Blog
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 a new discovery. 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 SE 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 explains how the implicit memory plays 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 Porges’s Polyvagal Theory,
the book looks at different mental illnesses 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
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 - neuro-affective relational model
Laurence Heller: “Healing developmental
trauma - How Early Trauma Affects Self-
Regulation, Self-Image, and the Capacity
for Relationship” Revised & extended edition
“Befreiung von Scham und Schuld - alte
Überlebensstrategien auflösen und Lebenskraft
gewinnen” by Laurence Heller & Angelika Doerne
Excellent new book (only available
in German),
expands on NARM therapy, the 5 survival styles and
provides many real life examples for types of developmental
trauma and how they can heal. Order here
Autism spectrum / Asperger-Syndrome
Tony Attwood: "The Complete Guide to
Asperger-Syndrome” or any other book by
Tony Attwood about the topic.
World reknown Autism specialist Attwood covers
the most important topics - also great to just look
up specific information about a topic. Order book
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” Simone addresses
crucial aspects of difficult work situations for
Asperger’s and offers valuable tips for affected persons and
employers. Order book
Susan Moreno: “The Partner's Guide to Asperger
Syndrome” The valuable information and tools in
this book will help partners better understand each
other, respect each other’s differences and sustain
long lasting relationships. Order book
Philip Wylie: “Very late diagnosis of Asperger
Syndrome - how seeking a diagnosis in
adulthood can change your life” Wylie discusses
different aspects in the context of a very late
diagnosis. Order book
Rudy Simone: “Aspergirls - Empowering females
with Aspger Syndrome”
Simone describes how her experience as an
autistic female differs from male experiences &
offers ideas on how to deal with it. Order book
Lisa Morgan & Mary Donahue: “Living with PTSD
on the Autism Spectrum: Insightful Analysis With
Practical Applications” 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. Order book
Gordon Gates: “Trauma, Stigma, and Autism
Developing Resilience and Loosening the Grip
of Shame” 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. Order book
Practice for Psychotherapy & Counseling
Dr. Phil Stöckli , ph.D.
Gemeindestr. 26 | 8032 Zürich
Tel. 076 282 8885
Practice for Psychotherapy
Dr. Phil Stöckli, PhD