These are some of the books that have influenced my work as a somatic psychotherapist. Many are written for therapists, students, and people who are deeply interested in trauma healing, nervous system regulation, and depth-oriented psychotherapy. Clients sometimes ask for book recommendations, so I’ve collected some of the resources that have shaped my understanding of somatic therapy, Internal Family Systems, and attachment trauma. Many of them are geared towards therapists such as my supervisees and interns but still may be helpful to someone who is really interested reading up on things on their own. I also enjoy when clients recommend books to me as well!
Some clients enjoy reading about trauma, somatic therapy, or attachment patterns as a way of deepening their understanding between sessions. While reading is never required for therapy, these books can sometimes help people understand the concepts we explore in sessions.
Book List (Most of them are on Audible)
Somatic Books:
These books explore how trauma is stored in the body and how somatic approaches help the nervous system process and integrate difficult experiences.
Waking the Tiger, Peter Levine
Healing Trauma, Peter Levine
Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma, Janina Fisher
Body Keeps the Score, Bessel Van Der Kolk
When The Body Says No, Gabor Mate
Becoming Safely Embodied, Deirdre Fay
Trauma and the Body, Pat Ogden
Call of the Wild, Kimberly Ann Johnson
Mind-Body Stress Reset, Rebekkah LaDyne
Healing The Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors, Janina Fisher
Nurturing Resilience, Kathy Kain & Sthephen Terrell
Bodyfulness, Christine Caldwell
Trauma Recovery, Arielle Schwartz
Bioenergetics, Alexander Lowen
Sensing, Feeling, and Action, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen
Sex Therapy:
These books explore sexuality, desire, relationship dynamics, and sex-positive therapeutic approaches.
The Art of Recieving and Giving, Betty Martin, Robyn Dalzen
The Erotic Mind, Jack Morin
Your Blueprint for Pleasure, Jaiya
The Return of Desire, Gina Ogden
Expanding the Practice of Sex Therapy, Gina Ogden
Mating in Captivity & The State of Affairs, Esther Perel
Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Janet Hardy & Dossie Easton
Come as You Are, Emily Nagoski
Come Together, Emily Nagoski
Healing Sex: A Mind-Body Approach to Healing Sexual Trauma, Staci Haines
Reclaiming Pleasure, Holly Richmond
Sensate Focus in Sex Therapy, LindaWeiner
The Leather Couch & With Sprinkles On Top , Stefani Goerlich
Whole Body Sex, Melissa Walker
Sex at Dawn, Christopher Ryan & Cacilda Jetha
Pleasure Plan, Laura Zam
Ace, Angela Chen
Unf*ck Your Intimacy & Autism Relationship Handbook, Faith G. Harper
Urban Tantra, Annie Sprinkle
Polyvagal Theory:
These books explore Polyvagal Theory and how understanding the nervous system can support greater regulation, resilience, and capacity for connection.
Befriending Your Nervous System & Polyvagal Exercises for Safety and Connection, Deb Dana
Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory, Stephen Porges
Polyvagal Informed EMDR, Rebecca Kase
Somatic Internal Family Systems Books:
Somatic Internal Family Systems Therapy, Susan McConell
Internal Family Systems Books:
Internal Family Systems therapy views the mind as composed of different “parts,” each with protective intentions. These books explain the theory and clinical applications of IFS.
Greater Than the Sum of Our Parts, Richard Schwartz
No bad Parts, Richard Schwartz
You are the One You have Been Waiting For, Richard Schwartz
Internal Family Systems Therapy for Shame and Guilt, Martha Sweezy
The Others Within Us, Robert Falconer
Trauma and Dissociation Informed Internal Family Systems, Joanne H. Twombley
Mosaic Mind: Empowering the Tormented Selves of Child Abuse Survivors, Regina A Goulding and Richard Schwartz
An Internal Family Systems Guide to Recovery from Eating Disorders, Amy Yandel Grabowski
NARM/Attachment Theory Books:
These books explore attachment, developmental trauma, and the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), which helps people understand how early relational experiences shape patterns of connection, identity, and emotional regulation.
The Practical Guide to Healing Developmental Trauma, Laurence Heller, Brad J Kammer
The Power of Attachment, Diane Poole Heller
Healing Your Attachment Wounds, Diane Poole Heller
The 5 Personality Styles, Steven Kessler
Polyamory:
These books explore polyamory and consensual non-monogamy, focusing on communication, consent, emotional awareness, and creating healthy relationship structures.
Polysecure, Jessica Fern
Polywise, Jessica Fern
Polyamory Breakup Boof, Kathy Labriola
Polyamory, Martha Kauppi, Kathy Labriola
Mindfulness Books:
These books explore mindfulness practices that encourage gentle awareness of the body, emotions, and present-moment experience.
Full Catastrophe Living, Jon Kabat-Zinn
Radical Acceptance, Tara Brach
True Refuge, Tara Brach
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression, Segal, Williams & Teasdale
Social Justice Books:
These books explore social justice perspectives in psychology and healing, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural context, systemic inequality, and diverse lived experiences.
My Grandmother’s Hands, Resmaa Menakem
Pleasure Activism, Adrienne Maree Brown
You Are Your Best Thing, Tarana Burke & Brene Brown
Embodied Activism, Rae Johnson
Oppression and the Body, Christine Caldwell & Lucia Bennett Leighton
De-colonizing Therapy, Jennifer Mullan
Jungian Books:
These books explore Jungian and depth psychology traditions that consider dreams, symbols, and the unconscious as important aspects of psychological growth and meaning.
Women Who Run With the Wolves, Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Sitting by the Well, Marion Woodman
Trauma and the Soul, Donald Kalsched
Red Book, Carl Jung
Man and his Symbols, Carl Jung
The Soul’s Code, James Hillman
Dream Tending, Stephan Aizenstat
Easter Body, Western Mind, Anodea Judith
Hero With a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell
The Way of the Tarot, Alejandro Jodorowsky
Soulcraft, Bill Plotkin
Jungian Sex Therapy Books:
The Soul of Sex, Thomas Moore
The Deep Psychology of BDSM and Kink, Douglas Thomas
Somatic Jungian Book:
Eastern Body Western Mind, Anodea Judith
Expressive Art Therapy:
These books explore expressive arts therapy and how creative processes such as movement, art, and imagination can support emotional healing and embodied awareness.
Trauma and Expressive Arts Therapy, Cathy A. Malchiodi
Process not Perfection: Expressive Arts Solutions for Trauma Recovery, Jamie Marich
Dancing Mindfulness, Jamie Marich
Healing Trauma with Guided Drawing, Cornelia Elbrecht, Cathy Malchiodi
Mindfulness and Art Therapies, Laury Rappapport
Soul Collage, Seena B. Frost
EMDR:
These books provide an introduction to EMDR therapy and how it can help people gently process traumatic experiences and develop greater nervous system regulation.
EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology, Arielle Schwartz and Barb Maiberger
Easy Ego State Interventions, Robin Shapiro
Polyvagal-Informed EMDR, Rebecca Kase
Transpersonal Psychology:
Spiritual Emergency, Stansilav Grof
Neurodiversity:
These books explore neurodiversity and offer insights into autistic and neurodivergent experiences, inviting greater understanding of different ways of thinking, sensing, and relating.
Out of Sync Child, Carol Stock Kranowitz (On sensory processing issues)
Divergent Mind, Jenara Nerenberg
Miscellaneous Books:
Nonviolent Communication, Marshall Rosenberg
Daring Greatly, Brene Brown
Brainspotting, David Grand
Spell of the Sensuous & Becoming Animal, David Abrams
If you are interested in exploring somatic therapy in Detroit or working together online anywhere in Michigan, you are welcome to reach out to schedule a consultation: Click Here