The Body Keeps the Score

Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

by Bessel van der Kolk

When I first stepped into this book, early in the process of acknowledging and treating my Complex PTSD, it felt devastating. The author details how trauma damages and alters the brain with lifelong repercussions; it made me feel even more broken.

Then, in the second half, van der Kolk outlines treatment options for PTSD. This was my introduction to EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and the importance of inhabiting your body (through yoga or theatre, for example). The scientific and experiential evidence of healing he provides gave me hope and a place to begin.

I highly recommend this book to those who want to understand the mechanisms of trauma as they implement trauma-informed practices in their work.

Content note: The author includes graphic details from his patients’ traumas, including war, sexual violence, child sexual abuse, and more, and doesn’t adequately prepare the reader. They are peppered unexpectedly throughout the book. The details are unnecessary to the text and not his to share. If you are a survivor, please make sure you have supports in place before you read this book, as it will likely be triggering. It’s also ok to avoid When the Body Keeps the Score entirely.

(Format: The audiobook, narrated by Sean Pratt, is excellent. The print book includes some supplementary diagrams and illustrations that enhance the content.)