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Practice for psychotherapy & counseling
Dr. Phil Stöckli, PhD
Practice for Psychotherapy & Counseling
Dr. Phil Stöckli, ph.D.
Gemeindestrasse 26 | 8032 Zürich
Tel. 076 282 8885
Book recommendations
Trauma
“Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma: The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences” by Peter Levine, 1995
Levine’s first book is a classic and carries the spirit of new discoveries. Why are animals rarely traumatized even though they face
death threats almost every day? Levine draws parallels to the human nervous system and what that means for trauma healing.
Order here
“In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness” by Peter Levine, 2010
Levine explains the Somatic Experiencing approach using interesting examples from his practice. The book blends elegantly
the latest findings in biology, neuroscience and body-oriented psychotherapy.
Order here
“Trauma and Memory: Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past: A Practical Guide for Understanding and
Working with Traumatic Memory” by Peter Levine, 2015
A book about newer research on the topics of trauma and memory functions. Levine discusses the question if we can trust
our memories and explain how the implicit memory play a central role in trauma. Very interesting book, not dry at all.
Order here
“Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body” by Peter Levine, 2008
A practical step-by-step guide for trauma recovery through your body. Includes a CD with many useful exercises.
Order here
“Sexual Healing: Transforming the Sacred Wound” by Peter Levine (audio CD)
Healing from sexual abuse is difficult. This audio recording, spoken by Peter Levine, provides research about the topic,
understanding the signs of sexual trauma, along with gentle exercises to help reconnect with your body and recover
your ability to experience pleasure and joy
Order here
Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving: A guide and map for recovering from childhood trauma.” by Pete Walker, 2013
Walker explains complex PTSD from his own perspective as being affected by it. Learn how to identify concepts like
emotional flashbacks, fight, flight and freeze reactions and much more in this wisdom-packed book of over 300 pages.
Order here
“Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve: Self-Help Exercises for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Autism”
by Stanley Rosenberg, 2017
This practical guide understands the cranial nerves as the key to our psychological and physical well-being. Building on
Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal Theory, the book looks at mental illnesses like depression, anxitey, ADHD and autism through the
lense of the nervous system and provides easy exercises for self-regulation
Order here
“Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection: 50 Client-Centered Practices” by Deb Dana, 2020
Deb Dana introduces a practical approach of how to translate the findings of the polyvagal theory into exercises.
Eventhough originally designed for therapists, this book can also be used by anyone interested in the topic.
Order here
High Sensitivity (HSP)
All books by Elaine Aron, like “The highly sensitive person”
Order here
“Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person:
Improving Outcomes for That Minority of People
Who Are the Majority of Clients”
by Elaine N. Aron Order here
“Making Work Work for the Highly Sensitive
Person” by Barrie Jaeger Order here
NARM / developmental trauma
“Healing devlopmental trauma - How Early Trauma Affects Self-Regulation, Self-
Image, and the Capacity for Relationship” by Laurence Heller& Aline LaPierre
Revised & extended edition
“Befreiung von Scham und Schuld - alte Überlebensstrategien auflösen und Lebenskraft gewinnen”
by Laurence Heller & Angelika Doerne, 2020
Excellent new book (only available in German so far), expands on the NARM treatment, the 5 survival styles and
provides many real life examples for types of developmental trauma and how they can heal.
Order here
Asperger’s Syndrome
Tony Attwood: "The Complete Guide to Asperger Syndrome” Order book
or any other book by Tony Attwood about the topic
World reknown Autism specialist Tony Attwood’s covers the most important topics -
also great to just look up specific information about a topic
Rudy Simone: “Asperger’s on the job: Must-Have Advice for People with
Asperger's or High Functioning Autism, and Their Employers, Educators, and
Advocates” Order book
Simone addresses crucial aspects of difficult work situations for Asperger’s and
offers valuable tips for affected persons and employers.
Susan Moreno: “The Partner's Guide to Asperger Syndrome” Order book
The valuable information and tools in this book will help partners better understand
one other, respect their differences and achieve long lasting relationships.
Philip Wylie: “Very late diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome - how seeking a diagnosis
in adulthood can change your life” Order book
Wylie discusses different aspects in the context of a very late diagnosis.
Rudy Simone: “Aspergirls - Empowering females with Aspger Syndrome” Order book
Simone describes how her experience as an autistic female differs from male experiences &
offers ideas on how to deal with it.
Lisa Morgan & Mary Donahue: “Living with PTSD on the Autism Spectrum: Insightful
Analysis With Practical Applications” Order book
This cooperation between an autistic patient and her therapist illuminates important aspects of
being traumatized & on the spectrum. Not very systematically, but with first-hand experience
examples.
Gordon Gates: “Trauma, Stigma, and Autism Developing Resilience and Loosening the Grip
of Shame” Order book
Gates combines extensive research with his own experiences as an person with ASD. He focuses on
aspects of shame of being different, on stigma and the pain associated with being excluded.