The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole (Healing Complex PTSD)

The Complex PTSD Workbook is a great resource for anyone working through trauma-related symptoms. It provides clear explanations of complex PTSD and offers practical exercises that help with emotional regulation, self-awareness, and coping skills. I appreciated how structured and easy to follow the content is, making difficult topics feel more manageable. It encourages reflection without feeling overwhelming. Overall, a very helpful and supportive workbook for personal growth and healing.

cPTSD is a great concept, and term, to describe the impact of developmental trauma. The latter is itself a pretty new term and description (at least to the public). These two terms are vital to help replace a vast number of unhelpful expressions that people grew/grow up with. The shame and isolation created by families and society have been aided by the lack of the right LANGUAGE. These two concepts/terms CUT RIGHT THROUGH so much uncertainty and doubt. This book is THE best overview of what causes cPTSD and the current ways to ameliorate its impacts that I have seen. I have bought a half-dozen copies (so far) to give to family members. An enormous number of people would benefit from realizing that yes, their childhood was traumatic, they come from dysfunctional families, they are not alone, and the healing professions have greatly advanced understanding of ways to heal in various ways during the last 30 years. Parents can fail their children in a variety of ways, with or without substance abuse. Healing comes from understanding WHAT happened to you and what can be done about it. Healing does not require blame, only understanding. You are not disloyal or <insert some other way families/society try to get you to not dig into understanding>. I felt it was a great discussion, but is not a workbook. The bright, clean layout of the material makes it very readable!!!! It's not just a wall of words. Somehow that alone sets this book apart from many other books. My healing journey (based on knowledge, not just ideas that came to my head over the decades) began before this book was published. There is a yellow workbook from a fellowship for children of dysfunctional caregivers (also sold here) which asked me the right questions to unlock the deep and undeniable realization that "Hey, this is ME!" and "Wow, I had suppressed those memories!" (or did not understand that those events were part of a larger whole). This book is not all you need, by a long shot. But it can be vital to opening the eyes of those who need it. Buy it, give it away freely, help the healing and growth begin.

Dr. Schwartz’s book offers a golden thread of hope to help guide individuals through healing from childhood trauma. Individuals struggling with C-PTSD often have spent much of their lives shrouded in fear, isolation, anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. If I had to pick one key takeaway from this workbook, it would be validation. Through accessible education, affirmation, and gentle prompts toward self-exploration, Dr. Schwartz validates the often confusing and overwhelming experience of those that who have experienced childhood trauma and empowers them to take part in their healing. For the professional, Dr. Schwartz’s workbook could be considered a physical manifestation of the hope that we hold for our clients in their most troublesome of times. It is a guide that provides concrete information about the etiology, symptoms, possible barriers, and pathways to healing from C-PTSD. Dr. Schwartz’s warmth and compassion are evident in her writing, offering an extension of the healing relationship experienced in the therapist’s office. Aesthetically, this workbook is different from what you might expect from a self-help workbook. The cover has a lovely softness that invites you to hold it in your hands and just notice. The size of this workbook is smaller than the usual 8.5 x 11 where you might feel compelled to sit at a desk and “do your homework.” Rather, Dr. Schwartz’s book feels more like a book that you might curl up with on the couch, along with your favorite pen, to reflect at the end of chapters and note the passages that resonate with your experience. Each chapter begins with an image, a window into nature, a place of simple but profound beauty. Brief passages of wisdom and reassurance are easily accessible by just flipping through the book and noticing the orange text near your fingertips. Passages in blue text convey the real experiences of individuals healing from C-PTSD and thus, reminding the reader that they are not, in fact, alone. This workbook is empowering and a companion for individuals who have experienced childhood trauma, a comprehensive overview for those interested in understanding more about C-PTSD, and a valuable tool for professionals to share with their clients as they partner on the journey toward healing from C-PTSD.

I love this book for the basics. I personally loved the 2nd phase because it teaches a good tool for facing and dealing with someone who might trigger a PTSD reaction or uncomfortable situation where we really do need to set a boundary and have a clear way for emotional regulation. I also loved how it defines resilience in phase 3. However what I didn't like is that it doesn't address tools for HSP like another book I've been listening to that can amplify triggers and need a balance of stimulation and relaxation. I feel like there can be even more advanced methods based on personality type and specific experiences such as "tricky families" that I learned from a social worker. There are 7 different family types that can contribute to cptsd . I'm hoping they make an updated version to accommodate personality types and different experiences contributing to cptsd. But its perfect for the basics and those who are not familiar with psychology and therapy, with the work they can do on their own.

I purchased The Complex PTSD Workbook: A Mind-Body Approach to Regaining Emotional Control and Becoming Whole on January 30, 2019, and it remains one of the more balanced and responsible workbooks I’ve encountered on complex trauma. What this book does especially well is address one of the core wounds of C-PTSD: the belief that something is fundamentally wrong with the person. Arielle Schwartz consistently reframes symptoms as adaptive responses to prolonged trauma, which is both clinically sound and deeply validating for readers. The mind-body orientation is a strength. Rather than relying on cognitive strategies alone, the workbook integrates somatic awareness, grounding, reflection, and gentle cognitive work in a way that feels accessible and non-overwhelming. The exercises and writing prompts are thoughtfully paced and encourage self-compassion rather than forced disclosure or emotional flooding. I also appreciated the clarity around different therapeutic approaches—CBT, somatic therapy, and mind-body perspectives—without positioning the workbook as a substitute for therapy. The tone is supportive and empowering while remaining realistic about the complexity of healing from developmental and relational trauma. This is not a quick-fix workbook, and it doesn’t promise transformation through positivity or willpower. It is best used slowly, intentionally, and—when possible—in conjunction with professional support. For individuals living with complex trauma, or clinicians looking for a safe, client-centered resource to recommend, this workbook is a strong and trustworthy choice.

Great book highly helpful

This workbook is invaluable. I’d never felt so understood before. It’s been an asset to my time in therapy. I highly recommend this book or anybody struggling with CPTSD.

I'm only 68 pages in, out of 165 (not counting glossary/appendix/references), and I really like this workbook. The author explains things in a very straight-forward, easy to understand manner. It's helpful that I have a degree in psychology and am working on a masters in counseling, however the subject of Complex Trauma is not taught in my program. As a survivor of narcissistic abuse, I found that the experience stirred up a lot of childhood stuff, and I saw parallels between the relationship with my ex, and the relationship I had with my mother. It was at that point, that I realized I would need additional help to resolve these issues. I read a lot of narcissistic abuse survivor books but they didn't delve into the underlying causes like this one does. Also, I didn't realize that a lot of the symptoms of C-PTSD are similar to those of BPD, which I was diagnosed with 20+ years ago. After reading this book, I started to wonder if maybe I was misdiagnosed and have lived with this label my entire life, one that my psych professors and therapist have always questioned. The activities in the workbook are helpful without being challenging, if you are someone who it fairly self-aware. There is even s section on breathwork, meditation, and mindfulness, for those who perhaps are unfamiliar with those practices. I have found it useful to just explore a couple pages at a time, and sit with each activity for a few days, rather than rush through it. This is a book I will recommend to future clients.

The book gives a great introduction into the topic with all the necessary information to understand what's going on in the mind and body of a traumatized person - which makes it both informative as well as feeling understood and interested to read on. I also like how well the book is organized, that's written very straightforward and how the questions towards the end of each chapter help to connect and integrate the personal situation with the explained concepts and make sense of the individual trauma. Of course the book can't go into great detail for all kinds of specific trauma that caused c-ptsd, but the general guideline offers a good framework to follow along. The highly specific details have to be discussed with a qualified therapist as it is rightfully stated many times in the book. I am still happy to have read this book. I learned a lot and it helped me to become more clear about my own situation in a lot of ways. A big thank you to the author and everyone involved in making this book! 🙏

Best book I have read about BPD. Very easy to understand, makes the disorder easier to understand

I am halfway through this book. I didn't know what to expect at the start. It's a very basic book, however, it does get you looking inwards and reflecting on your past and coping skills. I think if you're at the start of your healing journey and are considering a therapist, this is a great book.

For someone like me who was born and raised in a country where science is lagging behind, and mental health professionals are extremely ignorant and invalidating, this book saved my life. This book, in the first 40 pages, helped me more than 5 years of therapy with professionals from the third world. I am amazed how this book made me understand that it is not my fault, and that I am not a freak. In the country where I live, CPTSD is not even classified as a mental illness, 99% of the professionals here don't even know what that is. This book really opened my eyes to a new world for me: a world of validation, knowledge and hope. Now I see that there's hope for me. Thank you.

Really helpful interaction with great information work with it and it’ll help