How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness

When dealing with childhood trauma, I heard about Peter Levine and this book and Waking the Tiger - I bought both. I read both and then recommended these books to my family who had been through the same traumas. I have to say these books helped me in conjunction with counseling and other therapy. I highly recommend them.

Lays out the process whereby people become traumatized and how they can move through and beyond their traumatized state. An excellent read, and I would go so far as to say everyone should read it, because everyone knows someone who suffers from these sometimes "invisible" symptoms.

This book is an invaluable tool for renegotiating trauma,
your own or others. It is useful for bodyworkers who
may run into trauma in clients, and for anyone
who lives with someone who has been through traumatic
situations, whether medical procedures, war or
other abuse situations. A must in any therapist bookshelf.

Much more detail that his general intro book, "waking the tiger." More clinical. Really important work for healing trauma. It is meant for people who want to be practitioners of Somatic Experiencing. But if a person wanted an in depth understanding of the physiology of trauma, this book might be interesting for them.

Lots of great info presented in a very readable manner. Some parts are repetitive or specifically aimed at the practitioner. You can skim or skip these without losing value. If you have been through tough times, this may help you to understand what happened at the time and how it continues to affect your life.

I'm so embaressed, because Peter Levine is such a touchy-feel/hippie type of guy, but this book blew me away. Both his concept of somatic experiencing and tonic immobility deserve greater recognition by the psychological community (particularly the trauma field).

Levine's breadth of both experience and collected reflection is astounding. It is at once highly practical and an accessible summary of the major and minor theories of neurobiology. This is essential in that it integrates contradictions into an understandable essence real human experience. It is provocative in that it inspires a search for the transformative experience.

When you have suffered the debilitating effects of trauma for 50 plus years, it is with joy and a sigh of relief and excitement that you devour the pages of Peter Levine's book. This one is a must read for all therapists- chiropractors, counsellors, psychologists, doctors, teachers,victims and parents and friends. Trauma is so widespread in our communities that it essential that all of us know how best to respond to those in need and also learn how to help ourselves. I want to study the process myself. An inspirational work.

Peter Levine really has something here in this work. This book is critical not only for bodyworkers but also for anyone working with people in a physical therapy or therapeutic yoga / fitness modality. Even for those who aren't. Fascinating stuff, especially interesting and applicable is the idea that simply talking does not go deep enough to release stuck trauma. And the necessity of shaking it off. Thank you, Peter Levine, for your work.

Wow, very useful read if you experince post trauma stress. Or any anxiety depression. Excellent ways forward. Helps to understand what is happening in your head and body and gives a way out.....read this.

This book brilliantly exposes how the body contributes to our sense of being and ability to recover from trauma with first person accounts, sound clinical experience and a good review of the scientific literature. It is sometimes a bit repetitive, but this helps to incorporate the main take home messages.

There's growing evidence that after-effects of trauma aren't limited to severe abuse or terror. Other kinds of trauma can create a "freeze" response that can be healed through somatic experiencing. Levine writes beautifully and brings many years of experience to stories of trauma (including his own, after an accident) and how to heal it.

A very informative book, with equally well researched sessions on neuroscience and the whys and how of appliying the discoveries in the therapeutic setting.
Trully a work of someone who spent most of his adult life helping others overcome their issues.
A great book by Peter Levine.

Peter Levine describes in great details the process of trauma including the body reactions, which are often omitted. The book includes also a great part of Peter's research in this topic from Darwin to modern neuroscience.
I recommend this book as it is also a practical one; showing the whole process in some comprehensive steps.

wonderful read, a fearful reality portrayed in a way that
helps us understand that there is a process our bodies
go through to help us... sadly we never really get to find
out how to apply it properly, and neither do most therapists

The most thought provoking journey i have ever traveled with a book. It took me nearly a year to read it. It has challenged me, torn me apart, reassembled me, and brought me enlightenment, a path to embodiment, and the capacity to love and have true compassion. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO COMPLETELY CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

This book came well packaged and promptly. The book is excellent resource for those interested in Post Traumatic Stress recovery strategies from a different perspective. It is a reference book for present and future use.

As a psychologist, I find this book an excellent and insightful. Though not everything is scientifically correct, most is. It explores and combines several scientific views, into a coherent approach for growth through trauma and beyond.

Excellent insights, answering some questions. I have not finished the book yet, it is very intense and helpful. It would assist all those administering counseling in the Christian church and secular market on a wider scale.

This is a textbook for mental health clinicians. (For self-help, read Waking the Tiger.) Cutting-edge mind-body method of supporting clients in recovery from PTSD. Peter Levine makes an important contribution. This method will really work for those already so inclined and skilled.

I have been doing bodywork for 20 years and encounter the results trauma in many of my clients. After reading Peter's book I have a much better understanding of why that is and how to work more effectively with it. Peter's dedication to the field of treating trauma and trauma research has been and continues to be a priceless contribution to healthcare providers and people living with the effects of trauma - big and small.
Many of my clients have benefited from reading this book and finding themselves and their symptoms detailed in its pages - what a relief this brings them. Finally being seen, being heard, being known - to themselves, and now possibly to an other.
Thank you Peter, I am looking forward to your next book.

This is a textbook for mental health clinicians. (For self-help, read Waking the Tiger.) Cutting-edge mind-body method of supporting clients in recovery from PTSD. Peter Levine makes an important contribution. This method will really work for those already so inclined and skilled.

I have been doing bodywork for 20 years and encounter the results trauma in many of my clients. After reading Peter's book I have a much better understanding of why that is and how to work more effectively with it. Peter's dedication to the field of treating trauma and trauma research has been and continues to be a priceless contribution to healthcare providers and people living with the effects of trauma - big and small.
Many of my clients have benefited from reading this book and finding themselves and their symptoms detailed in its pages - what a relief this brings them. Finally being seen, being heard, being known - to themselves, and now possibly to an other.
Thank you Peter, I am looking forward to your next book.