Relational and Body-Centered Practices for Healing Trauma

Relational and Body-Centered Practices for Healing Trauma provides psychotherapists and other helping professionals with a groundbreaking, body-based model for treating trauma.

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Relational and Body-Centered Practices for Healing Trauma provides psychotherapists and other helping professionals with a groundbreaking body-based model for treating trauma. The second edition includes new principles and healing practices to address different forms of individual and collective trauma, including climate instability, colonization, the global pandemic, and political unrest. The chapters expand on body-based relational practices to help individuals and communities embody ancient ways of knowing and respond to adversity with vitality, empathy, and love.

The book combines research in neuroscience and phenomenology, extensive clinical therapeutic experience, knowledge gained from training thousands of students, and collaboration with Indigenous people and traditional societies around the globe. With cross-cultural wisdom, Dr. Stanley delves into aspects of somatic therapy and cultural healing, including:



Key elements of relational empathy, such as bracketing biases while allowing one's presence to connect with others, the self, and spiritual understanding


The role of homeostasis in healing, which vitalizes recovery from psychological, social, cognitive, and spiritual dimensions of trauma


How collective trauma can be effectively healed through relational community support

This new edition helps readers deepen and expand their understanding and practice of somatic healing to transform not just their practice but also their connection with others and themselves.