“Stillness” by Charles Ridley

Subtitle: Biodynamic Cranial Practice and the Evolution of Consciousness

Recommended by: Keelin Anderson, LMT

After 35 discouraging pages of philosophical pseudo-science, Ridley subsides into surprisingly practical advice about providing non-judgmental bodywork. Stay present. Check your perceptions with your client to make sure you’re not straying into fantasy. Do your own work first. Don’t interfere [...]

“In an Unspoken Voice” by Peter A. Levine, PhD

Subtitle: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness

This book is billed as a “culmination of his life’s work” on the back cover. It recapitulates material from Peter Levine’s earlier book “Waking the Tiger” about trauma and the nervous system, and uses many of the same case studies covered in the Somatic Experiencing curriculum. Somatic Experiencing [...]

“The Encyclopedia of Energy Medicine” by Linnie Thomas

Recommended by: Rosalind Bell

Linnie Thomas, from Tualatin, OR, has researched and described 65 different energy medicine modalities. She was inspired by her own difficulty in finding and choosing an energy medicine class. She is now a Healing Touch practitioner.  About the author.

Like most encyclopedias, this book is not meant to be read from cover [...]

“The Tao of Equus” by Linda Kohanov

Subtitle: A Woman’s Journey of Healing and Transformation through the Way of the Horse

Recommended by: A client.

Linda Kohanov and her herd of sensitive horses offer equine facilitated psychotherapy. Together they help both horses and humans recover from trauma, regain their balance, and treat each other with more respect.

This many-layered book contains autobiography, horse stories, client [...]

“Explain Pain” by David Butler and Lorimer Moseley

Recommended by: Kim Hillis, PT

If this book didn’t cost $70, I would be telling every client and practitioner to buy one right now. Both scientific and playful, it offers the latest research about understanding and healing chronic pain.

The sensation of pain is the brain’s response to perceived threat. Until it is interpreted by the [...]

“We Are All in Shock” by Stephanie Mines, Ph.D.

Subtitle: How Overwhelming Experience Shatter You… And What You Can Do About It

Recommended by: Larisa Koehn

In this book, Stephanie Mines introduces and advocates for her approach to healing named Jin Shin Tara. It is derived from Jin Shin Jyutso, a gentle form of acupressure.

She defines shock as severe trauma, and then claims that [...]

“Relax your Neck, Liberate your Shoulders” by Eric Franklin

Recommended by: a friend who spends a lot of time at the computer.

The book begins, “[M]y head was balancing on a completely loose neck. It actually felt as if it was free of gravity and it was a pleasure to turn my head since my neck felt so supple, my shoulders were light as flufffed [...]