The Autobiography of Trauma

In this autobiography, Peter A. Levine —the man who changed the way psychologists, doctors, and therapists understand and treat trauma and abuse— shares his own journey towards healing his deep childhood trauma and the big steps that led him to creation of the Somatic Experiencing (SE) method .

Presenting himself as a modern-day Chiron, the wounded healer of Greek mythology, Levine describes in detail the violence of his childhood in contrast to specific happy memories, and how his guidance through SE allowed him to illuminate and unravel his traumatic experiences. He also shares the mysterious and unexpected dreams and visions that guided his life's work, including dream "visitations" from Albert Einstein, whom he sees as his personal spiritual guide and mentor.

Explaining how he helped thousands of others before resolving his own trauma, he analyzes how the SE method emerged from his studies of wild animals in their natural habitat, neurobiology, and more than 50 years of clinical observations. Levine teaches us that every person suffering from trauma has a valuable story to tell and that, by telling our stories, we can contribute to the return of hope, dignity and wholeness.