Relational and Body-Centered Practices for Healing Trauma: Lifting the Burdens of the Past

The second edition of Relational and Body-Centered Practices for Healing Trauma expands on this groundbreaking model for the treatment of trauma. It includes new principles and healing practices to address individual and collective trauma from climate instability, colonization, the global pandemic, and political unrest. Dr. Stanley expands on body-based relational practices, including subjectivity, embodied intersubjectivity, reflective empathy, and community practices, to embody ancient ways of knowing. She helps individuals and communities respond to adversity with vitality, empathy, and love.

Dr. Stanley combines research in neuroscience and phenomenology, extensive clinical therapeutic experience, knowledge gained from training thousands of students, and collaboration with Indigenous people and traditional societies around the globe. With cross-cultural wisdom, she delves into aspects of somatic therapy and cultural healing, including:

• Key elements of relational empathy, such as bracketing biases while allowing one’s presence to connect with others, the self, and spiritual understanding
• The role of homeostasis in healing, which vitalizes recovery from psychological, social, cognitive, and spiritual dimensions of trauma
• How collective trauma can be effectively healed through relational community support

This new edition helps readers deepen and expand their understanding and practice of somatic healing to transform their practice, as well as their connection with others and themselves.

Sharon Stanley, PhD, is a dynamic educator and psychotherapist who has taught creative practices for healing trauma to therapists and Indigenous people throughout the world.