20 Best books on psychological trauma
The Body Keeps the Score
What is The Body Keeps the Score about?
Trauma is not uncommon—many people experience it. So, how can we learn to recover from it? In his work “The Body Keeps the Score”, Bessel van der Kolk suggests looking at the trauma from a different angle and offers a new way of healing.
Complex PTSD
What is Complex PTSD about?
Pete Walker’s book details the nature of CPTSD – a complex post-traumatic stress disorder, that usually results from prolonged trauma. As someone who experienced CPTSD himself, Walker shares therapeutic insights and tools to better understand this disorder. You’ll learn about instinctual responses to trauma and the ways you can heal from it.
Healing Developmental Trauma
What is Healing Developmental Trauma about?
Developmental trauma develops in children from chronic exposure to stressful environment. Written by two clinicians, this book helps readers understand and address the effects of such trauma. Laurence Heller and Aline LaPierre introduce the approach to healing called NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) that has helped many people suffering from trauma.
When the Body Says No
What is When the Body Says No about?
Gabor Maté is an expert on trauma, stress and addiction, whose insightful approach helps people address the root cause of their problem. This book underlines the effect stress has on our nervous system, negatively influencing both our physical and mental health. You’ll see that ignoring or suppressing your emotions is the wrong path, and will learn better mechanisms for dealing with stress.
Trauma and Recovery
What is Trauma and Recovery about?
Judith Lewis Herman writes about trauma’s effect both on an individual level and on the broader level of society. She highlights trauma in a political and cultural light, which is why this book is considered of the key titles on the topic. If you are battling your trauma or know someone who needs guidance, "Trauma and Recovery" can be extremely helpful.
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog
What is The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog about?
Understanding the nature of childhood trauma can help us treat it right. In this book, a child psychiatrist Dr. Perry details the cases – and consequences – of traumatic childhoods. You’ll explore several real-life situations and learn a lot about what can help children recover from trauma.
Man’s Search for Meaning
What is Man’s Search for Meaning about?
“Man's Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl illustrates the human ability to find meaning in all circumstances through real-life examples. Written by a psychiatrist and a survivor of Auschwitz, this book shares a powerful message. You will learn about logotherapy and how it helps in the search for meaning.
What Happened to You?
What is What Happened to You? about?
“What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing” by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey explain trauma's impact on personality development. You will learn how past experiences shape behavior and influence relationship building. Real-life stories strengthen the effectiveness of recommendations and give faith in the possibility of solving problems
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
What is Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents about?
Were your parents emotionally mature? How do you feel reflecting on your childhood? Do you feel loneliness or anxiousness? The book “Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents” by Lindsay C. Gibson answers all these questions and helps us overcome childhood trauma. This book can guide you in overcoming feelings of abandonment and loneliness and help you meet your emotional needs if you're willing to. You'll learn the four primary categories of parents that lack emotional maturity, the drawbacks of their influence, and the coping strategies that children of such families usually develop.
The Complex PTSD Workbook
What is The Complex PTSD Workbook about?
If you suffer from complex PTSD or know someone who needs support, it’s vital to take practical action in addition to learning theory. This workbook provides numerous practices aimed to alleviate the pain of trauma. Think of it as a mindful and kind assistant, helping you to address your feelings.
Overcoming Trauma through Yoga
What is Overcoming Trauma through Yoga about?
Our bodies store the effects of stress and trauma, whether we notice it or not. Through the work with our bodies, this book shows how one can calm down and gradually heal from trauma. "Overcoming Trauma through Yoga" is a valuable source of practical information for trauma survivors, yoga instructors, and therapists.
A Shining Affliction
What is A Shining Affliction about?
Annie G. Rogers, being an intern in clinical psychology, starts working with Ben, a young boy with severe trauma in the past. However, this relationship brings back her own traumatic past, making her realize that she also needs help. It is a beautifully written account of personal trauma, psychotherapy, and hope.
It Didn't Start with You
What is It Didn't Start with You about?
“It Didn’t Start With You” offers a groundbreaking exploration of how family traumas can shape our lives. This scientifically-backed journey will help you understand how traumas can manifest in forms like anxiety, depression, or obsessive thoughts. The book connects these issues to the experiences of our parents or grandparents, introducing the concept that traumatic legacies can be inherited.
Getting Past Your Past
What is Getting Past Your Past about?
Dr. Francine Shapiro’s unique approach to trauma, EMDR therapy, has helped millions of people to deal with traumatic memories. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing can «reprogram» the memory, alleviating its painful influence. It is a valuable source of information for therapists, trauma survivors, and people curious about various types of therapy.
Healing Trauma
What is Healing Trauma about?
Peter A. Levine shares one of the alternative ways of treating trauma – somatic experiencing. As Levine has found, for some people, diving into their bodies is more efficient than putting their experience into words. The readers can learn how to restore the connection to their bodies and heal.
The Transformation
What is The Transformation about?
If you want to overcome depression, anxiety, and heal from life's traumas, The Transformation is an essential tool for this. Written by by James S. Gordon, M.D, it masterfully delves into the effects of trauma on our brains and perceptions, exploring both theory and lived practice. This book can help individuals break away from negative patterns and return to a happier, more meaningful life.
Moving Beyond Trauma
What is Moving Beyond Trauma about?
Explaining how trauma is connected to our nervous system, Ilene Smith offers a body-oriented approach to trauma. Her book can help the readers to better understand their feelings and decide what path of healing they should take. Based on research and Smith’s personal and professional experience, this guide is valuable for people dealing with traumatic past.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
What is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings about?
A prominent poet and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou tells her coming-of-age story in this first volume of her autobiography. This poignant memoir dives into the issues of racism and misogyny, depicting the harsh social context of the time. You’ll see her path of growing into a strong African American woman that she was, and her inner power will undoubtedly inspire you.
My Story
What is My Story about?
Dave Pelzer’s memoir is a poignant story of surviving childhood trauma. He shares his path from early childhood to becoming an adult – all marred by the presence of his abusive mother. "My Story" teaches the readers that even the most terrible trauma can be gradually overcome by individuals, if they seek help.
Waking the Tiger
What is Waking the Tiger about?
In the title, Peter A. Levine, a somatic therapist, draws a parallel between trauma in humans and animals. He dissects the nature of trauma, highlighting its connection to our bodies. You’ll find exercises, insights on how we store trauma in our memory and body, and ways to heal.
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