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Trauma and the Unbound Body: The Healing Power of Fundamental Consciousness
Heal trauma. Reclaim your body. Live with wholeness. These are the gifts of utilizing the power of fundamental consciousness—a subtle field of awareness that lies within each of us. In Trauma and the Unbound Body, Dr. Judith Blackstone explores how we can resolve the mental, physical, and emotional struggles of trauma by connecting to our true essence, which can never be wounded or harmed.
Dr. Blackstone is best known as the creator of The Realization Process, a powerful approach to healing and awakening based on deep contact with the internal space of one’s body. In this book, she shows us how trauma of the past may haunt our present life by getting unconsciously bound within the fascia (connective tissue) of the body, causing physical and emotional pain. Dr. Blackstone guides us through step-by-step processes to unwind those constrictions by connecting to a transcendent field, setting the body free of trauma once and for all and creating an unbreakable, unified ground of being.
Dr. Blackstone is best known as the creator of The Realization Process, a powerful approach to healing and awakening based on deep contact with the internal space of one’s body. In this book, she shows us how trauma of the past may haunt our present life by getting unconsciously bound within the fascia (connective tissue) of the body, causing physical and emotional pain. Dr. Blackstone guides us through step-by-step processes to unwind those constrictions by connecting to a transcendent field, setting the body free of trauma once and for all and creating an unbreakable, unified ground of being.
216 pages, Paperback
Published December 1, 2018
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470 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 21, 2020
If I'd read this at an earlier time in my life, I'm sure I would have thrown it across the room! I didn't want to believe that any of my chronic illnesses could be caused by trauma because of the way the medical system uses that to invalidate symptoms as "all in the head". But I've come to understand just how complex and intertwined our neurological system is with our feelings and experiences. Nervous systems ARE impacted by trauma, causing physiological changes on a neurological level. I can approach my illnesses as "real" both physically and psychologically—the bodymind—inseparable.
What I appreciated/liked about this book:
-How traumas big and small cause physiological and emotional constrictions in the body that can and do, over time, lead to pain and illness. That these constricted places can literally hold memories, feelings, sensations. That we can work to release these constricted places.
-The potential for abuses by spiritual teachers/guides to vulnerable people. I do wish she spent more time on boundaries in general, given how much she promotes openness and permeability.
-That we are separate beings but also connected to the environment and all of life: "Oneness and separateness at the same time."
-The effort she made to acknowledge gender identity and validate it. More people in her position can and should be ensuring this work is more welcoming and inclusive to those of us who are trans and/or gender non-conforming. But conflation of gender with sexuality and sexual organs was unfortunate.
Of course, I also had problems/disagreed/wanted more:
-For example, she says that when "we inhabit our body as whole" our "sense of inner guidance also functions as a whole" implying that it will stop us from "doing something that is inappropriate, that would be harmful to themselves or others." While I get what she's saying—and she later says "our perception may be wrong"—it doesn't take into account the realities of implicit bias, white supremacy, transphobia, ableism, etc. I really don't like when spiritual practices promote the idea that being "awake," "woke," embodied, or enlightened automatically means we are "beyond" or "above" being be racist, sexist, homophobic, or harmful and oppressive.
-It was also unfortunate that there was no mention of racial trauma. I think it's the responsibility of white healers to address this topic in all their work, as white supremacy is pervasive in self-help and spiritual communities. One random comment about how in our culture men are taught that "male power is unattractive and threatening" was surprising.
-She refers throughout the book to the "Asian" practices that inform all her work and "Fundamental Consciousness." "Asia" includes China, India, Iran and Russia, among many other countries. I think it's disrespectful and sometimes culturally appropriative to take from "Asian" history, culture, practices and practitioners to create your own theories and exercises and not offer proper credit to your sources and inspirations. She does occasionally mention names and places, Buddhism in particular, but it wasn't enough for me.
-I've been doing mindfulness meditation and body scans for the past four years or so and I've learned so much about embodiment, how to be still, how to let thoughts pass by, how to just be with what is happening in my body. Many of the exercises she offers are compelling to me, as they are based on the basic body scan that anyone can learn to do with practice. Although I think for beginners, the exercises may seem confusing or too advanced. There was very little recognition of the time and practice it takes to learn how to do this type of work and how much of it involves bringing oneself back to the body again and again. I think it's a disservice not to let readers know this. In addition, there was no recognition of how pain interrupts ones' ability to do these exercises. I know! It's very hard to sit and stay in the body when doing so makes one extra aware of pain. I wish there had been some attention to this as there are ways to work with it.
-It was often repetitive, especially at the beginning, it would have benefitted from additional editing.
Overall, though, I've been thinking a lot about this book since I finished it and I think it will enhance my current practices. I can't say that I'm a believer in her theory of "Fundamental Consciousness" but I do think this book has a lot to offer the right reader.
3.5/5
What I appreciated/liked about this book:
-How traumas big and small cause physiological and emotional constrictions in the body that can and do, over time, lead to pain and illness. That these constricted places can literally hold memories, feelings, sensations. That we can work to release these constricted places.
-The potential for abuses by spiritual teachers/guides to vulnerable people. I do wish she spent more time on boundaries in general, given how much she promotes openness and permeability.
-That we are separate beings but also connected to the environment and all of life: "Oneness and separateness at the same time."
-The effort she made to acknowledge gender identity and validate it. More people in her position can and should be ensuring this work is more welcoming and inclusive to those of us who are trans and/or gender non-conforming. But conflation of gender with sexuality and sexual organs was unfortunate.
Of course, I also had problems/disagreed/wanted more:
-For example, she says that when "we inhabit our body as whole" our "sense of inner guidance also functions as a whole" implying that it will stop us from "doing something that is inappropriate, that would be harmful to themselves or others." While I get what she's saying—and she later says "our perception may be wrong"—it doesn't take into account the realities of implicit bias, white supremacy, transphobia, ableism, etc. I really don't like when spiritual practices promote the idea that being "awake," "woke," embodied, or enlightened automatically means we are "beyond" or "above" being be racist, sexist, homophobic, or harmful and oppressive.
-It was also unfortunate that there was no mention of racial trauma. I think it's the responsibility of white healers to address this topic in all their work, as white supremacy is pervasive in self-help and spiritual communities. One random comment about how in our culture men are taught that "male power is unattractive and threatening" was surprising.
-She refers throughout the book to the "Asian" practices that inform all her work and "Fundamental Consciousness." "Asia" includes China, India, Iran and Russia, among many other countries. I think it's disrespectful and sometimes culturally appropriative to take from "Asian" history, culture, practices and practitioners to create your own theories and exercises and not offer proper credit to your sources and inspirations. She does occasionally mention names and places, Buddhism in particular, but it wasn't enough for me.
-I've been doing mindfulness meditation and body scans for the past four years or so and I've learned so much about embodiment, how to be still, how to let thoughts pass by, how to just be with what is happening in my body. Many of the exercises she offers are compelling to me, as they are based on the basic body scan that anyone can learn to do with practice. Although I think for beginners, the exercises may seem confusing or too advanced. There was very little recognition of the time and practice it takes to learn how to do this type of work and how much of it involves bringing oneself back to the body again and again. I think it's a disservice not to let readers know this. In addition, there was no recognition of how pain interrupts ones' ability to do these exercises. I know! It's very hard to sit and stay in the body when doing so makes one extra aware of pain. I wish there had been some attention to this as there are ways to work with it.
-It was often repetitive, especially at the beginning, it would have benefitted from additional editing.
Overall, though, I've been thinking a lot about this book since I finished it and I think it will enhance my current practices. I can't say that I'm a believer in her theory of "Fundamental Consciousness" but I do think this book has a lot to offer the right reader.
3.5/5
November 25, 2023
Dr. Judith Blackstone’s method of healing trauma through a profound felt connection to the embodied awareness that Blackstone refers to as fundamental consciousness.
Blackstone incorporates advanced non dual awareness practices from Advita and Buddhism into somatic trauma therapy. Having practiced in these modalities, I am excited about Blackstone’s approach. It feels like a breakthrough.
I am cautious about affirming any form of new age spirituality. But Blackstone’s approach is grounded, sober, and HIGHLY considered. As such it seems to bypass many of the more TOXIC and psychopathagenic aspects of the new age scene.
REAL TALK
This is NOT for everyone.
If you feel circumspect.
I promise you I completely VIBE with that.
And furthermore.
I think it’s healthy to be skeptical and cautious about how you spend your time. And what truth claims you accept or reject.
One bit of (hopefully helpful) advice may be to relate to all of this and other truth claims derived from meditation practices as phenomenological as opposed to positivistic. Meaning, they describe subjective experiences, not objective truth.
One of the reasons I am as excited about this text as I am is, that Blackstone is cautious to ground what she is saying and doing in subjective/phenomenology, and equally as cautious about making unfounded objective/positivistic truth claims.
In other words.
She tastes the KOOLAID w/o drinking or serving it.
OH YEAH!
Hope that helps.
5/5 ✨
Blackstone incorporates advanced non dual awareness practices from Advita and Buddhism into somatic trauma therapy. Having practiced in these modalities, I am excited about Blackstone’s approach. It feels like a breakthrough.
I am cautious about affirming any form of new age spirituality. But Blackstone’s approach is grounded, sober, and HIGHLY considered. As such it seems to bypass many of the more TOXIC and psychopathagenic aspects of the new age scene.
REAL TALK
This is NOT for everyone.
If you feel circumspect.
I promise you I completely VIBE with that.
And furthermore.
I think it’s healthy to be skeptical and cautious about how you spend your time. And what truth claims you accept or reject.
One bit of (hopefully helpful) advice may be to relate to all of this and other truth claims derived from meditation practices as phenomenological as opposed to positivistic. Meaning, they describe subjective experiences, not objective truth.
One of the reasons I am as excited about this text as I am is, that Blackstone is cautious to ground what she is saying and doing in subjective/phenomenology, and equally as cautious about making unfounded objective/positivistic truth claims.
In other words.
She tastes the KOOLAID w/o drinking or serving it.
OH YEAH!
Hope that helps.
5/5 ✨
April 7, 2021
At first I was really excited about this book, but as it went on, I realized more and more how much the author is simply renaming ideas and methodologies that have been around for many thousands of years in the Eastern culture/spiritual practices/religions. It got to the point of deep annoyance. I finished but not happily.
June 23, 2021
Absolutely amazing. She put into words many things I had questions about and inklings of intuition. Much clarity. So grateful
October 7, 2023
revising for my first therapist appointment in forever on thursday
March 13, 2019
This book blew my mind. There were aspects of it that I found difficult to grasp but I feel confidant practicing the exercises and practices described will help in my understanding. The case studies and real life stories really resonated with me and helped to flesh out the more densely written parts.
July 12, 2019
There is a lot of great information in this book that enable a person who has suffered trauma to be able to process their experiences more effectively. The author walks the reader through the effects of trauma on the person’s brain and body and ultimately how it manifests in our emotions and ultimately our actions.
From the perspective of a reader who is not in the field of psychotherapy, this portion is excellent and easily accessible and has a positive impact.
Where I wrestled, as a person who is not a practitioner in the field of psychology, was in understanding many of the exercises and the application to personality disorders. The author lost me in these portions of the book.
I think that this book may be an excellent resource for a psychotherapist or for a person who is currently in psychotherapy and has a therapist that they can receive some guidance from. However, I am a little hesitant to recommend the book to someone who wants to pick it up and work through it themselves unless they have some background in therapy or are extremely dedicated.
Overall, I think that this is a great book. I received an advanced review copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
From the perspective of a reader who is not in the field of psychotherapy, this portion is excellent and easily accessible and has a positive impact.
Where I wrestled, as a person who is not a practitioner in the field of psychology, was in understanding many of the exercises and the application to personality disorders. The author lost me in these portions of the book.
I think that this book may be an excellent resource for a psychotherapist or for a person who is currently in psychotherapy and has a therapist that they can receive some guidance from. However, I am a little hesitant to recommend the book to someone who wants to pick it up and work through it themselves unless they have some background in therapy or are extremely dedicated.
Overall, I think that this is a great book. I received an advanced review copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 13, 2018
In Trauma and the Unbound Body, psychotherapist Judith Blackstone provides a very good explanation of how trauma fragments us, how those effects are stored in constrictions of the fascia, and how those constrictions continue to affect our emotions and behaviors. I would give 5 stars for these explanations, which I found easy to understand and very helpful.
She then discusses inhabiting the body as “fundamental consciousness” and describes her Realization Process to facilitate mind-body integration and release trauma-based constrictions. She offers many exercises throughout the book to allow the reader to practice this process. I could see how the exercises would probably be helpful, but I struggled to understand how to do them. I was also frustrated feeling like I didn’t understand what “fundamental consciousness” is, although the author says that she doesn’t know what it is either. It may be that these exercises just require a lot more practice than I’ve had so far—she does say the process sometimes takes months or years.
The book includes an appendix intended for therapists and other healers working with the Realization Process that had an interesting discussion of the evolution of the therapeutic relationship and some tips regarding how to apply the process to behaviors typical of different personality disorders.
References are provided in endnotes.
I think this book could be very helpful for both practitioners and those who have experienced trauma, although it will require patient practice. I suspect some familiarity with energy medicine or the chakras might make the process easier to understand.
I was provided an unproofed ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review. Because I have not seen the final published version, I cannot comment on the final editing and formatting.
She then discusses inhabiting the body as “fundamental consciousness” and describes her Realization Process to facilitate mind-body integration and release trauma-based constrictions. She offers many exercises throughout the book to allow the reader to practice this process. I could see how the exercises would probably be helpful, but I struggled to understand how to do them. I was also frustrated feeling like I didn’t understand what “fundamental consciousness” is, although the author says that she doesn’t know what it is either. It may be that these exercises just require a lot more practice than I’ve had so far—she does say the process sometimes takes months or years.
The book includes an appendix intended for therapists and other healers working with the Realization Process that had an interesting discussion of the evolution of the therapeutic relationship and some tips regarding how to apply the process to behaviors typical of different personality disorders.
References are provided in endnotes.
I think this book could be very helpful for both practitioners and those who have experienced trauma, although it will require patient practice. I suspect some familiarity with energy medicine or the chakras might make the process easier to understand.
I was provided an unproofed ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review. Because I have not seen the final published version, I cannot comment on the final editing and formatting.
September 26, 2019
Thank you Sounds True and Netgalley for an ARC in return of my honest review.
Judith Blackstone explains trauma as undivided consciousness. As a psychotherapist she treats this through a process she has developed, called the Realization Process. This book is an interesting, in-depth book as to how trauma disintegrates our embodied wholeness and provides ways in which, and the importance of reintegrating the body and mind for healing.
This is a great book for people working in the field of trauma. Judith talks About the healing effects of meditation but how, in her view, it is not enough to repair trauma, that it is super important to join this with therapy to bring understanding to deeper beliefs relating to experience.
I recommend this book if you have been affect envy, or are working with people suffering trauma.
Judith Blackstone explains trauma as undivided consciousness. As a psychotherapist she treats this through a process she has developed, called the Realization Process. This book is an interesting, in-depth book as to how trauma disintegrates our embodied wholeness and provides ways in which, and the importance of reintegrating the body and mind for healing.
This is a great book for people working in the field of trauma. Judith talks About the healing effects of meditation but how, in her view, it is not enough to repair trauma, that it is super important to join this with therapy to bring understanding to deeper beliefs relating to experience.
I recommend this book if you have been affect envy, or are working with people suffering trauma.
March 5, 2024
I am obsessed with this book and the Realization Process! Judith Blackstone is a very lovely therapist and I really love the way she wrote this book. You will hear many examples of her clients who she helped relate to their body, trauma, holding patters, and consciousness. I am probably going to read this many more times. I recommend it to everyone and am now even accessing sessions from someone trained in the modalities explained in this book.
April 3, 2023
Some good info in here, just for me personally it’s not one I’d re-read like others of this genre
December 14, 2023
Some outdated views on gender, but this book literally changed my life.
Read
September 24, 2025Did not finish
December 5, 2024
Inhabit the body
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews