Waking the Tiger : Healing Trauma : The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences |...

Waking the Tiger : Healing Trauma : The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences | Peter Levine, Ann Frederick | Healing From Trauma

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Waking the Tiger :...

	Waking the Tiger : Healing Trauma : The Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences Peter Levine, Ann Frederick North Atlantic Books, 1997 - 250 pages average customer review:based on 51 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A framework for understanding trauma

This is an excellent book for anyone who wants a mature view of what trauma is and how we heal from it. Peter Levine makes a compelling case that trauma is unique to the human species because our rational brains get in the way of the organism's instinctive physiological responses to life-threatening situations. In a case study near the end of the book, Levine clearly demonstrates his belief that re-exposure to traumatic circumstances as a way to heal must be gradual and at the organism's own pace. Cathartic experiences may be dramatic and lead us to believe we are helping, but in his view this approach risks deepening the traumatic symptoms. This is an excellent book, written in clear, non-clinical language that any non-professional can understand.

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Healing From Trauma

A must read for the entire population. There is not one of us on this entire planet who has not experienced some kind of trauma. I highly recommend this book for anyone working in any type of healing modality.

waking the tiger

a worthwhile read for those who have or have not experienced trauma in their lives.

Interesting, but not a self-help book

This book is interesting in that it examines the ways in which humans differ from animals in their response to trauma, and it tells some stories about the author's successes in helping adults and children heal from traumas. I was surprised to learn that medical procedures performed on small children can often be traumatizing, particularly if they are restrained against their will, but it makes sense. (Stop circumcising infants!)

But Levine's therapeutic methods are somewhat vague. He implies that he sort of hypnotizes people into re-enacting a story sort of like their original trauma, but not exactly, in a kind of dream state. In the re-enactment, the person successfully triumphs over their assailant by fighting back or running away. I'm not sure how a traumatized person could use this method on themselves. Levine's website offers a few links to therapists that have been trained in his methodology, but again, it's hard to know if they would be as effective in using it as he seems to be.

I have found the book Trauma Releasing Exercises to be much more helpful and to the point. Also, Judith Herman's Trauma and Recovery is essential reading.

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