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Resources / Readings

I want to thank the many teachers, practitioners, colleagues, clients and friends who have contributed to this list of books, trainings, videos and education to support ongoing individual education and personal growth. The information provided is not a replacement for the therapeutic relationship in psychotherapy or a somatic coaching relationship or to replace medical advice.

Somatic Experiencing / Trauma Resources: 

Waking the Tiger by Peter A. Levine 

Trauma and Memory by Peter A. Levine

In An Unspoken Voice by Peter Levine

Freedom from Pain by Peter A. Levine & Maggie Phillips

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Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory by Deb Dana

 

In the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté

The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté

When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté

 

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma

by Bessel Van Der Kolk

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The Practice of Embodying Emotions by Raja Selvam

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Healing Trauma through Family Constellations and Somatic Experiencing: Ancestral Wisdom from the Snail Clan of Tanzania by Efu Nyaki

 

It Didn't Start with You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn

 

Resources for Developmental Trauma and Attachment:

Healing Developmental Trauma: How early trauma affects self-regulation, self-image, and the capacity for relationship by Aline LaPierre & Lawrence Heller

 

Nurturing Resilience: Helping Clients Move Forward from Developmental Trauma - An Integrative Somatic Approach by Kathy L. Kain & Stephen J. Terrell

 

Emotional Neglect and the Adult in Therapy: Lifelong Consequences to a Lack of Early Attunement by Kathryn A. Stauffer

 

Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters Can Understand and Heal from Lost Nurturance, Protection, and Guidance by Kelly McDaniel

 

The Power of Attachment: How to Create Deep and Lasting Intimate Relationships by Diane Poole Heller

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Resource for Highly Sensitive Folks

The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. Aron

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Resources for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents

Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson

We Can Do Hard Things Podcast Episode #264: Disentangling from Emotionally Immature People with Lindsay C. Gibson

We Can Do Hard Things Podcast Episode #263 : Healing from Emotionally Immature Parents with Lindsay C. Gibson

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Resource for Better Sleep

Sweet Sleep: Resources for Rest: Created for Curious Sensitive People by Quai Nystrom, LCSW

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Resource for Better Boundaries

21 Days to Better Boundaries: A Guide to Setting Boundaries with Kindness + Compassion by Ann Weiser Cornell

Embodied Boundaries Virtual Course by Erika Chalkley

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Resource for Developing a Healthy Relationship with Food

Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole & Elyse Resch

The Binge Eating and Compulsive Overeating Workbook: An Integrated Approach to Overcoming Disordered Eating (The New Harbinger Whole-Body Healing Series) by Carolyn Ross

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Energy Balancing & Hands on Practices:

The Tao of Trauma: A Practitioner's Guide for Integrating Five Element Theory and Trauma Treatment by Alaine D. Duncan with Kathy L. Kain

Dancing with Yin and Yang by John Chitty

Esoteric Anatomy: The Body as Consciousness by Bruce Berger

The Polarity Process: Energy as a Healing Art by Franklyn Sills

The Deep Massage Book: How to Combine Structure and Energy in Bodywork by David Lauterstein

 

Anti-Oppression Resources:

My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo

 

Understanding Pronouns

 

2SLGBTQIA+ definitions

 

Beyond the Gender Binary by Alok V. Menom (they/them)

 

Somatic Educators offering online learning:

Holistic Life Navigation by Luis Mojica 

SmartBody SmartMind by Irene Lyon 

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Prenatal and Perinatal Support:

Center for Perinatal and Prenatal Programs

 

Focusing:

Focusing by Eugene T. Gendlin

The Power of Focusing: A Practical Guide to Emotional Self-Healing by Ann Weiser Cornell 

The Radical Acceptance of Everything: Living a Focusing Life by Ann Weiser Cornell

Untangling: How You Can Transform What’s Impossibly Stuck by Ann Weiser Cornell and Barbara McGavin

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For Adoptees (I am white, domestically adopted) 

The Primal Wound by Nancy Newton Verrier

Journey Of The Adopted Self by Betty Jean Lifton (1995) 

Lost and Found: The Adoption Experience by Betty Jean Lifton (2009) 

The Adopted Life – Angela Tucker, transracial adoptee, filmmaker and author

Born with Teeth by Kate Mulgrew

The Mistress’ Daughter by A.M. Homes

You Don’t Look Adopted by Anne Heffron

Adoptees On by Haley Radke - podcast

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Burnout

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski & Amelia Nagoski

 

Support in Recognizing Verbal Abuse

The Verbally Abusive Relationship, Expanded Third Edition: How to recognize it and how to respond by Patricia Evans

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Support for Parents / Caregivers of Children:

Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be by Dr. Becky Kennedy

Trauma Proofing Your Kids by Peter A. Levine & Maggie Kline

Trauma Through a Child’s Eyes by Peter A. Levine & Maggie Kline

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Support for Relationships:

Us: Getting Past You and Me to Build a More Loving Relationship by Terrence Real

Esther Perel's Where Should We Begin?: The Arc of Love by Esther Perel

Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic & the Domestic by Esther Perel

Wired for Love: How Understanding Your Partner's Brain and Attachment Style Can Help You Defuse Conflict and Build a Secure Relationship by Stan Tatkin

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Disclaimer: Mary Catherine Donnelly is not a licensed physician nor psychotherapist, and as such she does not diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any physical or mental condition or disease. 

 

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