The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "That the body remembers traumatic experiences is aptly illustrated by the following case of "Charlie and the Dog..." (more)
Key Phrases: safe trauma therapy, simple body awareness, somatic techniques, The Body Remembers, Somatic Memory Becomes Personal History, Additional Somatic Techniques (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...this book is the first to combine with consistency theory, research, and practice in enabling the traumatized to have hope..." -- Charles R. Figley, Ph.D., Director and Professor, Florida State University Traumatology Institute

This book is a 'must' for the professional's library! -- Mary Beth Williams, Ph.D., LCSW, CTS

[A] clear window on this very important subject, [which] also presents a highly practical integration of the psychophysiology of trauma ... -- Onno van der Hart, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands

Product Description

Illuminates the value of understanding the psychophysiology of trauma for both clinicians and their traumatized clients. Traumatized people hold a memory of that trauma in their brains and bodies. This is the first book to link this phenomenon of somatic memory and the impact of trauma on the body. Reducing the chasm between scientific theory and clinical practice and bridging the gap between talk and body therapy, Rothschild presents techniques for addressing the memory in the body.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 190 pages
• Publisher: W.W. Norton & Co.; 1 edition (October 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393703274
• ISBN-13: 978-0393703276
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,970 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

205 of 209 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful! Trauma theory in digestible bites!, November 28, 2000

By	Patricia "[e-mail]" (Oregon City, OR United States) - See all my reviews

I recently read Babette Rothschild's (2000) new book "The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment" (published by W.W. Norton). In this book Babette does a wonderful job of explaining complex psychobiological processes in easy to understand, digestible bites. This book provides a solid theoretical framework for the close relationship between psychobiology, implicit and explicit memory storage and retrieval, and trauma processing. Babette's book also thoroughly explains the importance of "body memories" in trauma processing and discusses many ways in which to help clients both elicit and integrate dysfunctionally stored cellular memories. By providing a concise, understandable and useful overview of trauma theory, Babette's book serves to help close the learning gap between theory and application. In fact, I have recommended that this book be used as one of the texts for clinical theory classes in the graduate program where I am privileged to teach. I also believe this book would be very helpful to trauma clinicians in general. Accordingly, I will begin recommending this book at all my presentations(and did so for the first time recently). No matter the general theoretical foundation of the clinician (ie: psychoanalytic, CBT, etc.) this book provides valuable information that informs trauma practice. In addition, Babette offers many graphics, charts, case studies, and exercises that could be very helpful in explaining the "trauma response" and trauma therapy to clients, families, students, supervisors, and policy makers. As by now you have no doubt guessed - I highly recommend this book.

Sincerely, Pati Zimmerman, (MSW, Clinical Traumatologist, Ph.D. Student, and adjunct faculty member at Portland State University and Concordia University.)

166 of 171 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theory actually useful to trauma treatment, April 26, 2001

By	Marian K. Shapiro (Lexington, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After more than 20 years treating trauma survivors I all too rarely find a new book from which I really learn something that I can immediately apply to my work. This is such a book. The relationship between the physiological reactions to serious trauma and helpful methods of treatment are detailed in accessible, clear fashion, complete with understandable diagrams and case examples with extensive and relevant transcriptions. Experienced and not-so- experienced clinicians will be delighted to find a minimum of jargon and a humane and well-thought-out attitude throughout.

101 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Feedback from a Trauma victim, May 20, 2002

By	Kym M. "spookymboo" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

For 30 years, since a young child, I have suffered from a variety of unexplained problems, self-destructive behaviors and senseless actions. Until now, I have never understand what haunts and controls me. But I recently went to counciling and was diagnosed with PTSD so I purchased this book to learn more about it. There are no words to express the relief and overwhelming "connection" I felt when I started reading. I literally had to lay the book down after every paragraph to give myself a moment to absorb the impact of recognition I experienced when reading about myself. I have since been taking the book to my counciling sessions to discuss my revelations - one at a time. This book has saved my sanity - for once, I am beginning to understand the nameless fears and anxieties that have permeated every aspect of my life and robbed me of any real joy. This book lays down a very understandable framework of PSTD, from the development of the disorder to the healing work to move on. And I'm only on Chapter 4! *If you are a victim, take your time when reading this, it can be overwhelming to try to understand everything at once and I suggest a support system to share your discoveries with - best wishes - you CAN recover from this!!