By Deb Silverthorn

Nisa Harris, a registered nurse at the Fort Worth Veteran’s Affairs Clinic, has published her first book – “Polyvagal Playdate: An Interactive Somatic Guide to Family Emotional Regulation,” focusing on supporting readers’ emotional and mental well-being.  

Harris has dedicated her career to healing the body. She will host a Q&A session, read “Polly’s Bagel Magic,” the children’s book within the book; sign copies of the book; and raffle off therapeutic sessions beginning at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 3 at DATA of Plano Children’s Library, 3251 Independence Pkwy. 

“This book is a gentle form of neuroscience in an easily understood format to offer the skills to bring peace into the home, the workplace, all parts of our lives,” said Harris.  “Helping ourselves can help others.”

The “Polyvagal Playdate” provides insight into Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges. It explores how the body and brain work together to respond to stressors that are part of everyday life as well as traumatic experiences. 

Harris notes her book, written as an educational resource and not in place of professional advice from a medical or mental health provider, is an authentic expression of how she wants to help the community at large. 

“What I’ve learned can help others learn to heal what they might not even realize is an issue and make triggers go away or at the very least be far less intense,” she said.

For herself, Harris learned about how to tune into and recognize various overwhelming emotions and triggers like stress, grief and pain. She teaches how to lean into the vulnerable emotions and manage the body’s response, allowing the mind to follow.

Harris is a graduate of The Frisch School, Midreshet Moriah Seminary, Stern College and Rutgers School of Nursing. As a somatic stress relief specialist, she teaches people how to make choices that help them regularly feel less overwhelmed. She explains that when regulated, people typically feel balanced; look calm and relaxed; have blood pressure within normal range; digest food well; and sleep well. When not regulated, the nervous system gets kicked into gear leaving the individual affected physically, emotionally, spiritually and interpersonally.

Harris has worked with a broad array of clients. “I’ve worked with a chayal (IDF soldier), and I could see the PTSD on his face from the nightmares keeping him up, which after a half-hour session we were able to alleviate, I’ve worked with a senior to overcome a lifelong fear and a young person with internal strife,” she said.  “I am grateful to have helped all ages with anxiety, body dysmorphia and depression and have been told my methods are ADD/ADHD friendly.” 

One client, with anonymity preserved, said “in a half hour, Nisa got me to release anxiety and bring me into presence, which I have been trying to achieve for years. The resistance coming into the session slipped away and she got me doing simple body movements and their effectiveness encouraged me to keep going resulting in surprising shifts of tension around my body.  I left our session with a simple plan of action for whenever I felt anxiously disconnecting.”

Within the book’s chapters is a children’s story, “Polly’s Bagel Magic,” inspired by the author’s daughters’ response to hearing the word “polyvagal.”  Bringing the message to children, the story’s baked buddy characters teach exercises of realistic expression.

Married to Rabbi Mordechai Harris, the chief impact officer and rabbi in residence at the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas, the couple are the parents of daughters Pliyah, Aura and Emunah. The book is dedicated to the girls for their inspiration.

In 2022, Harris was featured in the Texas Jewish Post for her podcast, “Shomeah v’Oneh.” With now 167 episodes online, she is now converting those to a visual format on YouTube.  Each chapter of Tehillim is presented in Hebrew, with translation and transliteration as well as a summary and life lessons as takeaways.

“The podcast has allowed me to express my spiritual and religious core and this book from my scientific intellectual view,” said Harris.  “They are the two sides of the emotional coin that is me.”

Harris’ book, to be sold at the Nov. 3 event, is available on Amazon. Harris can be reached at NurseNisa1@gmail.com.  Harris has a Polyvagal Playdate community on Facebook and Instagram (@polyvagelplaydate). Her Shomeah V’Oneh podcast is available at tinyurl.com/Nisa-Harris-Shomeah-Voneh, on Facebook at “Shomeah V’Oneh: Tehillim and Other Hebrew Texts Podcast” and on YouTube at NisaHarris2275.