual, use our printable polyvagal chart instead.

Who is the polyvagal flip chart for?
Mainly therapists, coaches, and educators who explain nervous-system states to clients and want a polished in-session tool. Individuals wanting to understand their own states do not really need it and can use a free chart.

What is the difference between the flip chart and a polyvagal chart?
The flip chart is Deb Dana’s paid, multi-page easel product for clinicians. A polyvagal chart, like our free one, is a single-page visual of the three states for quick personal reference. Same core idea, different format and price.

Where can I buy the polyvagal flip chart?
It is published by W. W. Norton and sold through major booksellers alongside Deb Dana’s other tools. See our books guide for her full range.

Where to go next


This content is for education only and is not medical advice. We are not affiliated with Deb Dana or her publisher. Polyvagal theory is a scientifically contested framework, and we describe both its ideas and the criticism of them.

Similar Posts