- The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma — Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
A seminal modern classic explaining how trauma is stored in the nervous system and body — and how healing can happen through somatic/therapeutic approaches. - Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma — Peter A. Levine
Introduces somatic experiencing — a body‑focused healing method that helps release trauma’s physical imprint. - Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence — Judith Lewis Herman
A foundational text on the psychological and social impact of trauma and a structured model for recovery. - What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex PTSD — Stephanie Foo
A deeply personal yet educational memoir on living with and healing from complex trauma. - It Didn’t Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are — Mark Wolynn
Focuses on generational and family trauma — how patterns can pass through families and how healing can break the cycle. - The Deepest Well — Nadine Burke Harris, M.D.
Explores adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), their long‑term effects on health and behaviour, and paths toward healing. - Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving — Pete Walker
A popular and practical guide especially for people with long‑term or repeated trauma histories. - The Trauma Tool Kit — Susan Pease Banitt
A holistic resource with techniques and tools for managing trauma symptoms and supporting recovery.
🧠 Why These Matter
✔ They blend neuroscience and psychology — not just theory, but how trauma actually affects the brain and body.
✔ Many combine scientific insight with practical healing strategies you can explore alongside therapy.
✔ There’s a mix of scientific texts, personal memoirs, and tools — so you can choose based on what feels right for your stage of healing.
