Summary: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk M.D. Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

This is a summary book and not intended to replace Dr. Van Der Kolk's original, which is a #1 New York Times bestseller. "Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.” —Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies. A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing. Trauma is an unavoidable part of life. One in every five Americans has been abused; one in every four grew up with alcoholics; and one in every three couples has participated in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world's leading trauma doctors, has worked with survivors for over three decades. He leverages current scientific advancements in The Body Keeps the Score to explain how trauma actually reshapes both the body and the brain, jeopardizing patients' capabilities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He investigates cutting-edge therapies that activate the brain's innate neuroplasticity, ranging from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, theater, and yoga. The Body Keeps the Score, based on Dr. van der Kolk's own study and those of other prominent experts, reveals the extraordinary potential of our connections to both damage and heal—and gives fresh hope for recovering lives.