Thank you North Atlantic Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in return of my honest review.

I was drawn to this book through a desire to learn and understand somantic healing. Although based on the 12 step program this book was helpful for me and clearly explained how to become more aware of the mind body experience. I came away with a better understanding of somantic healing and for this I recommend this book.

The author's thorough explanation of how to address addictions by incorporating the mind body and spirit is just making sense to me as I work my 12 step program. In my personal study of MSC Practice I am learning that incorporating all our senses are key tools that I have been missing trying to have a stable recovery. Meditation. Somatic Movement and Mindfulness are so underrated. This book can or should be added to all the programs within 12 steps and should be part of the universal literature in these programs. These tools can help with our addictions/trauma responses and are great self-care tools for a balance existence. Learning how to sooth, release and keep trauma at a distance while trying to maintain a healthy experience when seeking and keeping recovery can build the resilience needed to take life/recovery one day at a time. This is definitely a great resource that can help folks before, during and after considering or participating in any 12 Step Program. #NetGalley #SelfCare #holistic #Addiction #Recovery

A useful toolkit for reconnecting our minds and bodies

While this book is aimed at people using a 12 steps approach it provides a useful toolkit of somatics techniques that could be used by anyone to help them cope with, understand and hopefully move towards resolving trauma and addiction. To be honest, they would also be useful additions to most people’s mental health and wellbeing toolkits. The book would also be helpful to relatives and friends of people using a 12 steps approach to their problems and a useful resource for therapists to use with any client.

It’s worth noting that the book includes references to God or a higher power and that some of the techniques revolve around this. If you’re a non-believer I wouldn’t let this put you off, the book makes it clear that this can take many forms and you adapt the techniques so they work for you. There are so many techniques to choose from that you can take a pick and mix approach, what really matters is gaining new skills that work for you to help you through the ups and downs of lives.

Somatics is about reconnecting our minds with our bodies and involve movement and creativity type techniques. Modern life tends to mean that we live in our heads most of the time so techniques that can help us feel more whole and fully human are particularly welcome.

The techniques gave me food for thought. I will be returning to them when I feel they would be useful to me, or someone else and I feel that most people would gain something useful from this book.

I was given this book from the author via netgalley only for the pleasure of reading and leaving an honest review should I choose to.

Very well written and a great approach to the 12 steps. Really incorporated the mind/body/spirit aspect of it. I will reread many times as I rework the steps