This book is a significant resource for both trauma survivors and mental health professionals. It includes a 12 phase healing trauma program and guided somatic experiencing techniques on CD.

This book is a pioneering program for restoring the wisdom of the body when trauma has been experienced. The conclusions of research in the mental health field show that survivors of accidents, disaster, and childhood trauma frequently experience lifelong symptoms such as post-traumatic stress disorder. These experiences usually include anxiety and depression and may also include illness, unexplained physical pain, fatigue, and unexplained emotional escalations. In his book Waking The Tiger, Dr. Levine introduced his theory regarding Somatic Experiencing methods he developed to promote the healing of the effects of trauma. Waking The Tiger has been translated into 13 languages and the author contends that the unexplained symptoms of trauma originate in the body and healing must address the body itself.

Dr. Levine proposes that rather than our suffering stemming from the past, our suffering is more closely a result of how we deal with the effect that these past events have on us in the present. The author began his professional career as a young stress researcher at UC-Berkley. He found that all animals are born with a natural ability to rebound from distressing situations. In this book, he describes a process for identifying and releasing past traumas and developing a new awareness of the body.

In chapter one, you will read about the full continuum of trauma and how trauma is unique to each individual. The discussion addresses how trauma occurs when our ability to respond to a perceived threat is in some way overwhelmed. There is often a delay following traumatic experience before symptoms presented themselves. Dr. Levine has developed a very specific, deeply physiological approach to healing following over thirty years of studying stress and trauma. His impressive credentials include a Ph.D. in medical and biological physics, and he holds a doctorate in psychology.

Chapter two explores the causes and symptoms of trauma. It is intriguing to consider the author’s examples of the less obvious causes of trauma. He describes symptoms and their order of appearance and the reader gains a great deal of insight regarding body awareness and understanding of his or her experiences. Symptoms deliver a message, how present situations trigger traumatic memories and responses is explained. Chapter three describes in laymen’s terms, what occurs physiologically when the individual is in a traumatic situation. This information provides a foundation for understanding the personal how-to guide for using his theory to heal. Chapter four begins the 12 phase healing trauma program.