How trauma stays in the body and how to remove it with Bessel van der Kolk | Full Interview

This interview provides a comprehensive and insightful overview of trauma from a leading expert in the field. Van der Kolk’s explanations are grounded in decades of research and clinical practice, lending high credibility to his statements. He effectively bridges complex neuroscientific concepts with accessible language, making the content valuable for both professionals and the general public. The discussion on the limitations of conventional drug treatments is particularly noteworthy, as it challenges mainstream approaches and highlights the need for more integrated therapies. Van der Kolk’s emphasis on the body’s role in trauma is well-supported by evidence, and he cites specific studies, such as the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, to bolster his arguments. However, some claims, such as the effectiveness of psychedelics, are presented as promising but not yet fully validated, which is appropriately acknowledged. The interview’s structure, with clear chapters, aids comprehension. The only minor critique is that the conversation could have delved deeper into the mechanisms of specific therapies, but overall, the content is rigorous, well-argued, and highly informative. The title accurately reflects the content, and the interview successfully fulfills its promise to explain how trauma stays in the body and how to address it.

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on how trauma is stored in the body and discusses methods to address it.

9/10

The interview features Bessel van der Kolk, a renowned psychiatrist and researcher, who presents evidence-based insights on trauma, its neurobiological underpinnings, and treatment approaches. He references scientific studies and clinical experience, and the content aligns with established literature in the field.

• 00:00Chapter 1: Trauma, explained
• 01:21PTSD in veterans
• 02:09Connecting with others after trauma
• 04:28The prevalence of trauma
• 05:35What is trauma?
• 08:19The greatest protector of trauma
• 09:37Trauma in the brain
• 11:46Automatic responses
• 14:56The brain and our experiences
• 16:52Re-experiencing trauma
• 19:58Brain development and trauma
• 27:29Chapter 2: Shaping childhood trauma
• 28:27Reenacting trauma in relationships
• 31:41Understanding each other’s trauma
• 34:59Long term effects of child abuse
• 36:34Chapter 3: How to treat trauma
• 36:57“A post-alcoholic culture”
• 37:27Zoloft, Prozac, and other PTSD drugs
• 39:15The Adverse Childhood Experiences study
• 40:48Drug addiction
• 43:02Eye movement desensitization
• 45:48Unconventional trauma treatments
• 46:30The brain-body connection

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• Full interview transcript — Link to the transcript of this interview.
• Big Think Media Newsletter — Mentioned in the description as a newsletter for updates.
• How the body keeps the score on trauma | Bessel van der Kolk for Big Think+ — Related video on the same topic.

• The Body Keeps the Score — Van der Kolk's book provides extensive evidence for the ideas discussed in the interview.
• Adverse Childhood Experiences Study — The study is referenced in the interview and supports the prevalence of trauma.

• Critique of EMDR