A review by georgiasbookescapes
The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk

dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Van Der Kolk had worked in the field of trauma for over 30 years at the time of this book being published (2014). Van Der Kolk shares extensive history of trauma, where the research began, who was involved in the development of the diagnosis of PTSD and further research into treating trauma. Van Der Kolk is a trained psychiatrist, but argues for the need to treat trauma with talk therapy and somatic therapy and as needed then medication. Van Der Kolk also explored therapies such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Rapid Desensitisation (EMDR) and neurofeedback and interpersonal therapies of yoga and theatre. 

Van Der Kolk does not hold back on sharing traumatic stories and actions people have undertaken as a result of trauma. This book is heavy and is not an easy read. But as someone who loves learning about trauma responses this book was fascinating.