From shut-down clients to those who bristle at even the slightest intervention, working with trauma survivors demands equal parts care and decisiveness. Few master therapists know this better than Peter Levine, the creator of Somatic Experiencing. With over 40 years of experience treating trauma survivors, Levine has developed a proven approach to working with post-traumatic stress.

In this clip from his Networker Symposium keynote, Levine reads an excerpt from his book, In an Unspoken Voice, sharing a moving personal story about his own personal encounter with trauma and the simple remedy that helped him ward off post-traumatic stress.

As Levine's story shows, and studies confirm, sometimes the most profound interventions are the simplest gestures, like holding a hand, adopting a soothing voice, or reinforcing that a client isn't alone.

"Most therapists have an empathic presence," Levine says. "For many, they're the first people trauma survivors encounter who they feel understand and care about them, and they gain significant relief from that."