For individuals who listened to Resolve to Rise as an audio, we have included the appendix of the book here followed by BOOKS and Resources that have helped me (some are in my book’s appendix and others are newer).

If you have thoughts or questions you’d like to share with the author, click the button below and send an email.

TRAUMA THERAPY APPROACHES

There are many approaches to addressing trauma. Each evidence-based approach has been clinically proven to address the negative impacts of trauma. It’s hard to figure out what therapeutic approach is best for you if you don’t know anything about them, so here is an introduction.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list but gives you some idea as to what is out there. It is also important to see if you feel safe with the counselor. Remember, counseling is for you, not for the counselor. Your opinion and impressions are important. You cannot heal if you don’t feel safe and don’t trust your therapist.

Also, any therapist can say they have trauma expertise and be unable to help you. You have a better chance of getting someone who is truly trained with trauma if they have certification in one or more of the approaches listed here or in the Trauma and Treatment portion of this website.

Take a moment to see what approach resonates with you, because what you think is important!


A NON-EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF BOOKS THAT HAVE HELPED ME ON MY JOURNEY

  • The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, MD. Describes the physiological/neurological impacts of trauma.

  • In Sheep’s Clothing by George K. Simon, MD. Describes the personality and behaviors of covert aggressive individuals and what makes a person vulnerable to that type of manipulation.

  • The Autoimmune Epidemic by Donna Jackson Nakazawa. Explores the many theories of the etiology of autoimmune disease and impacts of diet, environment, and much more.

  • Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud, MD, and John Townsend, MD. Shows how to develop healthy boundaries; written from a biblical framework.

  • Embraced by the Light by Betty Eadie. The most detailed account of a near-death experience that has given many individuals hope after the loss of a loved one.

  • Strategies to Empower Your Healing (*Keys to Mental Health) by Babette Rothschild, MSW.

  • You Are the One You’ve Been Waiting For by Richard C. Schwartz.

  • 10% Happier by Dan Harris. Talks about using meditation to elevate your mood. It prompted me to consider that even the busiest mind could learn to meditate!

  • The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. Articulates simple truths that equip the reader with a path to freedom and peace.

  • The Shack by William P. Young. This book prompted my journey of transformation from “savior” to “person” and is a beautiful story of God’s unending love and grace.

  • What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Perry, MD. Oprah and Dr. Perry change the question from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”

  • It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn informs the reader about inherited family trauma and its impacts.

  • Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl speaks of finding meaning during great suffering from a man who was in a WWII concentration camp for years. It taught me an abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal.

  • When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron helped me understand I should abandon hope because hoping for what wasn’t or wanting to be someone I wasn’t, just increased my suffering. Peace came in learning how to be present with who I am and what I face.

  • Healing Trauma: Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body by Peter A. Levine, PhD (an audio download on Sounds True) Somatic experiencing increases your understanding of why you react the way you do.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

There are endless resources on the intranet that are available for low or no cost. Here are a few to help you in your healing journey.

  • Somatic Trauma Therapy

  • ifs-institute.com - Find an internal family medicine practitioner in your area.

  • Istss.org - International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies; provides information and resources to both clinicians and survivors.

  • NCTSN.org - The National Child Traumatic Stress Network; provides information about trauma, evidence-based treatment approaches, and offers resources.

  • CPTSDFoundation.org - CPTSD Foundation and access to real-time support. CPTSD is complex post-traumatic stress disorder that happens after repeated abuses/traumatic events, often childhood trauma.

  • Headspace app - a widely used meditation app that supports meditation for beginners and experienced meditators.

  • NarcissistAbuseSupport.com - everything you ever wanted to know about being in a relationship with an individual with narcissism. Tracy Malone is a wiz and a prolific writer.

  • Guided Meditations by Sharon Salzberg (online). The first meditation I did by Sharon and referenced in Resolve to Rise was Meditation: Sharon Salzberg.

  • Medicalnewstoday.com - Helpful information about the nature and types of trauma.

  • Verywellmind.com - Emotional abuse can be difficult to understand and this site explains it fairly well.

  • Official MARI Website - Incorporating psychology and spirituality together based on Carl Jung belief that many psychological problems have a spiritual origin.