An Autobiography of Trauma

An intimate memoir from Peter Levine, renowned developer of Somatic Experiencing and bestselling author of Waking the Tiger. In this intimate memoir, renowned developer of Somatic Experiencing Peter A. Levine shares his personal journey to heal his own severe childhood trauma as well as offering profound insights into the evolution of his innovative trauma healing method. Casting himself as a modern-day Chiron, the wounded healer of Greek mythology, Dr. Levine describes, in graphic detail, the violence of his childhood juxtaposed with specific happy and exuberant memories, which helped him prepare for coming to terms with his horrifying experiences. He shares his inner experience of being guided through Somatic Experiencing (SE) to illuminate and untangle his traumatic wounds and describes the mysterious and unexpected dreams and visions that have guided him through his life’s work. Exploring his dream visitations from Albert Einstein in depth, he explains how he came to view Einstein as his personal spirit guide and mentor and how he later discovered his own personal and profound real-life connection to him through his mother. Describing his breakthroughs in developing Somatic Experiencing, the author details how he helped thousands of others before resolving his own trauma years later with the support of his method. He explains how the SE method is derived from his studies of wild animals in their natural environments, neurobiology, and more than 50 years of clinical observations. He describes his education and career as well as his encounters with noteworthy figures such as somaticists Charlotte Selver and Ida Rolf, ethological zoologist Nikolas Tinbergen, and autism pioneer Mira Rothenberg. Unveiling the inner story of the man who changed the way psychologists, doctors, and healers understand and treat the wounds of trauma and abuse, this autobiography reveals how anyone suffering from trauma has a valuable story to tell. And by telling our stories, we can catalyze the return of hope, dignity, and wholeness.

Peter A. Levine, Ph.D., is the renowned developer of Somatic Experiencing. He holds a doctorate in medical and biological physics from the University of California at Berkeley and a doctorate in psychology from International University. The recipient of four lifetime achievement awards, he is the author of several books, including Waking the Tiger, which has now been printed in 33 countries and has sold over a million copies.

PREFACE Why Write This Book? 1 Born into a World of Violence 2 Healing with Science and Shamanism 3 Dreams Show the Way 4 Hidden Tears: A Psychedelic Opening 5 Wounds of Betrayal 6 Pouncer the Dingo Dog 7 A Sexual Awakening, Delayed 8 Many Cultures, One Race: The Human Race 9 The Four Most Important Women in My Life 10 The Four Most Important Men in My Life 11 Reflections of an Unsuspecting Prophet 12 Living My Dying Notes Bibliography Other Books by Peter A. Levine About Somatic Experiencing (SE)