The Body Keeps the Score is a profound exploration of the lasting effects of trauma, offering insights into its far-reaching impact on both the body and the mind. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s leading experts in trauma, brings over thirty years of experience in helping survivors. He reveals how trauma reshapes the brain and body, impairing individuals' ability to experience pleasure, engage with others, regulate their emotions, and trust themselves and those around them.
Through groundbreaking scientific research, Dr. van der Kolk illustrates how trauma’s effects extend beyond mere memory or emotion, showing that the body itself "keeps the score," storing the emotional weight of past experiences. He delves into innovative therapeutic approaches, including neurofeedback, meditation, yoga, and expressive arts like drama and sports, all of which activate the brain’s remarkable neuroplasticity and offer new avenues for healing.
Drawing on his own research as well as the work of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score not only exposes the destructive power of trauma but also offers a hopeful vision for recovery. It reveals how relationships, both harmful and healing, play a central role in a person’s journey toward reclaiming their life and wellbeing. This book is an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand the deep and lasting effects of trauma, and how we can begin to heal.
