Resources
While THINGS I WISH I’D SAID is a work of fiction, all of the abuse scenarios described are based on actual experiences and their impacts.
del described a number of resources in addition to those she quoted from, and there are many other resources available locally, regionally, and online. If you, or someone you know, might benefit from learning more, here is a sampling of resources that focuses on the techniques that helped del, current as of November 2025. I plan to update this list periodically.
If you believe a good resource is missing, please email me (darien@dariensimon.com) and use subject line: Resource Idea or use the I’d Love to Hear From You page’s contact form.
Complex PTSD and Trauma
Apigian, Aimee
“A Preventive and Addiction Medicine physician with Master’s degrees in both biochemistry and public health, Dr. Aimie Apigian … is a leading expert on how the body holds fear and overwhelm from the past to make one sick today.” https://book.biologyoftrauma.com/book The Biology of Trauma (Sept. 2025), BenBella Books, ISBN-10: 1637746237 ISBN-13: 978-1637746233. https://traumahealingaccelerated.com/dr-aimie-apigian-md-ms-mph/
Bal, Roland, Process Awakening LLC
Complex PTSD/trauma recovery. “it is the many years of group dialogue interactions and working with many clients that have taught me the most over the years. It is people like you and me really, connecting, sharing suffering and touching upon a state of loving, which allows us to be more inherently ourselves.” https://rolandbal.com/complex-trauma-ptsd/
Contreras, Antonieta.
How Deep Is the Wound?: A Guide to Investigating, Understanding, and Resolving Your Emotional Pain. 2025. Sentiment Publishing. Antonieta “is a trauma psychotherapist who graduated with a Master’s in Social Work from NYU. After forming her clinical skills as a gestalt therapist and training at agencies with highly traumatized people, she received a specialization in Trauma Studies from the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapies (ICP) and in Human Sexuality from NYU School of Medicine. She maintains a private practice where she combines different trauma modalities as well as the contemplative techniques that she learned from studying within Buddhist traditions.” https://www.antonietacontreras.com/about-antonieta-contreras
CPTSD Foundation
“Bridging the healing gap, leaving a legacy of healing for future generations.” https://cptsdfoundation.org
Fisher, Janina
Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment, a “trauma-informed parts model”. “the most powerful and gifted teachers I have had are my patients. These survivors have given me a window into the inner experience of the legacy of trauma, taught me what always to say and what never to say, and helped to validate or disprove what the experts were claiming.” https://janinafisher.com
Goldstein, Esther LCSW, Integrative Psychotherapy.
“Relationships are where we heal, and that is why we take a strong relational approach.” https://integrativepsych.co/about-us
Hanson, Rick, Neuroplasticity.
“We all have challenges. The good news is that we can use the power of positive neuroplasticity to change our brain and grow inner strengths so we can be happier, more confident, and more calm — no matter what life throws our way.” https://rickhanson.com
Howard, Alex
Conscious Life online learning platform including trauma recovery. “For many years I considered myself a therapist by day and an entrepreneur by night. These days I’m not sure what my job title is, but what drives me is helping others to experience the same transformation and healing which saved my life.” https://www.alexhoward.com
Levine, Peter A.
Levine’s work has been the foundation for much trauma understanding and treatment that has developed in the last 25 years or so.
Levine, Peter A. with Frederick, Ann. 1997. Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma. North Atlantic Books. ISBN-10: 155643233X ISBN-13: 978-1556432330
Levine, P.A. 2008. Healing trauma – A pioneering program for restoring the wisdom of your body. Boulder, CO: Sounds True Inc.
Creator of Somatic Experiencing. Ergos Institute, Inc. https://www.somaticexperiencing.com
Mandeville, Rebecca C., Family Scapegoating Abuse
“Family Scapegoating Abuse (or Family Scapegoat Abuse) are terms coined by Rebecca C. Mandeville, LMFT, CCTP. They are based on over 15 years of qualitative and quantitative research studies on the abusive aspects of scapegoating dynamics impacting child victims and adult survivors. To learn more about FSA and its effects and access resources supporting FSA recovery, visit her website at https://www.scapegoatrecovery.com.”
Maté, Gabor, MD
When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection (US title). 2011. Trade Paper Press. ISBN-10: 0470923350 ISBN-13: 978-0470923351
“We may not be responsible for the way the world creates our mind, but we can learn to take responsibility for the mind with which we create our world.” https://drgabormate.com
Maull, Fleet, PhD, Heart Mind Institute.
Personal growth and healing courses (rewiring your brain, mindfulness, resilience, psychedelics)
“Steeped in contemplative wisdom traditions, the psychology of self-actualization and current neuroscience, Dr. Fleet Maull is a modern dharma teacher willing to leverage both ancient wisdom and current science in order to inspire and empower people in reaching their greatest potential. https://www.heartmind.com
PsychCentral trauma hub and PTSD resources:
https://psychcentral.com/program/trauma. https://psychcentral.com/ptsd
Runkle, Anna, The Crappy Childhood Fairy
PTSD, Childhood trauma recovery. “Most people struggling with symptoms of early trauma don’t even realize it.” https://awakenconsulting.com.au/tps://crappychildhoodfairy.com
Schwartz, Arielle
Reslience, polyvagal theory, EMDR, yoga for healing. “The journey of trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart.” https://drarielleschwartz.com
van der Kolk, Bessel, MD
Dr. van der Kolk “has spent his professional life studying how children and adults adapt to traumatic experiences. He translates emerging findings from neuroscience and attachment research to develop and study a range of effective treatments for traumatic stress and developmental trauma in children and adults.”
The Body Keeps the Score, 2015, Penguin Books. ISBN-10: 0143127748 ISBN-13: 978-0143127741. https://www.besselvanderkolk.com
Grieving
Kevorkian, Kriss, PhD
Grief and grieving (especially environmental, which appealed to del). https://drkkevorkian.com
Speaking Grief explores the transformative experience of losing a family member in a death- and grief-avoidant society.” https://speakinggrief.org
Internal Family Systems:
Anderson, Frank, MD
“Committed to promoting compassion, hope, healing and non-violence in the world, Dr. Anderson specializes in understanding and treating the effects of psychic pain and trauma. Unique as both a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, he is passionate about teaching brain-based psychotherapy and integrating current neuroscience knowledge with the IFS model of therapy.” https://www.frankandersonmd.com
Schwartz, Richard
“Grounded in systems thinking, Dr. Schwartz developed Internal Family Systems (IFS) in response to clients’ descriptions of various parts within themselves. He focused on the relationships among these parts and noticed that there were systemic patterns to the way they were organized across clients. He also found that when the clients’ parts felt safe and were allowed to relax, the clients would experience spontaneously the qualities of confidence, openness, and compassion that Dr. Schwartz came to call the Self. He found that when in that state of Self, clients would know how to heal their parts.” https://ifs-institute.com
Polyvagal Theory
Dana, Deb
“Deb’s work shows how an understanding of Polyvagal Theory is applicable across the board to relationships, mental health, and trauma. She delves into the intricacies of how we can all use an understanding of the organizing principles of Polyvagal Theory to change the ways we navigate our daily lives.” https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/about-deb. https://www.rhythmofregulation.com/about
Porges, Stephen
“In 1994 he proposed the Polyvagal Theory, a theory that links the evolution of the mammalian autonomic nervous system to social behavior and emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders. The theory is leading to innovative treatments based on insights into the mechanisms mediating symptoms observed in several behavioral, psychiatric, and physical disorders.” https://www.stephenporges.com. https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/whatispolyvagaltheory
General healing resources
BeyondPsychub
“a page dedicated to improving mental health and wellbeing.” https://beyondpsychub.com/about-us/
The Mind Journal
“a collective of everyday thinkers, passionate writers, and expert voices from across the world. A platform where human experiences—raw, deep, and diverse—meet expert insights to inspire healing and growth.” https://themindsjournal.com/
Autism
Autism Speaks
“dedicated to creating an inclusive world for all individuals with autism throughout their lifespan.” https://www.autismspeaks.org
Avelar, Christina, The Neurodivergent Brain
“Research. Education. Empowerment. https://theneurodivergentbrain.org/
Grandin, Temple.
“Oliver Sacks wrote in the forward of Thinking in Pictures that her first book Emergence: Labeled Autistic was “unprecedented because there had never before been an inside narrative of autism.” Dr. Sacks profiled Dr. Grandin in his best selling book Anthropologist on Mars.” https://www.templegrandin.com
Micallef, Paul. Autism from the Inside.
“After discovering he was autistic at age 30, Paul Micallef shifted his career focus from aerospace engineering to working with those in the autistic community. Sharing his experience through public speaking and advocacy, he started a YouTube channel which now has over 400,000 subscribers, and became an ICF accredited life-coach in 2024.” https://www.autismfromtheinside.com.au. https://youtube.fandom.com/wiki/Aspergers_from_the_Inside
Dr. Megan Anna Neff, Neurodivergent Insights
Multiple topics including: Alexithymia, ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Burnout, Misdiagnosis Monday, Neurodivergent Identity, Nervous System & Regulation, Relationship Support. https://neurodivergentinsights.com/blog
Raede, Danny, Asperger Experts
Help for parents and families with autistic children. https://www.aspergerexperts.com
Thriving Autistic
has an evolving list of “advocacy organisations run by and for Autistic people” including multiple countries, though they are mostly US/UK and Commonwealth/EU based. https://www.thrivingautistic.org/advocacy-orgs
Online assessments: (accurate when tested on myself)
https://autism360.com (small fee (<$5 US) to download detailed results)
https://embrace–autism.com/autism–tests/ (multiple test options available including masking)
Social media: there is a diverse, act community of autists on Bluesky
Healing techniques and technologies
For several of these techniques there are multiple schools, each with its particular perspective on the technique. Best advice? Check out several, then see which one(s) resonate best with you. That pertains to any healing methodologies, really. Each of us is unique, so there is no “one size fits all” for healing.
Reiki:
when del refers to using Reiki, she means the traditional Usui method, however, there are others.
https://www.udemy.com offers an accredited certification for Usui levels 1 – 3 and Master Teacher.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique, aka “tapping”):
when del refers to using EFT, she means the Gary Craig method; https://www.palaceofpossibilities.com
however, there are others like https://www.thetappingsolution.com
Brainwave entrainment
(del used Holosync) https://www.holosync.com
https://www.diygenius.com/brainwave-entrainment/ https://mybrainrewired.com/theta-waves/what-is-brainwave-entrainment/
Meditation audio/video
Meditative Mind (del’s favourite)
www.youtube.com/@meditativemind
Mind Movies:
https://www.mindmovies.com/mm.com
Psychedelics:
[NOTE: especially if you have PTSD or another trauma-related issue, please do not pursue psychedelic therapy without the guidance of a professional trained in their use like a psychologist or a shaman]. https://www.tricycleday.com. https://psychhub.com/resources/articles/psychedelic-assisted-therapy. https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/txessentials/psychedelics_assisted_therapy.asp
Women’s Perspectives
Eisler, Riane
The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future. 1988. HarperOne, Kindle Edition.
“Riane Eisler is a social systems scientist, futurist, cultural historian, attorney, consultant, and speaker, whose work has transformed organizations, policies, and people worldwide.”
Estés Réyes, Clarissa Pinkola
Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype. 2017. Kindle Edition.
She “is an internationally recognized scholar, award-winning poet, Diplomate Senior Jungian psychoanalyst, and cantadora–keeper of the old stories in the Latina tradition. She is the author of many books and audio recordings on the journey of the soul.” https://www.mavenproductions.com/about-dr-clarissa-estes
Wild, Florie PsyD., Wild Women Rising
“An Invitation For Women Creatives And Healers With A Vision … Who Are You To Want More? More Freedom. More Confidence. More Connection. More Security. More Intimacy. More Power. More Spirit. More Abundance. Could Life Really Be Better? These questions are so common among us–among women.” https://drfloriewild.com/wild- women-rising
For Practitioners
Additional recommended reading:
Contreras, Antonieta. 2024. Traumatization and Its Aftermath: A Systemic Approach to Understanding and Treating Trauma Disorders, Routledge.
Organizations offering CEs:
Positive Psychology
https://positivepsychology.com
PESI
https://www.pesi.com/(for Canada: https://www.pesicanada.ca/)
Offers Peter A Levine’s Master Trauma Class
In addition to trauma and treatment topics, offers a course on tapping: https://www.pesi.com/sales/bh_c_001321_eft_tapping_organic-76208
NICABM (National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine)