Peter Levine, Ph.D., has spent a lifetime exploring how trauma lives in the body — and how, with patience and compassion, it can be released. Best known as the creator of Somatic Experiencing®, Peter brought a whole new understanding to the way we heal. Instead of endlessly talking about the past, his work invites us to listen to the subtle language of our bodies — and to trust that our nervous systems know how to find their way back to balance. With a background in psychology, medical biophysics, and stress physiology, Peter’s approach is both deeply human and profoundly scientific. His work reminds me that healing isn’t about forcing or fixing. It’s about following. It’s about remembering our natural capacity for resilience — one small, sacred step at a time.
Books
Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma (1997) — his landmark book, still a classic.
In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness (2010)
Trauma and Memory: Brain and Body in a Search for the Living Past (2015)
Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body (2005) — audio program and book.
Trauma Through a Child’s Eyes: Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing (2007) — co-authored with Maggie Kline.
Trauma-Proofing Your Kids: A Parent’s Guide for Instilling Confidence, Joy and Resilience (2008) — also with Maggie Kline.
Freedom from Pain: Discover Your Body’s Power to Overcome Physical Pain (2012) — co-authored with Maggie Phillips.
An Autonomic Nervous System Toolkit for Treating Trauma: A Clinician’s Guide to Resilient Regulation (2024) — one of his newer resources for practitioners.
