Anxiety & Depression The Body Keeps the Score With Dr. Bessel van der Kolk By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. Learn about our editorial process Published on February 06, 2023 Print Verywell / Julie Bang Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Meet Bessel van der Kolk Why Dr. van der Kolk Is Mentally Strong What You’ll Hear on the Show What You’ll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength Quotes From Dr. van der Kolk More About the Podcast Every Monday on The Verywell Mind Podcast, Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Amazon Music Meet Bessel van der Kolk Bessel van der Kolk, MD is a clinician, researcher, and professor who is best known for his work on posttraumatic stress disorder. He’s the medical director at the Trauma Center in Boston. He’s also a professor of psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine and director of the National Complex Trauma Treatment Network. He’s the author of the wildly popular book "The Body Keeps the Score." In it, he describes the link between the brain, mind, and body and the treatment strategies that can help people heal from trauma. Why Dr. van der Kolk Is Mentally Strong Dr. Van der Kolk has done extensive research about trauma. And he shares his findings to help inform clinicians about the best treatments available. He also shares stories from his own practice and talks about what has worked and what hasn’t in his experience treating others. He makes it clear that there are many more paths to healing other than the ones he speaks on. What You’ll Hear on the Show How trauma impacts the brain, the mind, and the body Why talk therapy isn’t always enough The symptoms people experience when they develop PTSD How yoga can reduce symptoms of PTSD Why participating in community theater often helps people heal Why you can’t talk people into being reasonable Why understanding your trauma doesn’t necessarily make it any easier The link between trauma and substance abuse Why Dr. van der Kolk doesn’t think prescriptions are the answer What he believes about psychedelics Why a sense of community and in-person contact is essential to healing The truth about hypnosis and mindfulness How neurofeedback can help and why Dr. van der Kolk says we should make it widely available How your best friend may hold the key to healing for you Why the treatments you access don’t necessarily need to be endorsed by The American Psychological Association Signs of Childhood Trauma in Adults What You’ll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength There’s a lot of information about the “best” treatments for mental health. But sometimes, the things that heal someone aren’t necessarily a form of traditional therapy. Sometimes people say a new hobby, like knitting, helped them heal. Or they might say joining an exercise group was more effective than medication for reducing their symptoms. That’s why it’s important to be open to trying various strategies that might work for you. Be open to a variety of options until you find the things that help you feel your best. Quotes From Dr. van der Kolk Dr. van der Kolk To open yourself up and be able to tell somebody what is bothering you is a major act of courage. — Dr. van der Kolk "I think we are in [a] state right now where we can get almost all the rewards of being with real people in a virtual way. I think it's going to be very damaging for our relationship[s] with each other." How Trauma Can Affect Your Relationship More About the Podcast The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too. Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors. Thank you. For media or public speaking inquiries, contact Amy here. Download the Transcript Links and Resources Visit Dr. van der Kolk’s website: BesselvanderKolk.com Check out The Body Keeps The Score 12 Tips for Dealing With Trauma Is There a Cure for PTSD? If You Liked This Episode, You Might Also Like These Episodes How to Heal From Trauma With Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Kati Morton Healing From Trauma With EMDR Therapy With Authors Michael Baldwin and Deborah Korn, PsyD Strategies for Healing With Holocaust Survivor Dr. Edith Eger and Her Daughter Dr. Engle Hyper-Independence and Trauma: What's the Connection? By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit