PTSD and war go hand in hand. Unfortunately, the body has been woefully overlooked as an essential vehicle for processing traumatic experience. This is where Somatic Experiencing®, the work of renowned author of waking the Tiger, Peter A. Levine, PhD, comes in.

This recording documents five pro bono sessions that Peter gave to a young marine. Ray had been impacted by two explosive devices (IEDs) and disabled with diagnoses of both severe PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). He was brought to see Peter after developing chronic pain, Tourettes-like convulsions, cognitive problems and insomnia due to night terrors. Peter slows down and guides Ray to complete his interrupted orienting response to the blast, thereby dispersing and dispelling the head and neck convulsions.

In a dramatic final session, Peter expertly uses a retreat group to help Ray contain his rage, process his survivor’s guilt, and re-engage his development of intimate interpersonal relationships that are free of the “trauma-bonding” (which is so common with war veterans).

This video is 6 hours 32 minutes long.