10th anniversary of the release of Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.’s book entitled The Body Keeps the Score (2014)

This fall marks the 10th anniversary of the release of Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.’s book entitled The Body Keeps the Score (2014).  The book provides a history of the mental health community’s acceptance of and understanding of trauma and its impact.  It is difficult to believe that up until 1980s, there was wide reluctance to accept the relationship between exposure to combat and psychological harm and that child sexual abuse not only occurs but causes lasting pain for its victims. Further, he presents evidence suggesting that until the 1990s, it was believed that trauma exposure was an extremely low base-rate event, which we now know is incorrect and that child sexual and physical abuse, as well as neglect, happen at alarming rates and leave lasting impacts. He also discussed potential treatments for symptoms associated with trauma exposure, emphasizing body-based, experiential approaches, which have grown in popularity in the last decade. 

Jeannine Monnier, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Co-Director