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A Deeply Personal Account: The Ordinary Miracle of Healing

Peter A. Levine, PhD

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What you'll learn

  • Experience an intimate conversation with one of the pioneers of somatic therapy as he reflects on his own deeply personal experiences which helped catalyze the creation of Somatic Experiencing
  • Discover how healing trauma can become a gateway to spiritual connection, embodied presence, and genuine self-compassion
  • Be inspired by a deeply human story of vulnerability, resilience, and the unseen forces that guide us toward wholeness

About the speakers

Peter A. Levine, PhD

Peter A. Levine, PhD, is the developer of Somatic Experiencing, a naturalistic and neurobiological approach to healing trauma. He holds doctorates in both biophysics and psychology. Dr. Levine is the Founder and President of the Ergos Institute for Somatic Education and the Founder and Advisor of Somatic Experiencing International.</ He is the author of several best-selling books on trauma, including Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma, which has been published in over twenty-nine languages, and his most recent title, An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey. Dr. Levine has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from Psychotherapy Networker and the US Association for Body-Oriented Psychotherapy. He continues to teach trauma healing workshops internationally.

Christopher Germer, PhD

Christopher Germer, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and lecturer on psychiatry (part-time) at Harvard Medical School. He co-developed the Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program with Kristin Neff in 2010 and they wrote three books: The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook, Mindful Self-Compassion for Burnout, and Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion Program. MSC has been taught to over 250,000 people worldwide. Dr. Germer is also the author of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion and he co-edited two influential volumes on therapy:Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, and Wisdom and Compassion in Psychotherapy. Dr. Germer lectures and leads workshops internationally and he has a small psychotherapy practice in Massachusetts, USA.

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56 Responses

  1. Peter, thank you so much for the discussion of your book, and especially the dream. My love of your work has always been blended with my Jungian roots, and it’s lovely to hear how the unconscious helped your decision to publish this account of your personal journey. Can’t wait to read it! ~Lara

  2. Thank you Dr Levine for your generosity of spirit and sharing your healing story. This is one of the most inspiring interviews I’ve ever listened to…..genuine, and full of heart.
    Thank you 🙏🙏

  3. Thank you very much for your exposure. Very interesting and very much inspiring for healing trauma.

  4. It’s a privilege to listen to you Dr Levine. Your work with people is an inspiration (as one who has read your work).

  5. Rich in contrast. Pure in heart. Beautiful reminders to continue to go within……somatically, spiritually. There’s always mom introspection. What an honor to share in your journey. Thank you. I will be listening to this recording again. It brought forward so much for me. Grateful.

  6. Thanks Dr Levine, for your latest gift, your autobiography! I remember so well the interview I conducted with you for the Glendon Expert series. From talking with you I was able to recall my own tonsillectomy when I was 2-1/2, and have been working on that in some ways ever since: it was indeed a gift. I enjoyed this conversation so much
    Thank you
    Joyce Catlett

  7. Thank you Mr Levine for sharing your touching personal story. I really appreciate your courage and contribution to making your experience be helpful to many people. I also liked the link between various approaches of therapies you mentioned. You are real treasure to the world 🙂

  8. Thank you, Mr. Levine! I am always reminded of how valuable it is to be held. Your story touched me deeply, and I’m grateful for the generous legacy you have given to the field of psychology. What a wonderful gift to all of us!

  9. Peter Levine made me so curious about his autobiography and the newly book coming up ‘Embracing with the Tiger’.
    You are a wonderful person for sharing your valuable experiences with the whole world. Thank you!
    And thank you Christopher for asking some deeper questions.

  10. It is somehow relieving to me to hear Dr. Levine able to talk about his own trauma as “distant past” and to see that he is both joyful and at peace. It gives me hope for myself and so many others. Thank you for sharing your sacred soul with us all. I have read all of your books so far and now I look forward to the updated “Embracing the Tiger” book!

    Also, the interviewer, Dr. Germer, was great too! Thanks to both of you!

    Rebekah

  11. Dr. Levine is always a privilege and a pleasure listen to your interview.
    Your work and the way that you talk about your experience is an ispiration and I am deply grateful to learn from you.
    Thank you
    Alessandra

  12. Thank you so much for this wonderful interview Dr. Levine and Dr. Germer! It really moved me, inspired me, and reminded me of how important my work is as a mental health care professional. Thank you for being courageous in sharing your story Dr. Levine! I am looking forward to reading your books!

  13. I am very thankful to hear your story. Like Dr Germer expressed in the video, hearing your story really made me interested in somatic experiencing. I look forward to learning more!

  14. thankful for the insight in these teachings the personal experiences shared and the work towards healing and growth.

  15. I have just ordered your autobiography, Thank you for sharing your story. You are an inspiration and so very much appreciated for what you have done for our industry. Especially for those of us who have suffered trauma and moved into this world of healing.

  16. Thank you Peter Levine for sharing your history and healing wisdom with us. Your vulnerability has helped me and so many of my clients. I look forward to reading Embracing the Tiger!!

  17. Wonderfully useful as you are more connecred to your these beingness and are more relatable than I’ve ever seen you. Thank you!

  18. Dr Levin, thank you for inspirational work, sharing your personal experience in such professional and insightful way.

  19. A deeply moving and inspiring talk. Thank you both for this encouraging dialogue! There is something very hopeful in the thought that healing is a lifelong experience.

  20. Thank you so much for this generous sharing of your story and all of your work over the years. Your insight about tonsillectomies led me to a connect the dots between emergency c-sections and PTSD. I had experienced traumas in the past, but it wasn’t until postpartum after a traumatic labour/emergency c-section that I developed some PTSD related symptoms. I think this is an important area of focus for postpartum care. I didn’t feel like my experience “counted” as traumatic because women have babies all the time and it was supposed to be the best day of my life. I hope to be able to move through more healing in this area, and also help other women heal from traumatic birth experiences.

  21. My heart overflows with joy. Thank you for sharing another journey.
    Your energy ripples through time zones.
    I cherish respect for you. Sincere gratitude

  22. I am so impressed by Mr Levine’s Core Being, your authentic sharing and genuine self-compassion connects to wisdom. Embrace the Lion, the line is the Black Mandonna.
    Presence!

  23. Thank you so much for your shared experience and wisdom. As a Physical Therapist for 20 years and a Rolfer for an additional 20 plus years this speaks to me in many ways. It is so good to see you with light in your eyes, looking deep into the mystery that is this life and giving pathways to your understanding through your work. What a gift. Thanks again.

  24. Thank you, Dr. Peter Levine, for your courage and candor in sharing your experience. (I’m feeling deeply touched, moved by your account. No words, except for “silver lining”, and “The light outshines the darkness.” (Author Unknown). Thank you for shining your light. Peace.

  25. I think this is a phenomenal resource. So many gifted healers and resources of wisdom, experience and knowledge. Thank you for making it available, thanks to all the teachers! This is a gift and a balm.

  26. This interview was one of the most heartwarming experiences I have had in a very long time. As it progressed I felt myself in the “milk and honey” of being held … the experience of non-local transmission of embodied love and wholeness came through and I am deeply grateful and inspired. With gratitude for you both in bringing this experience to us.

  27. Your work Peter continually helps me to move into a feeling place as well as a thinking one so I can hopefully assist my clients to do the same. I very much look forward to reading your book. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and vulnerability 🙏

  28. I´m a psychologist from Chile formed in Somatic Experience; the Peter Levine exposition was my favorite, because was the first time I listed his story made my extremely emotional. I appreciate your wisdom and spirituality, more blessing to you, my master. Thanks a lot

  29. Introspective interview by the host .Dr. Levine’ autobiography is a journey of triumph . He endured so much Trauma and use it as a tool to inspire and motivate others . Very grateful for your story Dr.Levine. Powerful Book.

  30. Prof. Levine, I am so grateful for your sharing and for all the wisdom you acquired throughout the years and gifted to us through your writing. Your work and approach has brought me much relief over the years. It was a realprivilege listening to you today.

  31. Very inspiring, it’s a privilege for me to be able to listen to this lived story and deep learning. I am excited to learn more, it has been a pleasure to be able to hear all the dedication that has put into this world of treasure. This has really highten my learning and my learning

  32. thank you so much for this very deep and inspiring talk to both of you. very moving. thank you very much for opening such a heart-touching room on different levels.

  33. Thank you for opening up and being real and raw with us all. Very humbling to watch.

  34. This was the first time I hear Dr. Levine. I was absolutely mesmerized with all the sense he gives to what we experienced everyday

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