Book Summary: The Body Keeps the Score, Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. (2014) Viking, New York.
The subtitle of this 2014 contribution to neuroscience and psychotherapy is “Brain, mind and body in the healing of trauma”. Van der Kolk seems to be encyclopedic in his knowledge of neurology, human development, psychopathology and psychotherapy. But, if his areas of theory are wide, his understanding of individual trauma is incredibly deep and moving. Van der Kolk seems to be an early member of what may be a new way of writing science for the professional and layman at the same time. He does not compromise on details of theory while at the same time spinning out the stories of clients and patients in a way that makes the theory seem both reasonable and appropriate.
The notes on the dust jacket (which van der Kolk likely wrote at the request of the publisher) says it all, “The Body Keeps the Score is the inspiring story of how a group of therapists and scientists – together with their courageous and memorable patients – has struggled to integrate recent advances in brain science, attachment research, and body awareness into treatments that can free trauma survivors from the tyranny of the past.” If you lean towards one particular method of therapy to treat trauma (and he includes everything from abuse of children to victims of accidents and survivors of battle) then one of the profound messages of this book is that you should be very conscious of the many other ways you might lean as well. Van der Kolk doesn’t dismiss talk therapies just as he doesn’t dismiss yoga, EFT or EMDR; he argues for a well-reasoned combination of therapies for every client.
I would urge non-professionals to read this book. Skip the jargon and see how far treatment of trauma has come. See why and how truly getting in touch with our physical reactions to traumatic events is absolutely essential to escaping from the hold the past may have on us. See why we might keep returning to the very scene and people that injured us. Learn how we can move into the present without baggage.
I loved this book and if I had a choice of a wise old uncle to live in my home and spin stories of his past it would clearly be Bessel.
ISBN: 978-0670785933
