20 Best Books For Healing Childhood Trauma (2025 Update)

"As you move through the experiences of your past, know that no matter what happened, your being here, vibrant and alive, makes you worthy. You alone are enough." Sometimes a book will come into your life at exactly the right time. Traumas, both from childhood and more recent times, have been making themselves known to me with an urgency I haven't experienced before, at a time that seems more inconvenient than pretty much any other time in my life. Although I'd love to push it all to the side, with a 'Not now! Can't you see I'm busy reading?', there's also a knowing that there's never going to be a good time and that maybe, just maybe, there's a reason it's all coming up for me now. So, here I am, trying to figure out what healing will look like for me and having conversations with people who are seeing my resilience from the outside in vastly different ways than I'm perceiving it from the inside. Then this book, which covers the trifecta of what my brain has decided is my priority right now (trauma, resilience and healing), makes its way into my world. The shift from asking 'what's wrong with you?' to 'what happened to you?' is something I've yearned to hear for most of my life. Western society is so fixed on labels, which I know have their place and can be useful, but all too often pasting a diagnosis (or multiple diagnoses) on someone marginalises them more than it helps them. If we don't get to the core of why a person behaves the way they do then we're really missing the point, and the opportunity to best support them. "All of us want to know that what we do, what we say and who we are, matters." Dr. Perry's work in understanding how the brain's development is impacted by early trauma helps explain why we behave the way we do, for example, why some people lash out in anger and others withdraw into themselves. There's science in this book but it was explained in a way that made sense to me, someone who hasn't formally studied science since high school. Even if you don't understand a concept the first time it's mentioned it's okay as it will be referred to in later conversations. If words like 'brainstem', 'diencephalon', 'limbic' and 'cortex' make you want to disengage, I'd encourage you to hold on because how the science relates to someone's life will be explained. This, in turn, will make it easier to apply what's being said to your own life. You'll read about people Dr. Perry has worked with, people Oprah has interviewed and about Oprah's own experiences. Knowledge truly is powerful and simply having an understanding of why a smell or sound ('evocative cues') can cause people with PTSD to have flashbacks, making them feel as though they're right back in that moment, feels like half the battle. If you're not caught up in judging yourself for your brain responding the way that it does, then it frees up so much energy that you can use to regulate yourself. I learned about how our view of the world becomes a "self-fulfilling prophecy", why self harm makes so much sense to the people who do it (even though it baffles the people who don't), the importance of rhythm in regulation, how vital connections with other people are to healing and why I need to learn more about neuroplasticity. I gained a much better understanding of flock, freeze, flight and fight. Dissociation, which I thought I knew all about from personal experience, make much more sense to me now, as does why I find reading so helpful in my everyday life. I love facts and there were some that really put what I was reading into context for me. "During the first nine months, fetal brain development is explosive, at times reaching a rate of 20,000 new neurons 'born' per second. In comparison, an adult may, on a good day, create 700." This book isn't about blaming anyone for your trauma and it's not giving you an excuse for bad behaviour. It does explain why you react the way you do and can help silence the voice inside you that tells you there's something wrong with you because of it – your reaction is reasonable given your history but there is also hope; you can heal. I would recommend this book to so many people. Before I'd even begun reading I'd recommended it to my GP and would not hesitate in recommending it to anyone who works in a profession that brings them into contact with young children and their families or trauma survivors. "To this day, the role that trauma and developmental adversity play in mental and physical health remains under appreciated." I would recommend it to trauma survivors, although with a few caveats: that they stay safe while reading (some of the content is bound to be triggering), read at their own pace and make good use of their support system as needed. Loved ones of trauma survivors will find explanations for why their friend or family member behaves the way that they do and ways they can help. I'm not someone who usually listens to audiobooks but if there's a book that would be more suited for that format than thSchizanthus Nerd

Lots of interesting information. Some parts were a bit repetitive, but I'm really glad to have read it. Worth the time and money, for sure. Even if you didn't experience childhood trauma, this might help you understand the associated behaviors of others around you.HabbinJabbins

This book is perfect for anyone planning on having a child. This will tell you what to do and what not to do when raising a child. This book also helps tremendously with exploring trauma. Whether you are a man or a woman, get this book.madison5thave

This book offers insight into how developmental trauma affects us over the lifespan: emotionally as well as physically. The author explains how we develop survival strategies to help us cope with inadequate nurturing in our early years and we absorb these strategies into our personality. We end up with false identifications of who we are and these restrict us later in life and can cause much suffering. The NeuroAffective Relational Model introduces a method of helping people identify what is standing in the way of healthy connection with ourselves and with others. I recommend this book to mental health professionals as well as individuals who want to gain a better understanding of themselves – with the goal of healthier relationships with themselves and others.cperkinsgilman

I have not finished the book yet, but it is opening my eyes to better understand the behaviours of my clients that have suffered trauma from a pre-verbal stage. The behaviours described are so apt, and it is helping me to be present for them in a more meaningful way.K S

As an adult, I've only starting to see how the damage of my childhood is impacting my life. This book has accelerated my understanding. The book looks right through me!recovering reader

This books brings clarity to so much. I have struggled with life despite over 20 years of counselling. This book has helped me understand what and why and gives with understanding, grace, care and gentleness provides insights and a toolbox that have the power to chip away at the issues that hold me back… It will not happen overnight but with this book by my side I see a way through. My counsellor is reading it too. CPTSD (complex Trauma / Complex PTSD) provides understanding of childhood trauma that had no physical signs – while sexual and physical violence is abominable what is not generally well known, even though it is now well understood by researchers is that emotional trauma has the same effect on the brain of growing child as physical trauma. This truth is brutal but a vindication of how I have felt in my life: it seems that with the way my brain would have been wired as a child and the brain I carried into adulthood set me at a disadvantage no matter how hard I work… compounded by blaming myself for my ongoing inabilities (inner critic). The game changer is understanding this and not repeating the same patterns, knowing what triggers me into emotional flashbacks and that in fact such a thing exists – you know: the unexplainable low mood, sudden rage over something small, endless depression, desire to be dead… all flashbacks to when I experienced emotional trauma. For a child it is like death when their inner world is ignored or violated. Please read this book – CPTSD/complex trauma is an epidemic with 1 in 4 Australians living with CPTSD as an aftermath of childhood trauma of some sort. The impact of this on relationships, productivity, life satisfaction is devastating – understanding how it happens and intervening to prevent it happening has the power to make big difference to each of us and our societyg-w-t

Out of all I've read so far, this book is a great book b/c Pete Walker writes out of his own battles w/ CPTSD. The information in this book is so clear about our reactions when suffering & how they come from our childhood abuses or neglect. Also, he gives emotional flashback steps to come out of a flashback. This is a very good help for anyone who's suffered freeze, flight, fight or fawn & most people have & do suffer from these reactions! Lots of books out there but this is one of the tops & not hard to read!donngiovann_0

This is an amazing book! when i found this book it called out to me. it was hard to put down. (it does also have a workbook also) I believe if you have trauma in your life or have someone you care about who has, this is a great read! I came from a home filled with many area's of trauma. Then married into more areas of trauma! Now i work with kids in the system. I was beyond ready to start trying to find way to help understand and fix my past and would help me,to understand and maybe help the kids i work with.Teresa

Finally, here is writing about the history of the PTSD diagnosis and how it came to be. And the compassion and caring that these psychiatrists and therapists and researchers express for their patients/clients is very touching. To me, it's as good a book as "The Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck, MD. Easy to read, lots of case histories that actually make sense, and are to the point, and the history of research into causation and the relationship between early childhood trauma, and how the brain adapts in order to "function" after it interprets the trauma. Researchers are actually developing standards for measuring what used to be thought of as "immeasurable". As an accountant and financial analyst, it's the kind of stuff I LOVE!gemsfromjan

A guide for gaining empathy, The Body Keeps The Score: Brain Mind And Body In The Healing Of Trauma is a must-read for anyone recovering from trauma. The book has a three part thesis, supported by science, case studies and experience. 1. Trauma (violence, abuse) embeds itself in the most primal parts of our brains, 2. changing our bodies’ aches and pains into a document of our psychic distress, 3. and our rational minds “hide” the wounds through shame, convincing us the trauma was our fault. As a curious cat with PTSD, this book answered most questions about “how/why” I wound up so easily spooked. It also offers insight into various healing modalities. So far, I’ve tried yoga and psychodrama (#cosplay yay!).andrea.f

I've read tons of books on this topic and this one is absolutely the best. Not only did this book provide an easy-to-understand explanation for kids' behavior after trauma, but it also helped me understand my own behavior as well. And it did all of this with fun grounding in pop culture references and interesting anecdotes culled from the author's impressive expertise and practice.Chris the Reader

This book appealed to me because I am seeking effective solutions to help children with adverse experiences. Several were offered. In addition, the writing style was clear and even humorous. I really connected to the author as she shared her own story.tarpridget0

I am constantly dumbfounded by physicians who don't stop to ask why and simply put a band aid on a problem, or order a prescription. Nadine Burke-Harris is not one of those physicians. She goes to the source in this book and makes the science fascinating. I want to order a thousand of these books and pass them out to all of my friends and colleagues.KATIE

Beautifully written, this book will give you a first hand account into the effect C-PTSD has on a person. Stephanie seems to have it all together on the outside (successful job, wealth, lots of friends etc) but on the inside she is struggling. I love how she openly shares her fears, emotions and her insights into how she became the person she is today. Highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn more about the personal effect C-PTSD has.Spear

This is an essential book as a resource tool for working with clients and yourself to understand the basics of Trauma and Attachments. Peter Levine provides multiple examples from his cases studies of clients and his own lived experience of Trauma and Trauma recovery.Dr.Drew

Excellent book, such great and informative information for anybody who is going through some past trauma and needs help.Would recommend this to anybody. Peter Levine has amazing knowledgeHella

I think this book gives an 'excellent' review of childhood trauma in additon to helpful information as to how to deal with those other traumas.loborobo127

This is an essential book as a resource tool for working with clients and yourself to understand the basics of Trauma and Attachments. Peter Levine provides multiple examples from his cases studies of clients and his own lived experience of Trauma and Trauma recovery.Dr.Drew

Excellent book, such great and informative information for anybody who is going through some past trauma and needs help.Would recommend this to anybody. Peter Levine has amazing knowledgeHella

I think this book gives an 'excellent' review of childhood trauma in additon to helpful information as to how to deal with those other traumas.loborobo127

I have a better understanding of the body's responses to trauma now. There is hope and healing from trauma, and this book gives insightful information and help with this.danhumphr0

In my work I am served well with updating information and adding to the tools I can work with myself and to offer to those I work with. I am sorry I left this book on my wish list for so long before purchasing. I have found it very useful and am confident to pass on the gems I have gleaned from using it.Kate

Larger print – reads very easily. Some graphic stories. Clear interpretations of trauma. Recommend for anyone interested in this topic.Pamela

Needed this book for my work as a counselor. Have found it very helpful so far. Easy reading with beneficial exercises. Can be used for many types of trauam – just pick and choose which chapters are most relevant for the situation. Would recommend for counselors or anyone working through a trauma.cruise$$$

Excellent workbook. Not only contains very valuable information, but provides important exercises to help overcome PTSD by well-known authors.bethavra

I thought this book would have more activities and interventions that gave out steps how they could be implemented. The more so breaks down different counselling modalities rather the actual practical activities and techniques.Sophsun

If youve been through a relationship break up thats significantly affected your well being this book is good advice on how to heal and overcome the hurt and rejection. This book partially addresses childhood abandonment issues and uses the same techniques to promote healing highly recommend it if dealing with these issues.happyannie73

This is a very well put together book for anyone experiencing, having experienced at one point, or working with those who have experienced/are experiencing trauma, particularly childhood trauma and betrayal.Teejay