Translator's Preface iii
Acknowledgements vii
Preface ix

PART 1: ROOT: THE STAGE WE'LL DANCE ON 3
The Power of the Silent Voice 5
The thrill of discovery 23
The Changing Face of Trauma 37
Fear-induced rigidity: Lessons from animals 47
From Paralysis to Transformation: The Basic Building Blocks 83
Guide to Treatment 109
Understanding the Body, Healing the Mind: SIBAM 145

PART 2 Our Bodies as Storytellers: Beneath the Mind 171
In the Counseling Room: Case Example 173
Commentary on Peter's Car Accident 235

PART 3: Instinct in the Age of Reason 247
We are just a bunch of animals 249
From Bottom to Top: Three Brains, One Mind 277

PART 4 ​​Embodiment, Emotions, and Spirituality: Recovering Good Feelings 297
Embodied Self 299
Emotions, Body, and Change 335
Trauma and Spirituality 377

Americas 391
Index 392
Table of Contents / xiii

When I was working as a social worker for an organization that assists victims of human trafficking and refugees, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop by Dr. Peter Levin.
Dr. Levin posed the novel question, "Why can't humans overcome trauma as quickly as African gazelles, who face threats to their lives from predators every day?" and explained the ingenious principles of Somatic Experiencing (SE), a trauma treatment method he developed.
The video shown during the workshop of a wild polar bear instinctively shaking its body violently and releasing the tremendous energy of trauma as it woke up after being shot with a tranquilizer gun was very impressive, and it completely changed my existing perspective on trauma.
The idea that trauma can be sufficiently resolved through our body's innate ability to self-regulate without the medication or talk therapy that is commonly thought of in the field of psychotherapy, which involves recalling painful memories, was a fresh shock to me at the time.
This workshop was a great help in understanding the often incomprehensible thoughts and behaviors of my clients who have experienced the terrible trauma of human trafficking, and it made me think about how I can help them more effectively.
I have kept the emotion of that day somewhere in my memory, thinking that I would like to participate in a training course someday to deepen my learning.
And a few years later, when I was feeling like everything in my life was about to sink, like an orchestra member playing a violin on the Titanic as the water rose, the image of Dr. Levin, whom I had seen at that day's workshop, suddenly appeared before my eyes like a life jacket.
Grabbing my imaginary life jacket, I embarked on the SE Practitioner Training course, determined to learn from Dr. Levin's wisdom.
The two-year training program not only helped me grow as a professional counselor and trauma therapist, but also helped me personally understand myself more deeply and free myself from inner pain.

Since then, I have had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Levin about my transformation and trauma healing through SE. He has always been interested in my stories and has been delighted by my idea to share the wisdom of SE's systematically organized principles in "In an Unspoken Voice" with my home country of Korea.
He also said that since there are points where SE meets Eastern culture, there will be parts that are already familiar to Korean readers, and that he hopes that the counseling cases included along with the treatment principles will be of practical help in healing trauma in Korea.
After a while, I participated as an assistant trainer in Korea's first SE practitioner training course, and there, I gathered opinions on joint translation with Director Lee Jeong-gyu and Professor Yoo Chae-young.
And considering each person's field of expertise and practical experience, Director Lee was in charge of translating chapters 1-6, I was in charge of translating chapters 7-10, and Professor Yoo was in charge of translating chapters 11-14.
Looking back now, it seems like everything went smoothly, as if it were fate.
2020 was a crucial healing moment for Dr. Levin during his session, I Am Alive.
And I am alive and I am real. This is a year in which the words that I encourage my clients to repeat after me are very much needed.
As Dr. Levin explains, trauma is not only experienced by those in life-or-death situations or extreme circumstances such as war, terrorism, or rape. It refers to an extremely painful experience that anyone experiences when they are placed in a situation where they are unable to do what they are capable of, and as a result, feel extreme helplessness.
As the new year begins, it would be no exaggeration to say that we are in a state of pre-trauma due to the global crisis of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).
We are experiencing another unpredictable and stressful world, one that has been the most intense in history: a world of helplessness, fear, uncertainty about the future, endless situations, differing expectations, and boundary issues. At a time when practical information about effective trauma prevention and treatment is more urgent than ever,
What I have noticed while working as a clinical social worker in the United States is that despite the high demand for trauma prevention and treatment, even among professionals, the understanding of the nature of trauma and effective treatment methods is still quite low.
In particular, body-based therapies that encompass both body and mind, such as SE, which has a relatively short history compared to existing talk therapies, are gradually being proven to be effective treatments for trauma based on recent advances in neuroscience and the resulting research results, but are not yet widely accepted.

Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk, a leading figure in the field of trauma therapy, poses a stark question to trauma practitioners: Are you also becoming part of a corrupt society?
Dr. van der Kolk, who highly praises and publicly supports Dr. Levin's SE, pointed out at a trauma conference in California a few months ago that the biggest problem with the current situation is that various interest groups within the U.S. healthcare system, including pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies, do not support research or practice of such alternative treatments for trauma.
Through this book, I hope to provide Korean practitioners with information on the nature of trauma and the necessary conditions for healing, as well as the principles and treatment process of SE, and to provide an opportunity to think about the limitations of existing trauma treatment methods.
Although it is difficult to expect social trends to change immediately, I believe that social change begins with individual change.
And I hope that this book will be introduced to the general public and be helpful.
Perhaps, in this book, we can find the secret to remaining calm and living each day with a sense of self, even in the midst of a global pandemic crisis.
Even though we may not be able to change the world, we can certainly change our attitude towards the current situation.
Because of that.
According to Dr. Levin, the fundamental characteristics of trauma are unpredictability and immobility.
Trust, predictability, and fluidity, which are the core of trauma healing, are things we can fully practice and achieve in our daily lives.
Making time for even a little physical movement, even setting aside time each day to exercise or do household chores while moving, can help us overcome our immobility. Beginning a practice of paying attention to and observing the internal sensations described in SE, and taking the time to move your body daily to experience the energy, influence, and agency within your body, can help prevent crises from escalating into trauma.
I hope that the knowledge and life wisdom that Dr. Levin imparts through this book will serve as a lifesaver to many who are going through difficult times, just as it did to me.
While the process of preparing to introduce this book was rewarding and joyful, I also felt a sense of responsibility to convey the author's extensive knowledge and therapeutic experience to readers in the most accurate and accessible way possible.
I hope that the translation process will be helpful to those suffering from the pain and difficulties caused by trauma, as well as to professionals working in the field of trauma healing, and that it will also be an opportunity for learning and growth.
Furthermore, the fact that this book is being published at a time when healing is needed more than ever due to a global crisis has given the translators added meaning to their translation work.
Above all, the publication of this book was possible thanks to the encouragement and support of many people.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Peter Levin, who guided me on the path to becoming a trauma therapist and encouraged me to become a bridge between Korea and the United States through this book; to Butch, my close friend and infinitely kind friend; to Park Young Sa CEO Sang-jun Ahn, Managing Director Jae-mu Lim, Director Hyeon Noh, Deputy Editor Bona Jo, and all the staff who waited for a long time and helped me until this book was published.
And the support of my parents, sister, David, and Tori, who became my island of safety with their love, wisdom, and humor in times of trial, was a great strength throughout the translation.
I express my gratitude and love from the bottom of my heart.
Finally, as a therapist, I am grateful to my clients who have given me the unforgettable, unspoken voice I will never forget.
Mary, the kindest person alive, who overcame the trauma of horrific human trafficking and human experimentation, but passed away after battling lung cancer, and Joe, who suffered from the trauma of domestic violence and drug addiction and was murdered.
These two people and their families showed me the extent of human compassion and courage, and they lit an undying fire in my heart for healing trauma.
They helped me embark on my path as a trauma therapist and have instilled in me the image of them always supporting me.
I also extend my sincere gratitude to all my clients who have allowed me to share their past traumas, present pain, and moments of healing with them.