These days, more and more therapists are practicing trauma-informed therapy. That’s because, in our increasingly complex world, traumatic experiences have become all-too common, and require different types of intersectional approaches to the healing process.
Mental health professionals with clinical experience in childhood trauma, complex PTSD, sexual abuse, and other types of complex trauma will find the trauma books on this list of recommendations useful in their trauma recovery work with clients. These best books on trauma for therapists offer evidence-based techniques and other compassionate practical guidance to support therapists in their work with trauma survivors.
💁 In this guide, you’ll find out more about the following recommended best books on trauma for therapists:
- My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem
- Getting Past Your Past by Francine Shapiro
- Our Polyvagal World by Stephen W. Porges
- Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness by David A. Treleaven
- In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté
- No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz
- Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot
Why read these best books on trauma for therapists?
Reading a variety of texts related to trauma and its treatments can be incredibly beneficial as supplements to your continuing education as a clinician. Whether you’re a professional who specializes in trauma, or you’re interested in incorporating more trauma-informed approaches into your practice, you’ll find a lot of useful resources in this list of our recommendations for best books on trauma for therapists.
1. My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem
A groundbreaking exploration of racialized trauma and its impact on the body, this book provides a unique perspective on trauma for therapists and clients alike.
Why read this book on trauma for therapists?
Therapists will gain a deeper understanding of how trauma manifests in the body and get practical strategies to address the intersections of race and trauma in their therapeutic work.
2. Getting Past Your Past by Francine Shapiro
Written by the psychologist who developed eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, this is an essential book for therapists and clients. It focuses on empowering complex trauma survivors to take control of their lives with the techniques based in EMDR.
Why read this book on trauma for therapists?
Therapists will get deeper insights into EMDR and practical tools to integrate these breakthrough techniques into their practice.
3. Our Polyvagal World by Stephen W. Porges
This easy-to-follow, compelling book was written by the originator of polyvagal theory, Stephen W. Porges (with an assist from his journalist son Seth Porges). Varying levels of safety and trauma affect us in ways we don’t always understand; Our Polyvagal World delves into why, and offers practical solutions for how to manage.
Why read this book on trauma for therapists?
Enrich your practice with it, improve your own life, recommend it to clients — this book is versatile, and an accessible read for all.
4. Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness by David A. Treleaven
Mindfulness is a widespread, effective practice for many — but this book reveals how mindfulness practices can actually backfire for many trauma survivors. In this fascinating book on trauma for therapists, Treleaven explores the intersections of mindfulness and trauma-sensitive practices, and how the combination of the two can ensure a safer and supportive approach to healing trauma.
Why read this book on trauma for therapists?
Mindfulness practitioners will particularly benefit from integrating a trauma-informed approach to mindfulness into their practices.
5. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté
This powerful exploration of addiction sheds light on the link between trauma and substance abuse. It provides readers with a compassionate perspective on trauma-informed care and addiction intervention, emphasizing a more holistic understanding of the interconnectedness of both addiction and trauma.
Why read this book on trauma for therapists?
This book can help therapists develop more effective trauma-sensitive interventions to clients’ addictive behaviors.
6. No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz
This book on Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model was written by the therapist who first developed the IFS therapy model. This treatment is based on the concept that each of us has a “family system” of different parts within us, developed in response to the childhood trauma we endured. IFS has since become an effective treatment for many types of traumatic experiences, particularly complex trauma.
Why read this book on trauma for therapists?
Schwartz makes this evidence-based approach to trauma recovery understandable and actionable for trauma therapists.
7. Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot
A classic that should be on the shelf of every therapist, mental health professional, and care worker in any field that works with the trauma of others. In Trauma Stewardship, Laura van Dernoot shares practical strategies for addressing vicarious traumatization and increasing self-compassion.
Why read this book on trauma for therapists?
These sustainable approaches to self-care will resonate with trauma therapists who are burnt out, suffering from compassion fatigue, or all of the above.
FAQ | Best Books on Trauma for Therapists
Why is it useful to read some of the best books on trauma for therapists?
In our increasingly complex world, the frequency and depth of trauma survivors’ traumatic experiences has necessitated new approaches to trauma-informed therapy. This list includes some of the current best books on trauma for therapists. They offer a variety of techniques and compassionate guidance to support therapists in their work with trauma survivors who are on the healing journey from childhood trauma, complex PTSD, sexual abuse, and other types of complex trauma.
What are some of the best books on trauma for therapists who want to learn a new evidence-based technique for trauma recovery?
- For an introduction to EMDR therapy, read: Getting Past Your Past by Francine Shapiro.
- For a trauma-informed approach to mindfulness therapy, read: Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness by David A. Treleaven.
- For an introduction to IFS therapy, read: No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz.
- For more information on polyvagal-informed therapy, read: Our Polyvagal World by Stephen W. Porges.
Do you recommend any books on the impact of trauma on the body?
- My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem
What’s a good book about the intersections of trauma and addiction?
- In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts by Gabor Maté
What self-help book do you recommend to counteract the effects of secondary traumatization in therapists?
- Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot
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Ada Peng
Ada Peng is a spatial data analyst and Chief AI architect at Orchid. Before joining Orchid, Ada honed her skills as an engineer at HNTB. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Ada is actively engaged in the tech community, organizing AI and healthtech meetups in San Francisco and New York. While pursuing her dual master’s degree in City Planning and Urban Spatial Analytics at UPenn, Ada founded the Urban Studies Workshop, showcasing her commitment to fostering innovation and leadership.