Informative and innovative: a fantastic resource for those doing the work to heal through their trauma, at any stage of the journey.

I've been in and out of therapy for years and never felt like much "stuck," leaving me, well, STUCK. Moving Beyond Trauma helped to open my eyes as to why. The book was really interesting and easy to read. Understanding what happens in the body and nervous system has really helped me have more self-compassion, and the exercises were easy to learn and definitely have helped me feel more centered. Thank you for this book! I will be recommending to friends and family.

Simple, moving, honest, and grounded in compassion, Ilene Smith has delivered what she promised: a clear and concise road map to taking account of the wounds that hold you back and the steps to start you on the road to healing. Smith's love and mindfulness jumps off every page; a tantalizing invitation to a life unburdened by trauma and fear.

This was a very reflective read. It will really help those who need help to read around the subject. It was very insightful and well balanced.

At first glance, I have to admit the idea of somatic, or "bottom-up" therapy did not make a lot of sense to me but the rationale behind it seems well researched. While touch therapy is not something I would ever feel comfortable doing, a lot of the exercises the author provides in this book for individuals can be helpful for people dealing with trauma. One thing the author said that really resonated with me was "For people who have been traumatized...if we are present with ourselves, we might also have to be present with our pain." Sometimes the hardest part about healing is allowing ourselves to accept the cards we've been dealt, if we don't allow ourselves to accept what has happened then we can never move forward. Sitting with myself quietly is always something I have struggled with. It feels unproductive and I grow restless so I do what most people do: reach for my smartphone. I have learned that this, too, can be an unhealthy way of coping with unwanted feelings or memories. This book was very insightful. I think having a tool kit of coping mechanisms and things to turn to when we are feeling particularly stressed is super important. This book has encouraged me to be more present and mindful in everything I do. Would definitely recommend, even if you're just struggling with depression or anxiety. There is something in this book for everyone who may be struggling to manage grief and find lasting coping mechanisms.

A good book about healing trauma that has been unconsciously stored in the body. The author includes assessments and practical exercises.

**I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. Readers of this review should also note this review is being authored by a psychologist who works primarily with survivors of traumas.

Ilene Smith created a book in which she integrated the basics of trauma treatment knowledge with basics of Somatic Experiencing therapy. Regarding the former, I really enjoyed how Ms. Smith does a lovely job explaining the impacts of trauma in general, the impacts of trauma on the body, and the differences between bottom up and top down approaches. I also liked the integration of assessments along the way. About the SE side of the book, I'm not trained in the therapeutic model, but do have an interest in it. Ms. Smith does a lovely job explaining about the therapy.

Overall, I truly think anyone who has experienced trauma, treats trauma, or who has a loved one who has experienced trauma could benefit from this book. It's a pretty quick read, which I also appreciate. This allows for those with poorer attention spans to make it through.

#Netgalley

Wonderful book. It is based on practical experience, case studies and is supported with exercises. It is very helpful for people suffering from trauma and gives a new direction of treatment.

In Moving Beyond Trauma, Somatic Experiencing practitioner Ilene Smith shares her own experience with trauma and both cognitive and somatic therapy, explains how trauma affects our nervous system, offers assessments to help readers better understand their own reactions to trauma, and suggests healing exercises. She accomplishes this in a friendly, easy to understand style accompanied by references to peer-reviewed journals and other professional literature.

I thought this book offered a particularly good discussion of nervous system dysregulation, and I appreciated all of the case studies the author presents. I was already familiar with most of the concepts discussed, and yet I felt like I gained a better understanding of how I have been affected by trauma and why I react the way I do at times.

Part of what sets this book apart are the research-based assessments, which were interesting and really helped me perceive where I am struggling most, as well as the areas that are more of a strength for me. My only disappointment is that the suggested exercises are a very small portion of the text and not connected to the assessment results as clearly as I might have hoped. I do like the exercises offered though; they were easy to understand, and I like that the author encourages readers to get curious, start slowly with small changes, and celebrate small victories.

The assessments can be taken online for free. I like this option because the scoring is done for you. However, you will be asked for your email address.

I think most people could benefit from reading this book. Even if you think you haven’t experienced trauma, you may learn that you have been affected by past events more than you realized. This book will also help you better understand why other people might behave the way they do.

I was provided an unproofed ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review, but I also purchased my own copy.

I did not finish this book. By a quarter of the way in, I felt completely uncomfortable about some of the statements being made by the author. The descriptions of different parts of the nervous system seemed woo-ish to me. The lack of technical terms or resources so far in did not seem right. What made me eventually stop was a description of how having an umbilical cord wrapped around your neck in utero could definitely have you carrying feelings of trauma. I can’t finish or recommend this book.

Smith divides the book into 3 general sections. The first discusses her success with specific clients and the trauma they experienced as well as what eventually helped them. The second section is a series of assessments to see where you fall on the trauma scale. Finally there are a few exercises that you can do to begin a somatic healing practice. There are a few practices that could be adopted into your savasana in a yoga practice. These might be helpful for a yoga class.

Moving through Trauma is a vitally important front runner of a book in educating people that the body needs treating for trauma as much, if not more than the mind. I'm well trained in CBT yet never managed to rid myself of trauma effects that were hard to verbalise. This book explains well what happens when we disengage from our bodies. The exercises are deceptively simple but effective over the longer term, some are not new but reset in a scientific context. Yet still, I'd pair this book with something about the polyvagal nerve.as, in my limited understanding I'd say that you can retrain your body to engage with the environment - and still be out of balance which causes anxiety, and health conditions. Still, a great foundational read.

This book has some great insight into healing when you suffer from trauma. I would recommend this book to anyone that knows someone that has gone through a traumatic experience.