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efleisch 's review for:
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
by Bessel van der Kolk
DID NOT FINISH: 48%
Umm. Honestly... this one was hard for me. I appreciated the beginning for the deep dive into the neuroscience and the actual science of what happens with trauma. I also genuinely appreciated the deep dive into many different psychological concepts at play with trauma like Attachment Theory, Learned Helplessness, ACES and many others.
However... there were some minor annoyances, but also some glaring issues.
Minor annoyances:
1. I wished that there was more discussion on repeated trauma or what is commonly referred to as CPTSD. While he mentions his work with individuals who are similar to that diagnosis, and while he mentions fighting for it to be included in the DSM, all of his examples of trauma include individuals being able to pinpoint specific moments. It fails to include or discuss the effects of individuals whose trauma was so pervasive, there is no specific moment to "flashback" to.
2. I do wish there had been some trigger warnings in the chapters or in the book overall. While I recognize that it is a book about trauma and one should expect a certain level of traumatic discussion. However, what one shouldn't or couldn't expect is graphic details to be provided of the exact traumas and how it was conducted. This was wildly triggering and not what I expected at all.
Which brings me to my MAJOR GLARING ISSUES:
3. Breaking Confidentiality: In discussion of one of his clients sessions, he gives GRAPHIC details of his experience and his childhood sexual assault. Details of how the assault was preformed, what each action was, etc. This was wildly disturbing to read (or hear in audiobook format) and came with no warning at all. Outside of this jarring experience, it gives graphic details of a specific clients experience. And despite giving his client a cover name, he makes sure to discuss the very public trial and indicates that the public records are out there. With the controversy of this case, the individual he's referring to is easily searchable and private details of his trauma have now been included as fodder for this man's book.
4. Questionable Reliability: Many questions the author's reliability on the basis of his reference to EMDR as a treatment method. For me, as someone familiar with EMDR and those to practice it, this doesn't seem questionable to me. However, I do begin to question his reliability as a narrator given the reference and reliance on recalled or repressed memories. Research surrounding that is incredibly shaky in reliability and doesn't put much validity in a person's recalled or repressed memory.
All in all, I could not continue with this book. While I went in with such hopes, I was SEVERELY disappointed by the callous handling of people's traumatic experiences and the author's questionable practices.
However... there were some minor annoyances, but also some glaring issues.
Minor annoyances:
1. I wished that there was more discussion on repeated trauma or what is commonly referred to as CPTSD. While he mentions his work with individuals who are similar to that diagnosis, and while he mentions fighting for it to be included in the DSM, all of his examples of trauma include individuals being able to pinpoint specific moments. It fails to include or discuss the effects of individuals whose trauma was so pervasive, there is no specific moment to "flashback" to.
2. I do wish there had been some trigger warnings in the chapters or in the book overall. While I recognize that it is a book about trauma and one should expect a certain level of traumatic discussion. However, what one shouldn't or couldn't expect is graphic details to be provided of the exact traumas and how it was conducted. This was wildly triggering and not what I expected at all.
Which brings me to my MAJOR GLARING ISSUES:
3. Breaking Confidentiality: In discussion of one of his clients sessions, he gives GRAPHIC details of his experience and his childhood sexual assault. Details of how the assault was preformed, what each action was, etc. This was wildly disturbing to read (or hear in audiobook format) and came with no warning at all. Outside of this jarring experience, it gives graphic details of a specific clients experience. And despite giving his client a cover name, he makes sure to discuss the very public trial and indicates that the public records are out there. With the controversy of this case, the individual he's referring to is easily searchable and private details of his trauma have now been included as fodder for this man's book.
4. Questionable Reliability: Many questions the author's reliability on the basis of his reference to EMDR as a treatment method. For me, as someone familiar with EMDR and those to practice it, this doesn't seem questionable to me. However, I do begin to question his reliability as a narrator given the reference and reliance on recalled or repressed memories. Research surrounding that is incredibly shaky in reliability and doesn't put much validity in a person's recalled or repressed memory.
All in all, I could not continue with this book. While I went in with such hopes, I was SEVERELY disappointed by the callous handling of people's traumatic experiences and the author's questionable practices.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Incest, Mental illness