How Our Brains Are Changing in Response

Often, trauma survivors are expected to relive their most painful memories in the name of healing, a process that can destabilize them as much as the trauma itself. But Babette Rothschild boldly challenges this traditional model, offering a revolutionary alternative that states that stability should be the primary priority, and asserts that safety, balance, and regulation of the nervous system are not just complementary elements, but the fundamental foundation upon which sustainable recovery is built. In this book, Babette Rothschild reshapes our understanding of trauma not simply as a psychological disorder, but as a deeply embodied experience, woven into the nervous system itself. She also instructs therapists on how to create a safe environment for their clients, through mindfulness, body awareness, and nervous system regulation, to ensure that they are guided toward recovery gently and without overwhelming them in overwhelming emotions that may relive the trauma. From her point of view, treating trauma is not a process of excavating the past, but rather a process of restoring internal balance.