Book Review
Breaking Free of PTSD
By Neal Samuel Davies and Catherine Anne Davies
Reviewer
Dr Gaye Cameron PhD AMHSW
From a therapist’s perspective, Breaking Free of PTSD by Neal Samuel Davies and Catherine Anne Davies is a grounded and clinically relevant text that offers a rare dual lens on trauma recovery: that of the person living with chronic PTSD and that of the long-term carer/partner. This perspective is particularly valuable in therapeutic work, where the rational and systematic impacts of trauma are often as significant as the symptoms themselves.
What stands out clinically is the book's honesty about the non-linear nature of recovery. Rather than presenting PTSD treatment as a sequence of techniques or a quick resolution, the authors describe a prolonged, relational journey marked by setbacks, adaptations, and gradual re-engagement with life. This aligns closely with contemporary trauma-informed practice, which emphasises safety, pacing, nervous system regulation and meaning-making over symptom eradication alone. The sections describing daily routines, boundary-setting, self-monitoring and practical coping strategies mirror many interventions used in therapy, but are expressed in accessible, lived-experience language.
From a therapeutic standpoint, the book is also strong in its validation of carers and partners, a group often overlooked in trauma literature. Cathie’s voice provides an important counterbalance, illustrating the emotional labour, grief and resilience required of those supporting someone with PTSD. This makes the book particularly useful when working with couples, families, or carers impacted by trauma.
This book can absolutely be helpful within therapy or recommended to clients, with some clinical discretion. It is well-suited for:
- Clients living with chronic or complex PTSD who benefit from normalisation and hope
- Partners or carers seeking understanding and validation
- First responders, clinicians or helping professionals with cumulative trauma exposure
Therapists may choose to recommend selected chapters, use the book as a reflective adjunct to therapy, or integrate it into psychoeducation around recovery expectations. Importantly, it should be framed as a supportive companion to therapy, not as a replacement for clinical treatment. This book is a compassionate, realistic and therapeutically aligned resource that can meaningfully support trauma recovery when used thoughtfully.
Book Details
Book Review: Breaking Free of PTSD
Author: Neal Samuel Davies
Publisher: Beyond PTSD
Publication Date: 28 December 2025 Pages: 134
Link: Breaking Free of PTSD Kindle Format
Email the author, lochnee1@bigpond.com, to order your printed copy.