Disclaimer: This guide reflects one clinician's perspective on using this book as a psychoeducational adjunct to psychotherapy. It is intended for educational purposes only and should not replace individualized clinical judgment. Clinicians should determine whether this resource is appropriate based on each client's needs, developmental level, culture, reading ability, and treatment goals. ADDITIONAL TERMS OF USE
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.
Why This Book?
Overview
The Body Keeps the Score explores how traumatic experiences can alter the brain, body, emotions, and relationships. Drawing from decades of clinical work and neuroscience research, the book explains why trauma is often experienced not only as distressing memories but also through patterns of physiological activation, emotional dysregulation, avoidance, and difficulties with trust and connection.
The book has become one of the most influential psychoeducational resources on trauma and is frequently recommended to clients seeking to better understand the effects of traumatic experiences. While portions of the neuroscience have been refined by more recent research and some descriptions of trauma may be emotionally activating, the book remains a valuable resource for helping clients make sense of symptoms that previously felt confusing or isolating.
Best For
Presenting Concerns
Posttraumatic stress
Complex trauma
Childhood adversity
Emotional dysregulation
Dissociation
Chronic hypervigilance
Difficulty trusting others
Persistent shame following trauma
Client Populations
Adults processing trauma in psychotherapy
Survivors of childhood abuse or neglect
Clients seeking psychoeducation about trauma
Family members wanting to better understand the impact of trauma
Clinical Strengths
Provides a compassionate explanation of how trauma affects both mind and body.
Normalizes many common trauma responses.
Helps reduce shame by framing symptoms as adaptive survival responses.
Introduces readers to a variety of evidence-informed treatment approaches.
Encourages hope by emphasizing that recovery is possible.
Clinical Considerations
This book may be less appropriate for:
Clients in acute crisis or with significant emotional instability.
Individuals who become overwhelmed by detailed descriptions of traumatic experiences.
Clients who have not yet developed basic emotional regulation or grounding skills.
Individuals seeking a brief, skills-based workbook.
Because some case examples may be emotionally activating, clinicians should consider assigning chapters selectively and processing reactions during therapy rather than recommending uninterrupted reading.
When to Recommend
Early Therapy
After establishing safety and stabilization, the book can help clients understand trauma symptoms and reduce self-blame.
Middle Therapy
Often most beneficial while actively processing trauma, integrating new insights, and strengthening emotional awareness.
Maintenance
Selected chapters may reinforce continued healing and support relapse prevention through ongoing self-understanding.
How to Use This Book
Treatment Goals
This book may help clients:
Understand how trauma affects the brain and body.
Reduce shame surrounding trauma-related symptoms.
Increase awareness of nervous system responses.
Develop language for emotional and physiological experiences.
Recognize common patterns of avoidance and hyperarousal.
Foster hope regarding recovery and treatment.
Discussion Questions
Which parts of the book felt most validating?
What surprised you about the effects of trauma?
Which descriptions felt most similar to your own experience?
Were there sections that felt overwhelming or difficult to read?
How has the book changed your understanding of your symptoms?
Which ideas gave you the greatest sense of hope?
What reactions did you notice in your body while reading?
What would you like to explore further in therapy?
Therapeutic Interventions
Trauma Response Mapping
Work collaboratively to identify how trauma affects the client's:
Thoughts
Emotions
Physical sensations
Behaviors
Relationships
Use the map to identify patterns and treatment priorities.
Window of Tolerance Reflection
Invite the client to identify situations in which they become:
Hyperaroused
Hypoaroused
Well-regulated
Discuss warning signs and strategies that help return to a regulated state.
Body Awareness Journal
Encourage the client to briefly record moments when they notice:
Muscle tension
Changes in breathing
Increased heart rate
Numbness
Restlessness
Feelings of safety or calm
Review patterns together during sessions to strengthen awareness without encouraging excessive monitoring.
Survival Strengths Inventory
Explore ways trauma-related coping strategies once served important protective functions.
Discuss which strategies continue to be helpful and which may no longer fit the client's current life.
Follow-Up Activities
Practice a grounding exercise between sessions and reflect on its effects.
Notice situations that promote feelings of safety, connection, or regulation.
Journal about moments when trauma-informed understanding changes self-talk.
Create a personalized list of regulation strategies that can be used during periods of distress.
Bring one chapter or concept to session each week for collaborative discussion.
Integration Tips
Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Use the book to deepen emotional awareness while helping clients differentiate primary adaptive emotions from trauma-driven protective responses.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Support clients in accepting trauma-related internal experiences while pursuing meaningful, values-based action.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Pair psychoeducation with cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, exposure-based interventions when appropriate, and coping skill development.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Explore how traumatic experiences have shaped attachment patterns, interpersonal expectations, self-concept, and unconscious relational themes.
Somatic and Body-Oriented Therapies
Use relevant chapters to support conversations about nervous system regulation, interoceptive awareness, movement, breath, and the role of the body in trauma recovery.
Editor in Chief
Cody Thomas Rounds
Cody Thomas Rounds is a licensed clinical psychologist- Master, Vice President of the Vermont Psychological Association (VPA), and an expert in leadership development, identity formation, and psychological assessment. As the chair and founder of the VPA’s Grassroots Advocacy Committee, Cody has spearheaded efforts to amplify diverse voices and ensure inclusive representation in mental health advocacy initiatives across Vermont.
In his national role as Federal Advocacy Coordinator for the American Psychological Association (APA), Cody works closely with Congressional delegates in Washington, D.C., championing mental health policy and advancing legislative initiatives that strengthen access to care and promote resilience on a systemic level.
Cody’s professional reach extends beyond advocacy into psychotherapy and career consulting. As the founder of BTR Psychotherapy, he specializes in helping individuals and organizations navigate challenges, build resilience, and develop leadership potential. His work focuses on empowering people to thrive by fostering adaptability, emotional intelligence, and personal growth.
In addition to his clinical and consulting work, Cody serves as Editor-in-Chief of PsycheAtWork Magazine and Learn Do Grow Publishing. Through these platforms, he combines psychological insights with interactive learning tools, creating engaging resources for professionals and the general public alike.
With a multidisciplinary background that includes advanced degrees in Clinical Psychology, guest lecturing, and interdisciplinary collaboration, Cody brings a rich perspective to his work. Whether advocating for systemic change, mentoring future leaders, or developing educational resources, Cody’s mission is to inspire growth, foster professional excellence, and drive meaningful progress in both clinical and corporate spaces.