Neuropsychology, body and trauma

Let's start with a quote, because as it turns out, Bessel Van Der Kolk—a psychiatrist and expert in trauma research—is also a fan of them, as each chapter of his remarkable book begins with words from people who inspire him. The words of Diana Fosha have stayed with us:

"At the root of resilience (...) lies the feeling of being understood; of being in the heart and mind of another loving, calm, and attuned person."

The book, which came to us as a gift from Zenon Mazurczak—a translator and popularizer of trauma knowledge in Poland—was called by Dr. Peter Levine (creator of Somatic Experiencing) "an innovative work by an outstanding researcher who combines neuropsychological research with body-focused therapeutic methods and traditional techniques of working with the body and mind." It is not only a compendium of contemporary knowledge about trauma, but above all, an engaging personal story about seeking help for those suffering most from traumatic experiences.

Van der Kolk emphasizes how much the family and relational context matters for understanding trauma. A genogram helps you explore it. See how to draw a genogram of your own family.