Keep Talking Episode 89: Peter Levine: Healing Trauma
Peter Levine is a lecturer, a psychotherapist, and the author of various best-selling books including "Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma." During our conversation, Peter talks about how our culture deals with and talks about trauma, the oneness of the mind and the body, and viewing trauma from a naturalistic perspective.
Peter has been revolutionary in reframing trauma as something physical, something within the body. His somatic experiencing techniques have been created with this outlook, and aim to help those who are suffering to have a way to release trauma and to reconnect with themselves.
Peter has written that "traumatized people are not suffering from a disease in the normal sense of the word - they have become stuck in an aroused state." His work, begun many decades ago, has improved our understanding of the nature of trauma and has helped many to live happier, healthier lives.
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(00:00) Intro
(02:02) How America approached trauma 50 years ago
(04:13) Nancy and somatic experiencing
(16:14) Changing our understanding of trauma
(25:38) Trauma being viewed as a moral failing
(36:42) Peter's childhood trauma
(42:57) The wounded healer
(47:52) Recommendations to work through trauma
(50:16) A quote about trauma from Peter
(57:07) Viewing trauma from a naturalist perspective
(57:49) Various tools for approaching trauma
(01:03:53) What individuals can do to improve the world