The Rooted Heart Recommends
The following are book recommendations based on their impact on my life and my practice. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory
by Deb Dana
Deb Dana, LCSW, is a clinician and consultant specializing in using the lens of Polyvagal Theory to understand and resolve the impact of trauma and create ways of working that honor the role of the autonomic nervous system. She developed the Rhythm of Regulation Clinical Training Series and lectures internationally on ways Polyvagal Theory informs work with trauma survivors. She is a founding member of the Polyvagal Institute, clinical advisor to Khiron Clinics, and advisor to Unyte.
In Anchored, Deb shares a down-to-earth presentation of Polyvagal Theory, then brings the science to life with practical, everyday ways to transform your relationship with your body using field-tested techniques to become more aware of your nervous system moment to moment―and change the way you respond to the great and small challenges of life.
Here, you’ll explore:
• Polyvagal Theory―get to know the biology and function of your vagus nerve, the highway of the nervous system
• Befriending Your Nervous System―attune to what’s going on in your body by developing your “neuroception”
• Using Your Vagal Brake―discover key techniques to consciously regulate the intensity of your emotions
• Connection and Protection―learn to recognize and influence your internal cues for safety and danger
• Your Social Engagement System―find ways to create nourishing relationships with others and the world around you
• Practices and guidance to gently shape your nervous system for greater resilience, intuition, safety, and wonder
My favorite quote: “Take a moment and find something that reminds you of the feeling of being anchored in regulation and then put it somewhere you’ll see it as you move through your day.”
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust.
Van der Kolk highlights that trauma is stored in the body, often unconsciously. Intergenerational trauma can influence our stress responses, but awareness can help us release unhelpful patterns.
When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress
by Gabor Maté MD
Trauma can affect generations, shaping our relationships. Gabor Maté emphasizes that understanding emotional pain is crucial for healing. Awareness can help break these cycles, allowing for healthier connections.
Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Internal Self-Alienation
by Janina Fisher
In Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma survivors, Janina Fisher explains that trauma symptoms are survival adaptations that intergenerational trauma survivors have developed throughout the course of their lives. With support, these survivors can learn to respond in new ways to old stimuli and patterns of behavior.
She describes a model that emphasizes "resolution"―a transformation in the relationship to one’s self, replacing shame, self-loathing, and assumptions of guilt with compassionate acceptance.
It's On Me: Accept Hard Truths, Discover Your Self, and Change Your Life
by Sara Kuburic
Have you ever felt lonely, unfulfilled, or trapped? Many of us do in our roles and relationships leading us into cycles of self-sabotage and bad decisions in an attempt to feel happy or just to feel something. In It’s on Me, Sara Kuburic explains that it doesn’t have to be so trying to feel whole.
In It’s on Me, Kuburic unpacks “self-loss,” giving us new vocabulary to understand this rarely talked about experience and offers tools she’s used for years to help clients recover.
The Grief Recovery Handbook
by J. James & R. Friedman
The Grief Recovery Handbook is a practical guide designed to help individuals navigate the complex process of grieving. James and Freidman offer a structured approach to dealing with loss from death, divorce, or other significant life changes. The authors emphasize that grief is a natural, personal journey and provide actionable steps to help people work through their emotions and find healing. The handbook includes exercises, personal stories, and tools to help readers address unresolved issues and move forward. It’s straightforward, accessible approach, makes it useful for both individuals experiencing grief and those supporting loved ones. It offers a blend of emotional support and practical advice, focusing on helping readers understand their feelings and find ways to cope and recover. I love this book for its empathetic and practical approach to grieving, providing a valuable resource for anyone dealing with loss.