Trauma and Memory

Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past: A Practical Guide for Understanding and Working with Traumatic Memory

By: Peter A. Levine Ph.D., Bessel A. van der Kolk M.D.

Narrated by: Rick Adamson

In Trauma and Memory, best-selling author Dr. Peter Levine (creator of the Somatic Experiencing approach) tackles one of the most difficult and controversial questions of PTSD/trauma therapy: Can we trust our memories? While some argue that traumatic memories are unreliable and not useful, others insist that we absolutely must rely on memory to make sense of past experience. Building on his 45 years of successful treatment of trauma and utilizing case studies from his own practice, Dr. Levine suggests that there are elements of truth in both camps. While acknowledging that memory can be trusted, he argues that the only truly useful memories are those that might initially seem to be the least reliable: memories stored in the body and not necessarily accessible by our conscious mind.

While much work has been done in the field of trauma studies to address "explicit" traumatic memories in the brain (such as intrusive thoughts or flashbacks), much less attention has been paid to how the body itself stores "implicit" memory and how much of what we think of as "memory" actually comes to us through our (often unconsciously accessed) felt sense. By learning how to better understand this complex interplay of past and present, brain and body, we can adjust our relationship to past trauma and move into a more balanced, relaxed state of being. Written for trauma sufferers as well as mental health care practitioners, Trauma and Memory is a groundbreaking look at how memory is constructed and how influential memories are on our present state of being.

©2015 Peter A. Levine (P)2017 North Atlantic Books

Critic reviews

"Memory has many layers, and Peter Levine has contributed his own unique and powerful way of thinking about how we can understand these systems and optimize their unfolding after trauma. This book offers clinical wisdom drawn from decades of direct experience, demonstrating how a clinician - with focused attention and essential timing - can move unresolved, non-integrated memories into a resolved, integrated form that enables a coherent narrative to emerge and the individual to become liberated from the prisons of the past." (Daniel J. Siegel, MD, author of Mindsight, The Mindful Therapist, and Pocket Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology)

"Only after we become capable of standing back, taking stock of ourselves, reducing the intensity of our sensations and emotions, and activating our inborn physical defensive reactions can we learn to modify our entrenched maladaptive automatic survival responses and, in doing so, put our haunting memories to rest." (Bessel A. van der Kolk, MD, author of The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Healing of Trauma)

Remarkable book

I'm not reading/listening my way through all of Peter Levine's books, and this is certainly one of the better ones. Remarkable in every way.

very insightful

this was a great audiobook that truly got to the heart of the matter without too much extended discussion. It is well known that trauma is stored in the body - but the incredible insights on the interplay between memory and trauma are what gives this book value. It leaves the listener feeling inspired that he or she can actively re-engange their memories and reach a successful resolution. highly recommend for anyone on their path towards healing and integration.

Very insightful. Easy to read & understand.

So, this is NOT a self-help book written in extremely easy language. If words like implicit and explicit scare you then this book is not for you!

This book is written very well and it is very easy to listen to. The language in the book is clear. All terms are explained at their first mention, which is why it is so easy to understand for non-clinicians. I for sure will listen to it more than once.

great read for working clinicians

this book was informative and allowed me to piece together information from other reads and knowledge related to the field...

An Effective Summary of Trauma and Memory

Dr. Levine gives a compelling and in-depth summary of trauma and memory. The only downside to this book, as a graduate level mental health professional, is that it can at many times read a bit jargon heavy and can use a lot of scientific terminology that makes understanding the concepts a bit more difficult. Aside from that the book is incredibly informative and engaging, as well as being well read by the narrator. I enjoyed the process of listening to this book and look forward to reading and listening to more of Dr. Levine‘s literature in the future.

Case studies shared to understand birth trauma better

Loved chapter on generational trauma, it was very eye opening, as well as backed by science!

great info about trauma!

I really enjoyed hearing about the clinical perspective and analysis of trauma. mental health is something I have personally struggled with for many years and I have recently started uncovering the traumas that have plagued my life since childhood. this book has helped me understand these traumas a bit more and how traumatic memories can change as the body tries to cope with and process what had happened. I now have an appointment with a therepist who specializes in traumas in the near future.

Good

monotone. I struggled at times to pay attention due to being monotone. great information though.

the realization of childhood trauma

I wish I could have read this book 15 years ago when I first started counseling and dozens of different medication to try and fix me and blaming it all on my father

Easy to understand

For such a relatively short piece of work, it’s incredible how informed and empowered it feels to listen to this audiobook. Thank you for lining up terms in an orderly and story driven way.