Why This Book?

The Body Keeps the Score is widely considered one of the most important books ever written on trauma — and for good reason. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a pioneer in trauma research and clinical care, weaves neuroscience, lived experience, and decades of therapeutic insight into a powerful exploration of how trauma impacts the whole person — body, brain, memory, relationships, and identity. This book doesn’t just explain what trauma is — it shows how healing is possible when we treat the body as part of the story.

Who It’s For

• Survivors seeking to understand how trauma affects the nervous system, memory, and behavior
• Therapists, educators, and loved ones supporting trauma recovery
• Anyone ready to explore how movement, creativity, and body-based healing can help restore a sense of wholeness

Big Takeaways

• Trauma lives in the body — not just as a memory, but as a felt experience that shapes how we move through the world.
• Talk alone isn’t enough — healing requires body awareness, safe connection, and creative expression.
• The brain can change. The body can remember. And recovery is not only possible — it is profoundly human.

How It Can Help

This book offers both language and liberation. For many survivors, The Body Keeps the Score is the first time their lived experience makes sense — not as dysfunction, but as adaptation. Dr. van der Kolk introduces body-based healing modalities like yoga, EMDR, neurofeedback, and expressive arts, helping readers imagine a healing path that includes the wisdom of the body. It's not an easy read, but for many, it is life-changing.

Additional Notes or Warnings

• Includes stories of childhood trauma, sexual abuse, war, domestic violence, and institutional betrayal
• Written in an accessible but research-informed style; some sections may feel dense or activating
• Best read with support or at a self-guided pace, especially for those early in their healing journey