by Judith Herman · 1992
A foundational psychiatric text on complex trauma and PTSD — still the gold standard for understanding complex trauma conceptually.
Best for: Clients and clinicians wanting a rigorous conceptual framework for complex trauma and PTSD.
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A foundational psychiatric text on complex trauma and PTSD — still the gold standard for understanding complex trauma conceptually.
Best for: Clients and clinicians wanting a rigorous conceptual framework for complex trauma and PTSD.
This title is on our curated list because it’s widely regarded in the trauma, emdr & ptsd literature — either by a leading researcher in the field, a clinically-respected modality founder, or an author whose work consistently shows up in evidence-informed practice.
If you’d like a longer write-up of why our team finds this book useful in our work, get in touch — we’re progressively adding detailed editor notes to every book on this list.
A note. This is reading material, not clinical treatment. If you’re working through something difficult, books complement therapy — they don’t replace it. Book a session with our team for personalised support.
More books in trauma, emdr & ptsd.
Bessel van der Kolk
The most-recommended book on trauma in modern psychology.
Francine Shapiro
EMDR explained by its founder, for general readers.
Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey
Reframes trauma through "what happened to you?" rather than "what's wrong with you?"
Gabor Maté
Gabor Maté on how Western culture itself shapes trauma, addiction, and chronic illness.
Peter A. Levine
Introduces Somatic Experiencing and the biology of trauma responses; accessible and widely recommended in EMDR and SE circles.
Peter A. Levine
A deeper dive into the neuroscience underpinning Somatic Experiencing — ideal for clients ready to go beyond the basics.
Our team sees adults, adolescents, and children in person at Bella Vista and via telehealth across NSW. Medicare rebates with a GP Mental Health Care Plan; NDIS self- and plan-managed; private health depending on fund.