Traumatic experiences leave a “living legacy” of effects that often persist for years and decades after the events are over. Historically, it has always been assumed that re-telling the story of what happened would resolve these effects.However, survivors report a different experience: Telling and re-telling the story of what happened to them often reactivates their trauma responses, overwhelming them rather than resolving the trauma. To transform traumatic experiences, survivors need to understand their symptoms and reactions as normal responses to abnormal events. They need ways to work with the symptoms that intrude on their daily activities, preventing a life beyond trauma.Dr. Janina Fisher, international expert on trauma, has spent over 40 years working with survivors, helping them to navigate their journey. In Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma, she shows how the legacy of symptoms helped them survive and offers:
Step-by-step strategies that can be used on their own or in collaboration with a therapist
Simple diagrams that make sense of the confusing feelings and physical reactions survivors experience
Worksheets to practice the skills that bring relief and ultimately rejuvenation
26 reviews for Transforming The Living Legacy of Trauma: A Workbook for Survivors and Therapists
Rated 5 out of 5
Honora (verified owner)–
The author is easy to understand, and her compassion is easy to sense from the book. I recommend this to friends. It certainly is helping me.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jeff Shipman (verified owner)–
So glad to have been able to read this book! It was so helpful in understanding how trauma shows itself in our lives and how to work through healing of it. Thank you!
Rated 5 out of 5
Hide name (verified owner)–
This book completely changed my life and the way in which I see trauma. It is an incredibly helpful guide which provided so much education to me, more than any other book I have read on trauma! It clearly explains the impacts, the behaviors that can result, and why trauma is truly a “living legacy.” I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Dr. Janina Fisher is a trauma therapist genius!
Rated 5 out of 5
Pamela E Montano (verified owner)–
So far, this book has become my friend…my best friend. This book has information that I desperately needed!! Having suffered from Cptsd starting as a young child now maybe I will gain the knowledge to defeat this horrible, horrible, horrible thing. So grateful to the author. ❤ I feel like she is present in the book and really cares and gets it. So grateful for the other reviews which led me to find this book. I have been searching so long to find help. I feel like crying I am so very grateful. Thank you Ms. Fisher for writing this book! It is going to help so many people! AlleLuia! ❤
Rated 5 out of 5
Noneyo Bizness (verified owner)–
Janina Fisher is the ONLY author I have ever found who knows what she’s talking about re: trauma. All the things that are happening to you that you don’t understand – she helps to explain it. I never understood where my rage came from, until I read her books. I started binge watching her YouTube videos too! I wish I had been able to read her books when I was assaulted in 2013… I was so lost then. Not understanding how to pick up the pieces of me that were scattered everywhere….
Rated 5 out of 5
Amy (verified owner)–
This is such a great book she has written for everyone. I so appreciate this! I love everything about this book and cannot say enough. Yay! The font is larger than in her earlier books! This makes using this book so much better also. I wish she could be around for another 4 more decades for everyone!
Rated 5 out of 5
JEM (verified owner)–
This workbook is very good. However I am upset you can download the worksheets. It doesn’t make sense to not be able to. I have the digital version. If I could download the worksheets I would be able to use it more effectively. How do we request this? Dr fishers website does not have a way to contact her..
Rated 5 out of 5
Samantha A (verified owner)–
As someone with severe panic/anxiety disorder, severe PTSD, OCD, and ADHD, I’m no stranger to trauma, clearly. This book was very scary and intimidating at first, because in reality, no one wants to open the “do not open” files of their brain, but if I learned anything, it’s that sometimes we have to be uncomfortable to learn better about ourselves. I’m only a few chapters in because I listened when it said to take breaks in between chapters, but so far it’s very educational. I would recommend this book to anyone that’s experienced trauma and is now in the “why am I like this?” Part of their journey.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sunbunny064 (verified owner)–
As a Trauma Specialist, I can say with confidence that this book, combined with the Living Legacy of Trauma are two of my most effective tools to use with my patients.
Rated 5 out of 5
Paul Giordano (verified owner)–
Extremely eye opening
Rated 5 out of 5
tamron lloyd (verified owner)–
Best book ever to help with trauma. I go over it with my therapist
Rated 5 out of 5
Shara (verified owner)–
I have struggled with self-harm on and off throughout my life. This book helped me validate my experience, made me feel like it wasn’t all in my head and gave me a sense of dignity. I now have the vocabulary needed to explain what is going on when I’m triggered and how to come back to the here and now. I highly recommend that you go through this book with a train trauma-informed specialist.
Rated 5 out of 5
Michelle (verified owner)–
Worked it with my psychologist, it’s simple to understand. It helped me a lot to really understand the depths of trauma. Amazing book.
Rated 5 out of 5
vjf (verified owner)–
Recommend by my therapist.
Rated 5 out of 5
Inlori_Customer (verified owner)–
This workbook is such a blessing to survivors and therapists dealing with trauma. It’s an all time favorite. I am a huge fan of the author after buying this and her other books on parts work.The author explains the WHY behind your feelings and how to turn it around on a physiological and psychological level. Very helpful. So many answers to understand yourself and how to heal.
Rated 5 out of 5
SRFRGRL (verified owner)–
This workbook is a key to surviving trauma and was recommended to me by my domestic violence counselor. The exercises have allowed me to go inward and transverse the landscape of terror that I once lived so that I can move forward with my life. Thank you Janina Fisher, with all of my heart, for providing another stepping stone towards healing this vast and all-encompassing wound inside of me.
Rated 5 out of 5
kitkat123 (verified owner)–
This book speaks too me. It was the missing piece of the puzzle.
Rated 5 out of 5
taaj (verified owner)–
Lots of workbooks are wordy and don’t get to the point in a succinct way. This one does! It makes it easy to impart a lot of information quickly and in a way that is immediately understandable. Love it.
Rated 5 out of 5
Ryan Larson (verified owner)–
Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand and heal from the lasting effects of traumatic experiences. Written by Dr. Janina Fisher, an international expert on trauma, the book offers step-by-step strategies and practical worksheets to help survivors work with the symptoms that often persist for years after the events are over. One of the key insights in the book is the recognition that re-telling the story of what happened can often reactivate trauma responses, rather than resolving them. Instead, Dr. Fisher provides tools to help survivors understand their reactions as normal responses to abnormal events, and offers ways to work with these symptoms in a way that allows them to move beyond trauma and live a fulfilling life. Overall, I highly recommend Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma to anyone seeking to heal from the impact of traumatic experiences.
Rated 5 out of 5
Krystie (verified owner)–
Working through this book with my therapist and has been life changing
Rated 5 out of 5
phoneluvbug (verified owner)–
My therapist recommended this and we are using this together. It has been very helpful.
Rated 5 out of 5
Patricia (verified owner)–
Some of the worksheets in this book are invaluable to assist with the changing of minds and therefore the changing of the daily experience from past traumatic event.
Rated 5 out of 5
Reviewingforkicks7 (verified owner)–
As a survivor, I have read countless books about trauma. This is by far one of the best. By the time I finished reading and completing the written exercises in less than 48 hrs, I felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted. My story didn’t matter, my healing skills did. My “triggers” were part of my survival. If you want to do the work privately, this is a gift to those who want to understand their trauma without talk therapy or support groups. It is a healing tool to keep and refer to when needed.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sal (verified owner)–
So I was recommended this book to learn more about myself. I haven’t read all of it, but from what I have read, it has helped me understand myself a great deal more than I used to. You will understand why you, or others, act the way you/they do because of trauma. I highly recommend this workbook if you or someone you know is struggling with trauma symptoms. It will make everything become clear and bring relief.
Rated 5 out of 5
DDawg (verified owner)–
This book has been so helpful to me for understanding my spouse! I thought I understood things pretty well before reading this book, but this book is an eye opener to anyone dealing with someone they love that has experienced significant trauma in the past. If you have trouble communicating with such a person, you must read this book. It is a game changer!!!
Rated 5 out of 5
inlori Customer (verified owner)–
I love this workbook! It helped me understand a lot of things and gave me a sense of relief
Honora (verified owner) –
The author is easy to understand, and her compassion is easy to sense from the book. I recommend this to friends. It certainly is helping me.
Jeff Shipman (verified owner) –
So glad to have been able to read this book! It was so helpful in understanding how trauma shows itself in our lives and how to work through healing of it. Thank you!
Hide name (verified owner) –
This book completely changed my life and the way in which I see trauma. It is an incredibly helpful guide which provided so much education to me, more than any other book I have read on trauma! It clearly explains the impacts, the behaviors that can result, and why trauma is truly a “living legacy.” I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Dr. Janina Fisher is a trauma therapist genius!
Pamela E Montano (verified owner) –
So far, this book has become my friend…my best friend. This book has information that I desperately needed!! Having suffered from Cptsd starting as a young child now maybe I will gain the knowledge to defeat this horrible, horrible, horrible thing. So grateful to the author. ❤ I feel like she is present in the book and really cares and gets it. So grateful for the other reviews which led me to find this book. I have been searching so long to find help. I feel like crying I am so very grateful. Thank you Ms. Fisher for writing this book! It is going to help so many people! AlleLuia! ❤
Noneyo Bizness (verified owner) –
Janina Fisher is the ONLY author I have ever found who knows what she’s talking about re: trauma. All the things that are happening to you that you don’t understand – she helps to explain it. I never understood where my rage came from, until I read her books. I started binge watching her YouTube videos too! I wish I had been able to read her books when I was assaulted in 2013… I was so lost then. Not understanding how to pick up the pieces of me that were scattered everywhere….
Amy (verified owner) –
This is such a great book she has written for everyone. I so appreciate this! I love everything about this book and cannot say enough. Yay! The font is larger than in her earlier books! This makes using this book so much better also. I wish she could be around for another 4 more decades for everyone!
JEM (verified owner) –
This workbook is very good. However I am upset you can download the worksheets. It doesn’t make sense to not be able to. I have the digital version. If I could download the worksheets I would be able to use it more effectively. How do we request this? Dr fishers website does not have a way to contact her..
Samantha A (verified owner) –
As someone with severe panic/anxiety disorder, severe PTSD, OCD, and ADHD, I’m no stranger to trauma, clearly.
This book was very scary and intimidating at first, because in reality, no one wants to open the “do not open” files of their brain, but if I learned anything, it’s that sometimes we have to be uncomfortable to learn better about ourselves.
I’m only a few chapters in because I listened when it said to take breaks in between chapters, but so far it’s very educational.
I would recommend this book to anyone that’s experienced trauma and is now in the “why am I like this?” Part of their journey.
Sunbunny064 (verified owner) –
As a Trauma Specialist, I can say with confidence that this book, combined with the Living Legacy of Trauma are two of my most effective tools to use with my patients.
Paul Giordano (verified owner) –
Extremely eye opening
tamron lloyd (verified owner) –
Best book ever to help with trauma. I go over it with my therapist
Shara (verified owner) –
I have struggled with self-harm on and off throughout my life. This book helped me validate my experience, made me feel like it wasn’t all in my head and gave me a sense of dignity. I now have the vocabulary needed to explain what is going on when I’m triggered and how to come back to the here and now. I highly recommend that you go through this book with a train trauma-informed specialist.
Michelle (verified owner) –
Worked it with my psychologist, it’s simple to understand. It helped me a lot to really understand the depths of trauma. Amazing book.
vjf (verified owner) –
Recommend by my therapist.
Inlori_Customer (verified owner) –
This workbook is such a blessing to survivors and therapists dealing with trauma. It’s an all time favorite. I am a huge fan of the author after buying this and her other books on parts work.The author explains the WHY behind your feelings and how to turn it around on a physiological and psychological level. Very helpful. So many answers to understand yourself and how to heal.
SRFRGRL (verified owner) –
This workbook is a key to surviving trauma and was recommended to me by my domestic violence counselor. The exercises have allowed me to go inward and transverse the landscape of terror that I once lived so that I can move forward with my life. Thank you Janina Fisher, with all of my heart, for providing another stepping stone towards healing this vast and all-encompassing wound inside of me.
kitkat123 (verified owner) –
This book speaks too me. It was the missing piece of the puzzle.
taaj (verified owner) –
Lots of workbooks are wordy and don’t get to the point in a succinct way. This one does! It makes it easy to impart a lot of information quickly and in a way that is immediately understandable. Love it.
Ryan Larson (verified owner) –
Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand and heal from the lasting effects of traumatic experiences. Written by Dr. Janina Fisher, an international expert on trauma, the book offers step-by-step strategies and practical worksheets to help survivors work with the symptoms that often persist for years after the events are over. One of the key insights in the book is the recognition that re-telling the story of what happened can often reactivate trauma responses, rather than resolving them. Instead, Dr. Fisher provides tools to help survivors understand their reactions as normal responses to abnormal events, and offers ways to work with these symptoms in a way that allows them to move beyond trauma and live a fulfilling life. Overall, I highly recommend Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma to anyone seeking to heal from the impact of traumatic experiences.
Krystie (verified owner) –
Working through this book with my therapist and has been life changing
phoneluvbug (verified owner) –
My therapist recommended this and we are using this together. It has been very helpful.
Patricia (verified owner) –
Some of the worksheets in this book are invaluable to assist with the changing of minds and therefore the changing of the daily experience from past traumatic event.
Reviewingforkicks7 (verified owner) –
As a survivor, I have read countless books about trauma. This is by far one of the best. By the time I finished reading and completing the written exercises in less than 48 hrs, I felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted. My story didn’t matter, my healing skills did. My “triggers” were part of my survival. If you want to do the work privately, this is a gift to those who want to understand their trauma without talk therapy or support groups. It is a healing tool to keep and refer to when needed.
Sal (verified owner) –
So I was recommended this book to learn more about myself. I haven’t read all of it, but from what I have read, it has helped me understand myself a great deal more than I used to.
You will understand why you, or others, act the way you/they do because of trauma.
I highly recommend this workbook if you or someone you know is struggling with trauma symptoms. It will make everything become clear and bring relief.
DDawg (verified owner) –
This book has been so helpful to me for understanding my spouse! I thought I understood things pretty well before reading this book, but this book is an eye opener to anyone dealing with someone they love that has experienced significant trauma in the past. If you have trouble communicating with such a person, you must read this book. It is a game changer!!!
inlori Customer (verified owner) –
I love this workbook! It helped me understand a lot of things and gave me a sense of relief