Some of our favorite resources to support those seeking deeper, more lasting healing from painful trauma in the past:
- The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma By Bessel Van der Kolk MD “The trauma caused by childhood neglect, sexual or domestic abuse and war wreaks havoc in our bodies, says Bessel van der Kolk in The Body Keeps the Score. . . . Van der Kolk draws on 30 years of experience to argue powerfully that trauma is one of the West’s most urgent public health issues. . . . Packed with science and human stories, the book is an intense read. . . . [T]he struggle and resilience of his patients is very moving….War zones may be nearer than you think, as the 25% of US citizens raised with alcoholic relatives might attest. Psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk argues, moreover, that severe trauma is ‘encoded in the viscera’ and demands tailored approaches that enable people to experience deep relief from rage and helplessness. In a narrative packed with decades of findings and case studies, he traces the evolution of treatments from the ‘chemical coshes’ of the 1970s to neurofeedback, mindfulness and other nuanced techniques.”
- Adult Children of Alcoholics/Dysfunctional Families “Don’t let the title of this one fool you. If you are a “human being” living on this planet there is invaluable information here for you. Although I was not raised in a home with “Alcoholic” parents, I WAS raised in a home where distorted patterns of the past had an effect on the atmosphere in the home and the choices made by my parents and extended family members. As I began the gargantuan task of raising my own large family it became apparent that (1) – I was not alone in feeling generally inadequate and occasionally out of control- and (2) -Some of what I thought was “normal healthy response to present problems,” more closely resembled a “dysfunctional pattern” I had picked up from my WELL INTENTIONED parents who were simply doing the best they could with the tools they had. As I made this personal work “the beginning and end” of my own sustainable strategy for healthy living, I discovered, not only a new and better way, but also a freedom and joy in my family, professional and community relations that I never dreamed possible. My “best efforts” at applying the simple tools discovered here, as well as striving to make consciously informed decisions in all of my relationships, has been foundational to my own health and wellness journey and the keystone of the vibrant life I now enjoy – even in the midst of continued challenges.” SM https://adultchildren.org/
- Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness: Practices for Safe and Transformative Healing by David A. Treleaven
- Overcoming Trauma through Yoga: Reclaiming Your Body by David Emerson
- Yoga for Emotional Trauma: Meditations and Practices for Healing Pain and Suffering by Mary NurrieStearns
- Mindfulness Skills for Trauma and PTSD: Practices for Recovery and Resilience by Rachel Goldsmith Turow
- Meditations for Healing Trauma: Mindfulness Skills to Ease Post-Traumatic Stress by Louanne Davis PsyD
- Healing the Scars of Childhood Abuse: Moving beyond the Past into a Healthy Future by Gregory L. Jantz Ph.D and Ann McMurray
- Healing the Soul of a Woman: How to Overcome Your Emotional Wounds by Joyce Meyer
- Healing from Hidden Abuse: A Journey Through the Stages of Recovery from Psychological Abuse by Shannon Thomas LCSW
- Combat Vet Don’t Mean Crazy: Veteran Mental Health in Post-Military Life by Duane K. L. France, LPC
- Trauma Survivors’ Strategies for Healing: A Workbook to Help You Grow, Rebuild, and Take Back Your Life by Elena Welsh PhD
- In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness by Peter A. Levine
- Healing from Trauma: A Survivor’s Guide to Understanding Your Symptoms and Reclaiming Your Life by Jasmin Lee Cori
- Healing Developmental Trauma: How Early Trauma Affects Self-Regulation, Self-Image, and the Capacity for Relationship by Laurence Heller Ph.D.
- Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body by Peter A. Levine Ph.D.
- The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma by James S. Gordon M.D.
- Journey Through Trauma: A Trail Guide to the 5-Phase Cycle of Healing Repeated Trauma by Gretchen L. Schmelzer
- Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
- How We Can Understand Real Trauma Short Video Resource: by Dr. Joe Dispenza
- The Choice: Embrace the Possible by Edith Eger
- The Power of Eight: Harnessing the Miraculous Energies of a Small Group to Heal Others, Your Life, and the World by Lynne McTaggart
