5 Books on Healing From Trauma

[MsAmerica]

In case this is useful to anyone...

5 Books on Healing From Trauma
Neuroscientists, psychologists and other experts share the titles they recommend most.
By Hope Reese

The five titles below were recommended by neuroscientists, psychologists and trauma specialists as sources to help you understand and process trauma.

‘What Happened to You?’ by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey
Ms. Winfrey and Dr. Perry blend science and storytelling in this 2021 book, encouraging readers to reframe the question, “What’s wrong with me?” and instead ask, “What happened to me?”

‘No Bad Parts’ by Richard C. Schwartz
Lauren Auer, a trauma therapist in Peoria, Ill., said that this 2021 book is a “go-to for clients struggling with inner criticism.” In it, Dr. Schwartz introduces internal family systems, a therapeutic model that encourages people to view their minds as having distinct parts or sub-personalities.

‘Trauma and Recovery’ by Judith L. Herman
This book, published in 1992, is “an underrated and pivotal text for understanding trauma,” said Prentis Hemphill, a therapist and the author of “What It Takes to Heal.” Dr. Herman explores the political and social aspects of trauma, said Hemphill, who uses they/them pronouns. “Survivors of all kinds articulate their experiences."

‘Waking the Tiger’ by Peter A. Levine with Ann Frederick
In “Waking the Tiger,” published in 1997, Dr. Levine introduces somatic experiencing, a therapeutic approach that is aimed at helping the body to release trauma by addressing patterns of fight, flight or freeze. But, Dr. Levine argues, when we become stuck in post-traumatic shock, we suppress that natural response.

‘It Didn’t Start With You’ by Mark Wolynn
This 2016 book “feels almost mystical in how it connects dots between our present struggles and our family histories,” Ms. Auer explained. Her clients experience immense relief, she said, when they learn that their struggles may be inherited from previous generations.

For the whole piece:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/well/trauma-books.html

Thank you @MsAmerica. My DCousin is reading the last one and it seems to be having a profound effect.

Thanks, @BunnyRuddington. I often wonder what the odds are of the right book matching up with the right person, for books that are essentially self-help.

If it's complex trauma then I recommend Dr Peter Walkers book on CPTSD, and Carolyn Spring's books on this issue.

Then perhaps you'd like to add a sentence about them, as in my post?

Oh, sure, yeah, sorry I should have done that.

Peter Walker: Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving

I found this book very helpful and informative, things started making sense to me, I felt less alone. It deals very well with the roots of complex trauma and how we can deal with the Freeze, Flop/Fawn, Fight, Flight responses. I realised I wasn't a freak and it wasn't my fault, it was very.validating to work through it.

Carolyn Spring- I follow her on Facebook and all her books I find useful but her Emotional Resource Guide especially is very informative and explains what is going on in the brain of survivors of CPTSD from abuse. She is probably the best resource I've found for dissociation.