The Body Keeps the Score: Understanding Trauma Through Science & Story
(Book Summary by Therapy In A Nutshell)
Trauma doesn’t just live in our memories - it lives in our bodies. Healing is not about “forgetting” what happened, but about slowly learning how to reconnect with ourselves, regulate our nervous system, and find safe ways to process what once overwhelmed us. That’s where this resource comes in: a bridge. A way for you to feel less alone in your story and to also understand the science of trauma.
Bessel van der Kolk’s The Body Keeps the Score is one of the most influential books on trauma ever written. He shows how trauma isn’t just a mental health issue but a whole-body experience - shaping the way we think, feel, and connect with others, and it opens the door to many different pathways of healing.
For many, myself included, this book has been life-changing. But if you’re just embarking on your healing journey, it may also feel heavy or triggering at times. And the last thing we want is for you to feel retraumatised.
That’s why we’re grateful for Emma McAdam, licensed therapist and creator of Therapy In A Nutshell. She’s created a thoughtful, accessible summary of the book - walking through key themes without the more graphic details. She’s also provided a full written transcription, which makes the resource more inclusive, whether you prefer to read at your own pace or need an alternative to video.
Key Themes Covered
When trauma sticks, the body feels it → Even after the danger is gone, your body (heart, gut, breath) can stay on high alert. Things like disrupted sleep, chronic pain, or feeling numb aren’t “just in your head” — they’re signs your body is still carrying what the mind survived.
Thoughts + memories trapped in fear’s loop → Trauma doesn’t just change what you remember, it changes how your brain reacts — freezing, dissociation, or remembering things with overwhelming intensity. Sometimes your mind gets stuck replaying, or part of you disconnects to survive the weight.
Relationships feel twice as hard → Trusting others, connecting, even making eye-contact can trigger parts of your brain wired for safety, not connection. If caregivers hurt you or weren’t present, it rewires what safety feels like, and that shows up in how you relate to people who care.
Pathways to healing → There are several ways to untangle trauma — from somatic practices like yoga or movement, to communal experiences like theatre or rhythmic group work, to therapies like EMDR (Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) or talk therapy. The healing path is personal, and often it needs a combination.
Being in the present with your body → A huge part of healing is learning to feel again. Feeling your body, sensations, and emotions while anchoring in the present moment. Letting your body participate, not just the mind, helps reclaim safety and wholeness.
So we’re sharing both resources - the book itself (if you’d like to read it in full), and Emma’s video summary (if you’d like a gentler entry point).
Purchase The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma here.
Read the full transcription of this summary here.
Note: Lifeline is not an Amazon affiliate. All rights belong to Bessel van der Kolk, MD, and Emma McAdam (Therapy in a Nutshell).
