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Sexual Healing: Transforming the Sacred Wound

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Healing the wounds of sexual trauma has long been considered by many psychotherapists to be one of the most challenging tasks a person will ever face. The good news, teaches Dr. Peter A. Levine, is that new and more effective tools are emerging.

On Sexual Healing , Dr. Levine, a pioneer in the field of healing trauma, teaches you his innovative series of body-based practices to release the sexual trauma of your past. Join him to

What new research reveals about the way we store the energies and memories of distressing events in the body
• Understanding the signs of sexual trauma
• How to create a "container" for your emotions and release them safely ― without becoming overwhelmed
• Gentle exercises to reconnect with your body and recover your ability to experience pleasure and joy
Your body has a natural process for healing trauma and restoring resilience in your nervous system. Unfortunately, few of us are taught to identify and allow this process to happen when it arises. Sexual Healing shares the principles and skills you need to restore your sacred inner space and move forward in your life with greater presence, focus, and passion.

Audio CD

First published December 15, 2002

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About the author

Peter A. Levine

49 books1,063 followers
Peter A.Levine, Ph.D. is the originator and developer of Somatic Experiencing® and the Director of The Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute. He holds doctorate degrees in Medical Biophysics and in Psychology. During his thirty five-year study of stress and trauma, Dr. Levine has contributed to a variety of scientific and popular publications.

Dr. Levine was a stress consultant for NASA during the development of the Space Shuttle, and has taught at treatment centers, hospitals and pain clinics throughout the world, as well as at the Hopi Guidance Center in Arizona. Peter served on the World, Psychologists for Social Responsibility, presidents’ initiative on responding to large scale disasters and ethno-political warfare. His best selling book, Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, is published in 20 languages.

Peter A. Levine received his Ph.D. in medical biophysics from the University of California at Berkeley, and also holds a doctorate in psychology from International University. He has worked in the field of stress and trauma for over 40 years and is the developer of “Somatic Experiencing.”

He teaches trainings in this work throughout the world. He has taught at various indigenous cultures including the Hopi Guidance center in Second Mesa Arizona. Peter has been stress consultant for NASA in the development of the first Space Shuttle. He was a member of the Institute of World Affairs Task Force with “Psychologists for Social Responsibility” and served on the APA initiative for response to large scale disaster and Ethno-political warfare. He is on the ‘distinguished faculty’ of Santa Barbara Graduate Institute.

Peter is the author of the best selling book Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, (published in twenty languages) as well as four audio learning series for Sounds True including the book CD, Healing Trauma, a Pioneering Program in Restoring the Wisdom of Our Bodies; and Sexual Healing, Transforming the Sacred Wound. He is the co-author of Trauma through a Child’s Eyes, Awakening the Ordinary Miracle of Healing, and Trauma-Proofing Your Kids, A Parents Guide for Instilling Confidence, Joy and Resilience. Most recently, he has published In An Unspoken Voice, How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness.

Description courtesy of Trauma Healing.
http://www.somaticexperiencingnyc.com...

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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Profile Image for Rob.
757 reviews4 followers
February 5, 2014
Intense. After the first three tracks I wanted to chuck this CD at all the doctors and therapists I have seen who have dismissed my symptoms as a mental illness or just being an attention seeking hysterical woman. Go slow on some of the exercises though as I found one or two triggering dissociation. Worth it to keep trying them though I think.
Profile Image for Leslie Fetterly.
478 reviews7 followers
November 2, 2022
It had some good exercises to add to therapy but took a hard turn at the end talking about “normal” parent/child attraction instead of focusing on healing old traumas. Spent more time talking about that then how to find a good therapist for you.
301 reviews24 followers
April 12, 2018
Extremely helpful exercises and a couple new insights. I've already improved physical tension patterns because of this book. Excellent narration by the author.
Profile Image for Ashia aka Nina.
9 reviews4 followers
October 1, 2018
Lots of great exercises. I definitely recommend. Check out the audiobook.
215 reviews
January 7, 2022
A rather short summary with some meditation primers. After thinking about personal development and psychological identity from different viewpoints in the last months, I was interested how my models map onto the more esoteric theory brought forward by Levine and others like Mate and van der Kolk. There is little I strongly object to on a fundamental basis, and while the framing is not purely scientific, it is valuable given that this book has also a more therapeutic purpose.

On a more critical side: I guess it's just too short to really allow a new approach towards one's own identity and experiences. Also, the book might even be not "emathic" enough (in its tone, obviously there is no real empathy involved) for the very heavy topic it addresses—but I am happy to trust Levine's judgement, as mine is rather restricted to some second hand reports.
Profile Image for Megan.
4 reviews
May 28, 2019
I would also recommend this for people recovering from trauma outside of the scope of sexual violation. Also, partnering with Levine's book: In An Unspoken Voice. These exercises are outlined in that work and form the basis for SE. They are beyond powerful when your body is ready to do the work. Resource yourself with a good therapist for the journey. Aho! 🙏
Profile Image for Danise.
44 reviews3 followers
Read
October 30, 2020
It's a good brief audiobook with exercises. You just need to be attentive and invested in following the exercises, which are well guided by the author himself. What you get out of it depends on how attentive you are to the exercises. I've decided to move on to his heftier books which go deeper into psychology along with exercises.
Profile Image for Lisa Butterworth.
949 reviews41 followers
March 14, 2020
This is a really solid program for anyone with disassociative symptoms due to trauma, it's specifically focused on sexual trauma, but it would easily cross apply.
Profile Image for Heath.
377 reviews
September 5, 2023
A practical short book of exercises specifically aimed toward those recovering from sexual trauma, but with application to many varieties of trauma.
51 reviews
March 20, 2024
Useful exercises to get embodied and address otherwise overwhelming and confusing emotions. Worth the 2 hrs it takes to listen to.
691 reviews
July 9, 2025
Helpful but felt like barely scratching the surface
Profile Image for Thunder Stone.
4 reviews1 follower
July 4, 2023
I have read this book a while ago, and since come back to this rating and changed it from 4 stars to 3. Reason being is that I didn't find the contents to be particularly memorable or impactful in the long term, which I think is quite crucial when it comes to trauma recovery. This is possibly because I listened to the audiobook instead of reading a physical copy.

I still think it is a worthwhile read for anyone on the journey of healing sexual trauma, as I found much of it to be educational and informative. Peter Levine is an incredibly well-researched and knowledgeable figurehead when it comes to trauma.

Ultimately, I guess I didn't quite find what I was looking for in this book. I wanted some techniques around somatic self-therapy when it comes to sexual trauma related PTSD. I came away feeling a little bereft. But it could be a case of this, perhaps this particular one just wasn't for me and my system.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews

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