In an Unspoken Voice

Unraveling trauma in the body, brain and mind a revolution in clinical application In this culmination of his life work, Peter A. Levine draws on his broad experience as a clinician, a student of comparative brain research, a stress scientist and a keen observer of the naturalistic animal world to explain the nature and transformation of trauma in the body, brain and psyche. In an Unspoken Voice is based on the idea that trauma is neither a disease nor a disorder, but rather an injury caused by fright, helplessness and loss that can be healed. Levine blends the latest findings in biology, neuroscience and body-oriented psychotherapy with revealing personal stories, case studies and awareness exercises to show readers exactly how to engage the healing process. Levine suggests that by listening to and deciphering our body's unspoken voice, we can resolve even the most devastating trauma through our innate capacity to self-regulate high states of arousal and intense emotions. To illustrate how his techniques can be used as first aid in the prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Levine first takes us on his own journey of recovery. He vividly describes, moment-by-moment, how, after having been hit in a crosswalk by a speeding car, he applied his methodology, at the site of the accident and in the ambulance, to prevent psychological scarring. Enriched with a coherent theoretical framework and compelling case examples that demonstrate the essence and potency of Levine's body-oriented approach to healing trauma, In an Unspoken Voice shows that when we bring together animal instinct and reason, we can become more whole human beings.