The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is a nonfiction psychology and self-help book first published in September 2014. As the subtitle Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma suggests, the book is a holistic exploration of trauma and diverse healing approaches. A pioneering researcher and clinician in the field of trauma and PTSD, van der Kolk advocates for innovative treatments that strengthen the brain-body connection.
In the first chapter, van der Kolk exposes the ubiquity of trauma through statistics specific to American society. Despite the alienation that many traumatized individuals suffer, van der Kolk emphasizes that they are not alone. The manifold impacts of trauma can include physical and mental dysregulation, conflicts or avoidance in relationships, disturbed sleep, an inability to separate the past from the present, and difficulty filtering relevant information, among other things. From a neurological point of view, trauma reshapes how people experience pleasure, self-control, information processing, and trust. However, Van der Kolk illuminates that people can heal from their damaging experiences and reclaim their lives. The book offers a wealth of evidence-based information and therapeutic approaches, as well as possibilities for healing that have yet to be studied extensively.
A New York Times bestseller for 141 weeks, The Body Keeps the Score has influenced mental health practices as well as public understanding of trauma. Critiques include that it inflates the definition of trauma, promotes fringe interventions, and does not sufficiently address systemic issues such as racism. While it received mixed critical reviews, it nevertheless opened up a wider conversation about trauma. Alexander McFarlane, the Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies, reviewed the book and called it "essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society."
