Recommendations
Books
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk has revolutionized trauma treatment through its exploration of how trauma physically reshapes the brain and body. Many practitioners at Somatic Spiritual Counseling draw upon Dr. van der Kolk’s research on how trauma is stored in the body, incorporating his insights about the effectiveness of body-centered approaches like yoga, EMDR, and mindfulness to help clients release deep-seated trauma patterns that talk therapy alone cannot access.
Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine introduces the groundbreaking Somatic Experiencing® approach, which has become foundational to Somatic Spiritual Counseling practice. Many practitioners have trained extensively in Dr. Levine’s methods, which focus on helping clients discharge trapped survival energy and complete thwarted defensive responses that remain stuck in the nervous system after traumatic experiences, ultimately restoring the body’s natural capacity for self-regulation and healing
When the Body Says No by Gabor Maté explores the science behind the mind-body connection, particularly how chronic stress and emotional repression contribute to physical illness. Somatic Spiritual Counseling practitioners often reference Dr. Maté’s work when helping clients understand the profound connections between their emotional experiences, stress patterns, and physical symptoms, supporting them in developing greater body awareness and emotional literacy as pathways to holistic healing.
No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz presents Internal Family Systems therapy, which views the mind as naturally composed of distinct sub-personalities or “parts.” Many Somatic Spiritual Counseling practitioners integrate IFS approaches, guiding clients to develop a relationship with their various parts through somatic awareness, helping them recognize how different parts may hold trauma, protective patterns, or wisdom in the body, and facilitating healing through cultivating a compassionate internal relationship with all aspects of self.
Feeding Your Demons by Lama Tsultrim Allione adapts the ancient Bön / Tibetan Buddhist practice of chöd into a therapeutic approach for transforming negative emotions and destructive patterns. Many Somatic Spiritual Counseling practitioners incorporate Allione’s five-step process, which guides clients to personify, dialogue with, and ultimately “feed” their inner demons—whether anxiety, shame, addiction, etc.—with compassion rather than resistance. This embodied practice offers a powerful complement to other somatic approaches, helping clients physically experience how meeting difficult emotions with presence can transform them from sources of suffering into allies for healing and wisdom.
The Power of Attachment by Dr. Diane Poole Heller provides a valuable framework for understanding how early attachment experiences shape our nervous systems and adult relationships. Somatic Spiritual Counseling practitioners frequently draw from Dr. Heller’s work to help clients identify their attachment patterns through mindfulness, noticing how different relational triggers activate distinct mental, emotional, and physiological responses. Her somatic approaches to healing attachment wounds—through specific body-centered exercises, co-regulation practices, and nervous system resourcing—give practitioners effective tools for helping clients develop more secure internal and external attachment bonds.
Good Inside by Becky Kennedy provides a transformative approach to parenting that deeply resonates with somatic and attachment-based healing principles. Many Somatic Spiritual Counseling practitioners recommend Dr. Becky’s work to clients navigating parenting challenges, as her methods emphasize the vital connection between a parent’s regulated nervous system and a child’s sense of safety and security. The book’s focus on “parenting from the inside out”—developing awareness of one’s own triggers, emotional patterns, and unresolved wounds—aligns with somatic approaches to healing intergenerational trauma. Practitioners often incorporate Dr. Becky’s practical strategies for co-regulation, repair after rupture, and validating difficult emotions while maintaining boundaries, helping clients break cycles of reactivity by first connecting with their own bodily sensations and needs before responding to their children—ultimately creating more secure attachment bonds that support both parent and child in feeling good inside their bodies and relationships. This book is about parenting children, but can equally apply to reparenting oneself!
Call of the Wild by Kimberly Ann Johnson offers a revolutionary approach to understanding the female autonomic nervous system through the lens of animal behavior and evolutionary biology. Many Somatic Spiritual Counseling practitioners have embraced Johnson’s framework as a powerful way to help clients identify their nervous system patterns and default stress responses. The book’s practical tools for tracking physiological states and engaging specific somatic practices tailored to each nervous system type have become essential resources in Somatic Spiritual Counseling sessions, particularly when working with women navigating trauma, burnout, or life transitions. Practitioners frequently reference Johnson’s insights about the unique qualities of female stress physiology—including tend-and-befriend responses and cyclical patterns—to help clients develop personalized regulation strategies that honor their body’s innate wisdom and reclaim their wild, embodied power.
Wired for Love by Stan Tatkin merges neuroscience with attachment theory to offer practical guidance for creating secure-functioning relationships. Somatic Spiritual Counseling practitioners value Tatkin’s Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy (PACT), which emphasizes how partners can recognize and respond to each other’s autonomic nervous system states. Many practitioners incorporate his concepts of “anchors,” “islands,” and “waves” to help clients identify their somatic relationship patterns, teaching individuals and couples to read each other’s physical cues and develop greater capacity for self-regulation and co-regulation during moments of distress—ultimately creating relationships that provide genuine safety and connection.
Call of the Wild by Kimberly Ann Johnson offers a revolutionary approach to understanding the female autonomic nervous system through the lens of animal behavior and evolutionary biology. Many Somatic Spiritual Counseling practitioners have embraced Johnson’s framework as a powerful way to help clients identify their nervous system patterns and default stress responses. The book’s practical tools for tracking physiological states and engaging specific somatic practices tailored to each nervous system type have become essential resources in Somatic Spiritual Counseling sessions, particularly when working with women navigating trauma, burnout, or life transitions. Practitioners frequently reference Johnson’s insights about the unique qualities of female stress physiology—including tend-and-befriend responses and cyclical patterns—to help clients develop personalized regulation strategies that honor their body’s innate wisdom and reclaim their wild, embodied power.
Online Courses
Kimberly Ann Johnson‘s online courses, particularly her work on feminine embodiment and postpartum healing, have become essential resources for many Somatic Spiritual Counseling practitioners. Her Feminine Embodiment practices help clients reconnect with their bodies’ wisdom through movement, sound, and breathwork, while her trauma-informed approach to sexuality and boundaries provides valuable tools for addressing developmental and relational wounds that manifest somatically, especially for those working with female clients navigating transitions and trauma recovery.
YouTube Channel
Irene Lyon’s YouTube Channel has become an invaluable resource for both practitioners and clients in Somatic Spiritual Counseling, offering accessible education on the science of nervous system healing. Many Somatic Spiritual Counseling practitioners regularly recommend Lyon’s comprehensive video content to support clients between sessions, appreciating how she skillfully breaks down complex neurobiological concepts into practical, embodied explorations. Her signature blend of Somatic Experiencing®, Feldenkrais, and nervous system regulation techniques provides viewers with concrete tools for tracking bodily sensations, releasing stored tension patterns, and developing greater interoceptive awareness. Practitioners particularly value Lyon’s emphasis on developmental trauma and how seemingly “normal” childhood experiences can shape nervous system function, often incorporating her educational frameworks and guided practices to help clients understand the physiological roots of their challenges and access their innate capacity for self-regulation and healing.