I have been quiet about this all this time, but I am too excited, happy and honoured to no longer be able to not share it! Out of respect for Pete Walker and his privacy, I have never shared this before, but I asked him if it was OK for me to share this, and he gave me written his permission, so here it is.

Anyone who have researched Complex PTSD has probably come across Pete Walker’s work. He is most known for his book ‘Complex PTSD – from Surviving to Thriving’. Like you all, I was also very fascinated by his work and wisdom, and found this book very helpful. It made so much sense to me.

The first time I contacted Pete Walker was many years ago when I was a student in training/a trainee psychologist. As any PhD student, there is always a lot of issues and rewriting when it comes to the doctoral thesis. At that time, polyvagal theory was not widely known here in UK. In fact, I was laughed at by the examiners in my viva when I had to defend my points about the role of polyvagal theory in relation to trauma. They disagreed with this, along with several other points, which was incredibly frustrating. At that time, I contacted Pete Walker as well as other clinicians, therapists and researchers who were experts in the field of trauma and Complex PTSD to seek their professional guidance. I am very grateful and indebted to them for their generous time and support.

After this, I forgot that I had contacted Pete Walker. Then, 4 or 5 years ago, I had an increasing number of clients telling me that they were referred to me by Pete Walker. I didn’t believe it and thought there might have been some mistake or misunderstanding. There have been some curious clients asking me, if I know him or we perhaps worked together in the past. When I tell them, we have never met and never really spoken, they looked as surprised as I was. Then in 2021, I finally had the courage to contact him and ask him if he had passed on referrals to me, and he said he did, along with some very kind and encouraging words. I was very surprised! I am confident as a therapist when it comes to my skills and experience, but I do not believe I have done anything extraordinary as a trauma therapist. I was, and still am, surprised that the one and only Pete Walker believes that I am worthy of his referrals. Honestly, it felt like receiving the biggest award.

I expressed my gratitude then but other than the polite friendly ‘best wishes’ over the festive season and so on, I didn’t contact him. Then I heard from him few months ago, where he kindly asked if he could include a message from me in his latest book. I was obviously very honoured and agreed.

Last week, I received what felt like an early Birthday and Christmas present: I received a copy of Pete Walker’s latest book with a hand-written message inside by him. The man himself had gone to the post office to send it to me. I feel like a small child who got a present delivered straight from Santa himself 😀 Not only that, but he had also published my message as the first opening message in his book. I am still having goosebumps as I am writing this, and I am so deeply moved and absolutely honoured.

Again, I got in touch with him to express my heartfelt gratitude, and he replied with some very kind words. With his permission, I have shared some of his lovely messages here for you.

According to Pete Walker, his latest book, is a textbook-like explication of the latest evolution of his work on working with Complex PTSD.  It is a guide for psychotherapists and other helpers to learn about his multidimensional approach to effectively treating the childhood trauma that is commonly at the roots of Complex PTSD.

Pete Walker has obviously already published several books when it comes to trauma and Complex PTSD, including his prior Best-Selling Book: Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving.

Yet, his highly acclaimed approach is developed and advanced further in his latest book in much greater detail. It incorporates, reorganises and greatly expands the material of his earlier books. It pragmatically and accessibly explains how to treat the six key dimensions of damaged and arrested development suffered by most survivors, who have not processed their trauma. These dimensions are the Relational, Behavioural, Cognitive, Emotional, Somatic, and Spiritual layers of their stultified innate Intelligence.

This book can also serve as a teaching curriculum for educating training therapists to become highly effective trauma-informed therapists.  It is an informal textbook to guide therapists and other mental professionals in using his holistic approach when working with someone who has Complex PTSD.

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