Sexual Healing

Transforming the Sacred Wound

By: Peter A. Levine PhD

Narrated by: Peter A. Levine PhD

Length: 2 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's Summary

Healing the wounds of sexual trauma has long been considered by many psychotherapists to be one of the most challenging tasks a person will ever face. The good news, teaches Dr. Peter A. Levine, is that new and more effective tools are emerging. On Sexual Healing, Dr. Levine, a pioneer in the field of healing trauma, teaches you his innovative series of body-based practices to release the sexual trauma of your past. Join him to learn:

• What new research reveals about the way we store the energies and memories of distressing events in the body
• Understanding the signs of sexual trauma
• How to create a "container" for your emotions and release them safely - without becoming overwhelmed
• Gentle exercises to reconnect with your body and recover your ability to experience pleasure and joy

Your body has a natural process for healing trauma and restoring resilience in your nervous system. Unfortunately, few of us are taught to identify and allow this process to happen when it arises. Sexual Healing shares the principles and skills you need to restore your sacred inner space and move forward in your life with greater presence, focus, and passion.

©2007 Peter Levine (P)2007 Peter Levine

Not sure if this is for everyone who tries to heal

I don't recommend this book on its own or in the very beginning of the healing process.

I respect Dr. Peter Levine a lot and I admire his work and breakthrough in trauma healing, especially the body release, but I am not sure if he is particularly experienced in sexual trauma. I don't think he takes into consideration the triggers that survivors have. I will count several, but first let me share where my perspective is coming from - I am healing, I've taken many EMDR sessions and have remembered a lot, successfully, done some inner talking, and I've reached a point where I am comfortable feeling my feelings (remembering my body memories, even of the penetration itself - I am less comfortable from the shame or disgust point of view) and I am sure the exercises are useful, but I don' feel comfortable even doing them.
I am not sure for which stage of healing this is, it sounds like it is for a beginning phase but yet again I think it is too triggering for someone who hasn't healed enough at the point where they WANT to feel sexual pleasure again. I think this is meant for that phase, I am not a professional though so I am not sure, but this is my perspective.

1. I don't feel comfortable listening to a male voice itself, it feels like simply getting into my intimacy. I really dislike the introducing voice of the male (not Dr. Peter but the one that introduces the chapters) and I think it's unnecessary. Because at this point, in this audiobook, it is a male voice which is unknown (and it is two so that makes it kinda worse) and it just feels like intrusion. The voice of a male is a trigger for some who have been molested by a man and Dr. Peter Levine didn't think about it. I can handle listening to Dr. Peter but feeling as if he's not specialized makes me a bit uncomfortable too, as if I am not understood - in this sense.

2. At the beginning and throughout the book - and this made me very uncomfortable - Dr. Peter Levine repeats the word "sexual" a lot. Especially in those sentences where he says "sexual abuse or sexual trauma" - it is NOT necessary to mention it twice. It is enough that I had to live through it, I don't wanna hear it over and over and over again. Especially not coming from a male. It makes me feel a bit shamed or ridiculed, or simply not comfortable.

3. I don't feel comfortable doing the exercises either because of the previous two points, but also because Dr. Peter Levine doesn't offer me the option to completely stop. He says "if at any point you feel uncomfortable, make a pause and then return when you feel comfortable" as if I am still forced to do the exercise. I wish he said "If at any point IN THE BOOK you feel uncomfortable for any reason whatsoever, please STOP listening to it and return IF you want to, later on".
He basically doesn't take into consideration that he kind of forces me to continue going into my intimacy with those exercises, with his voice in the background, which is uncomfortable as it is. I am sure some of the readers or potential readers will understand.

4. I don't even like the exercises where he says to squeeze our muscles, as if he is forcing me to feel sexual feelings, which is an obvious trigger. I honestly expected that this book would be more about explaining the process itself and why we feel the way we feel. It is more focused on exercises, which is fine (I get that some complain these kind of books don't have a lot of exercises), but it is NOT complete on its own. And he should state in the beginning, very clearly, what he really means by sexual healing. It is literally sexual healing, AFTER the trauma healing - I feel so, at least. I still cannot grasp which phase of healing this is for...

All in all, I think, before relying on this book, one should consult a therapist who specializes in sexual trauma (or child sexual trauma) and then use it as an additional tool, NOT as the main tool for healing, and not in the beginning phases.
Overall, I'm just not sure when it is useful.

Excellent!!

Peter Levine is a blessing to us all! His work in healing trauma is changing lives every day. I have read / listened to his other books, (which are all amazing) but this work especially helped me put some missing pieces together. Healing trauma is tough work, but thanks to Levine and others like him PTSD is no longer a life sentence. Thank you Dr Levine for your vision and dedication.
A. Bartolina. Southern California

a great start on healing

this book is great info on beginning the healing process! Completely enjoyed this book! I recommend this book to anyone trying to heal from sexual trauma!

Definitely recommend!

Excellent book! I read dozens of book each year and can spot a keeper! I absolutely recommend it. Brief, concise, helpful. This book was easy to read and understand.

Imagine if all of humanity understood violation

After listening to this book 3 times in a row so far, I have started to ponder how we as a species on this earth could create more loving environments for our sexual energy to be expressed so we are not using our energy to heal the violations.

Needed Awareness

Sexual healing is a long arduous process, full of angst. Dr Levine explains the process beautifully and and gently. My healing began a few years ago when PTSD seizures took over my life and forced out trauma memories. I was fortunate to find two wonderful Cognitive Behavioral therapists for group sessions with my sisters. I am told, once trauma happens it takes at least two years or more to notice healing. I began to notice when I got to boundary work. The publication brings the process home.

Adult abuser help? ❤️

Anyone with perceptive anxiety could benefit from this book. It's difficult to listen to. The rampant issue of sexuality and children is addressed.

Extremely helpful and insightful

I loved everything about it.
It helped me understand my healing journey recovering from trauma.
The way it was narrated was also very calming and soothing.

Too short.

You could sum up the content of this book in 1-2 sentences about pendulation. I thought that the two or three exercises in this book are not worth the money. I think this book is extremely short and doesn’t really go into detail other than doing the three exercises.

Worth the read.

This book is full of good, practical advise. It's a ponderous, heavy tome but worth at least one listen.

Invaluable anyone faced or is facing abuse

What made the experience of listening to Sexual Healing the most enjoyable?

This is such invaluable material, a great place for any Trauma Survivor to go to start there own healing. Peters voice is very healing, I feel his empathy. It is practical, supportive, Inclusive. I have learnt so much and it gives me great hope. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to let go of a past that can leave you feeling tainted for life.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Peter

Have you listened to any of Peter A. Levine’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Not yet but now I will look at every thing he has done, I hope his new book will be on audible very soon as this is my best medium for learning as a dyslexic.. The. Ok is called
In the Unspoken Voice.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes cry..

Any additional comments?

Just very grateful to this mans dedication to a subject that can be a bit taboo, and the best people can say is " don't let an experience define you, best put it behind you." This is great resource for empowerment. Very inspiring

Extremely helpful and insightful

Thank you so much for this book, the exercises are helping me every day and I think I will go on to use the information in this book to help me heal.
I love how he takes you through the exercises and helps you into a state of connection and flow. Thank you again... I need more material like this!

Visualisations, not an analysis.

This is a series of visualisation and meditations to connect the listener to their bodily sensations in a gradual way. I was expecting there to be more analysis as explanation around it, similar to The Body Keeps the score. If you want a meditation to get back into your body it may be helpful but it doesn’t go further than that.

Very Helpful

Good resources and efficient practices presented with kindness and understanding by the Author... Definitely recommend it for people who have experienced any type of abuse, or feel disconnection with themselves. 👌🏼

Healing

Peter Levine's voice is so soothing, I have never heard a men talking to me with the immense understanding he has. Just listening to the exercises had me crying like a baby. So grateful to have found this, I wish I could find a local therapist just like him.

Deep and beautiful

And it is even more special with Peter reading it himself. Special book. Thank you!