Books That Inform My Approach
Waking the Tiger — Peter Levine
Waking the Tiger, by renowned author Peter Levine, is the book that began my exploration into somatic, body-based counseling. Counseling treatment for trauma needs to be gentle, slow, and most importantly, safe. Levine, in Waking the Tiger, beautifully lays out how to do this. In addition to being a wonderful example of what trauma treatment can and should look like, his theory of somatic experiencing is also used to treat anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and pain by training the body’s natural systems to start working for you instead of against you. Trauma is stored in the body, Levine concludes, and thus its treatment must be done in the body. This is a wonderful, practical read for anyone interested in learning more about the body’s automatic systems and how anxiety, trauma, and stress are stored in the body.
Wild at Heart — John Eldredge
John Eldredge, the author of many great works, including Wild at Heart, fundamentally shifted how I personally view story. Particularly, the way that I view your story. Wild At Heart was originally written for men; however, its premise is that of love and romance, battle and hardship, and the discovery of the meaning of life for every individual — things that everyone relates to. I have attended several Wild at Heart workshops, including their “doctoral level” training, Guide School, where I received deep training in healing through spiritual means. This approach includes much more than simple prayer — it is a deep encounter with the living God to bring a renegotiated and freed perspective from trauma, pain, and hurt from the past. I use this approach with most clients and see massive change in the session that translates into their daily lives.