The Body Keeps the Score

Author: Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

This book is considered essential reading in the field of trauma recovery. Dr. van der Kolk explains with clarity and compassion how trauma—whether from childhood, relationships, accidents, or long-term stress—gets stored in the body and affects everything from our mental state to our physical health.

Rather than focus purely on talk therapy, he brings forward a new paradigm: healing through the body. Practices like yoga, EMDR, neurofeedback, and breathwork are explored as vital tools for recovery. It affirms something we deeply believe at OMH: that you don’t just think your way out of trauma—you feel, move, and release it from the body.

Why We Recommend It:
This book is foundational for understanding how trauma impacts the nervous system and why body-based therapies (like massage, movement, breathwork, or sound healing) are so important. It’s a bit of a heavier read, but incredibly empowering if you’re ready to understand your healing on a deeper level. A must-read for anyone on a trauma-informed healing path.