Heart of Man Dr. Peter A. Levine: How The Body Remembers Trauma — And The Journey Of Healing | EP 50
'Trauma is a fact of life. It does not, however, have to be a life sentence. Not only can trauma be healed, but with appropriate guidance and support, it can be transformative'
This insight comes from one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, and a true pioneer in the field: Dr. Peter Levine.
He is the developer of Somatic Experiencing®, a groundbreaking, neurobiological approach to trauma healing that he’s spent over 50 years developing. With doctorates in both Biophysics and Psychology, Peter has helped redefine how we understand trauma in the world not as a disorder of the mind, but as a deeply embedded, hyperaroused stress response in the body that calls for a body-oriented approach to healing.
His best-known work, Waking the Tiger, has become a classic in the field of trauma and has been published in over 29 languages.
He’s also the author of 'Healing Trauma', 'In an Unspoken Voice', 'Trauma and Memory', and his most recent book, An 'Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey' which is a deeply personal look into his life and his journey of overcoming trauma.
Dr. Levine’s work has now been taught to over 30,000 therapists in more than 42 countries, he's been recognized with multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards, and he continues to teach and consult internationally.
In my interview with Dr. Levine, we explore his core understandings of trauma, debunking the myth that it’s a brain disorder or a psychological weakness. Instead, he frames trauma as the body’s natural response to overwhelming experiences that were never fully processed or completed.
We discuss:
- The relationship between trauma and the body, and why true healing doesn’t happen solely through cognitive insight, but through deep bodily integration
- A powerful story from his book 'In an Unspoken Voice', sharing his experience of being hit by a car 20 years ago. He walks us through how he processed and released the stress response in his body, which helped him mitigate the onset of PTSD and served as a real-time application of his life's work.
- The process of writing his most recent book and the deeper intention behind sharing his personal journey.
- How men, especially those conditioned to view the world through a lens of threat or mistrust can begin to return back to safety, openness, and intimacy in relationship.
Dr. Peter Levine’s work has been absolutely foundational in my own life, helping me understand trauma and how to work through my own personal experiences with chronic anxiety and depression.
I see this episode as an important one for any man who’s seeking a deeper understanding of what trauma is, and how to begin orientating back to the body and learning to work with it.
It was an absolute honor to speak with someone I consider a true legend in the field. I deeply commend Dr. Levine’s resilience, dedication, courage and his unwavering commitment to bringing these revolutionary insights to the world at a time when few people even understood what trauma was.
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Connect with Dr. Peter A. Levine:
Website: https://www.somaticexperiencing.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpeteralevine
Read Dr. Levine's most recent book 'An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey': https://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Trauma-Healing-Journey/dp/B0CBZCJT3J
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Connect with Alex Lehmann:
Website: https://www.alexlehmann.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexlehmann_
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HeartofManPodcast/featured
Listen to this conversation on Apple Podcasts and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heart-of-man/id1697289478
Email: alexlehmanncoaching@gmail.com
Interested in working with me 1:1? Apply here and book a free discovery call with me (2 spots available at present time): https://www.alexlehmann.co/11-coaching
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