The Healing Power of Relationships
By: Esha Karia
Relationships possess an extraordinary capacity for healing as they offer understanding and a sense of belonging. In these connections, emotional support flourishes, offering comfort during hard times and amplifying joy in shared moments. Beyond companionship, healthy relationships encourage growth, providing opportunities for self-reflection, resilience, and personal development. Relationships provide physical and emotional safety (1). Their impact transcends emotional boundaries, extending to physical well-being by reducing stress and strengthening immunity. In addition, a good support network is the single most powerful protection against trauma (1,2). These bonds, whether with friends, family, or therapeutic alliances, hold the transformative power to mend wounds, nurture growth, and enhance the overall quality of life.
The Body Keeps Score By: Bessel Van Der Kolk
This book explains how research has shown that trauma literally reshapes the body and the brain and, because of this, how trauma survivors’ overall physical and mental well-being is impacted. The author also speaks to the research that supports relationships as a powerful factor in creating safety for those who are healing from trauma.
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog By: Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz
How does trauma affect a child's mind and how can that mind recover? This book talks about the healing impact of relationships for children who have a history of trauma such as early childhood neglect.
