Resources – Post Traumatic Stress
RECOGNIZED AUTHORITIES
Dr. Peter A. Levine holds doctorate degrees in both Medical Biophysics and Psychology, and is the originator of Somatic Experiencing® — a body-oriented approach to healing trauma. His foundational insight came from observing that animals in the wild routinely face life-threatening situations without developing lasting trauma. Unlike humans, animals instinctively complete the biological stress cycle through physical movement and release. Levine believes that human trauma lodges in the nervous system precisely because we override or suppress these natural discharge mechanisms.
Most Notable Book: Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma https://www.amazon.com/Waking-Tiger-Healing-Peter-Levine/dp/155643233X
Dr. Gabor Maté is a Hungarian-born Canadian physician whose work has fundamentally reshaped the understanding of trauma, addiction, and chronic disease. Trained in family medicine and deeply influenced by his own childhood experience as a Jewish infant during the Nazi occupation of Budapest, Maté brings both clinical rigor and profound personal insight to his writing. He argues that unresolved trauma, which is often rooted in early childhood, is the hidden driver behind addiction, autoimmune disease, and emotional dysregulation.
Most Notable Book: When the Body Says No: Understanding the Stress-Disease Connection https://www.amazon.com/When-Body-Says-Understanding-Stress-Disease/dp/0471219827
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is a Dutch-born professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. Considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on PTS, he has spent more than four decades studying how traumatic experiences reshape the brain and body. His landmark work established that trauma is a full-body phenomenon that disrupts the nervous system’s capacity for regulation, trust, and present-moment awareness. He emphasizes body-based stress recovery modalities that include yoga, neurofeedback, movement, and EMDR.
Most Notable Book: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748
INFORMATION AND REFERRAL WEBSITES (Generic)
National Center for PTSD is operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Despite its VA origins, it is the most comprehensive PTS resource available to the general public. It covers symptoms, self-assessment tools, treatment options, and peer support groups. In addition, it offers a free mobile app for managing symptoms between therapy sessions. https://www.ptsd.va.gov
National Institute of Mental Health is the leading federal agency for mental health research and the U.S. government’s primary authority on psychological well-being. Their trauma pages are written in plain, accessible language, covering what PTS is, how to recognize it, coping strategies, and how to connect with professional help. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/coping-with-traumatic-events
Anxiety & Depression Association of America is a nonprofit that bridges clinical expertise and public accessibility. Their PTS section includes symptom overviews, self-help tools, a therapist-finder directory, and community support. These help determine whether symptoms warrant professional attention. https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/posttraumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/resources
INFORMATION AND REFERRAL WEBSITES (Veterans)
PTSD Foundation of America — Camp Hope is a Houston-based residential program offering six-to-nine months of structured support exclusively for combat veterans with PTS. Their model combines group support and individual mentoring by certified combat trauma mentors. It is one of the most established peer-led veteran recovery programs in the country. https://www.ptsdusa.org
Warriors Heart is a private residential treatment center near San Antonio, serving active military, veterans, and first responders. Set on a non-clinical working ranch, their 42-day to eight-week programs treat PTS, addiction, and traumatic brain injury. It is one of the few treatment centers in the country built specifically around the culture of those who have served. https://www.warriorsheart.com