The famous psychiatrist-neuroscientist and widely read author Dr. Bessel van der Kolk comes to Athena guest of the institute for the mental health Trauma2Therapy and the trauma therapists Sofia Vasilakou and Despoina Plousiou and will offer the Greek public a unique two-day “endoscopy” in Intergenerational and Complex trauma, on September 14 and 15at the theatre Pierce – American College of Greece. Utilizing his many years of neuroscientific research, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk will offers live a unique experience of experiential sessions and discussionssurrounded by renowned professionals in the field of mental health.

As stated, the world’s greatest representative of understanding and trauma treatmentfounder of the Massachusetts Trauma Center, Harvard Professor of Psychiatry, and author of the global best seller “The body keeps the score”, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is considered the “modern Sigmund Freud” of post-traumatic rehabilitation, as he is responsible for a literal modern revolution in the field of mental health and has paved the way for new approaches to the study and treatment of Intergenerational and Complex trauma.

In the words of Dr. Bessel van der Kolk: “I am coming to Athens this September to talk about trauma, acute trauma, car accidents, violence, but also chronic trauma, child abuse, neglect and their multi-layered consequences. We will talk about a wide range of therapeutic methods, some are conventional, such as using drugs or neurofeedback, but also unconventional, such as talking, how to talk and be understood, how to make connections. Mainly how to help people recreate a sense of safety within their own bodies. And to create a raison d’être within their minds. I was taught Greek at school so I know some ancient Greek. It has a special meaning for me every time I visit Greece, and witness 4,000 years of culture. I’m excited to be there.”

In the modern study of mental health, the Trauma is treated as a Pandemicbecause it is a form of psychological and neurological degenerative “infection” that affects the entire population and affects the mental and physical health of people.

The Intergenerational trauma it expresses the transmission of the oppressive or traumatic effects of a historical event. The Greek nation suffers from a collective complex trauma from all the years of wars, immigration, civil wars, and of course the 400 years of Turkish occupation. This trauma is passed down from generation to generation – both behaviorally and genetically, as we know from Epigenetics – and has a huge impact on the way society, communities, families and individuals function today.

“Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is responsible for the biggest revolution in mental health. He is the one who explained to us what happens in our brains when we are injured and who analyzed in a simple, but completely scientific way, the devastating and multi-layered consequences that repeated adverse childhood experiences have in our adult lives. He’s the one who said we’re not weird, crazy, bad, alienated and incurable… he’s the one who asked “What happened to you?” and not “Why are you doing this?”” note the trauma therapists Sofia Vasilakou and Despina Plousiou and continue:

“And so he finally turned on the lights for us in the vast darkness of trauma, gave us thorough knowledge, understanding, hope for healing and post-traumatic flourishing. He dedicated and continues to dedicate his rich and long-standing scientific work to the humanitarian mission of traumatic research, understanding and de-criminalization. He went against established structures and ideas without backing down. Unafraid to speak on behalf of all of us, advocating and asserting our right to mental health, valid knowledge and meaningful treatment resulting in mental resilience and post-traumatic flourishing.”

About Dr. Bessel van der Kolk

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is a leading trauma expert in the world, he founded and runs the Brookline, Massachusetts Trauma Center / Trauma Research Foundation. He is also a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston and director of the US National Network for the Treatment of Complex Trauma and conducts educational work traveling the world.

His book “The body keeps the score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Treatment of Trauma” is a global success, a New York Times bestseller, and is ranked weekly in the Amazon best sellers eight years after its first release, having garnered over 66,000 reader reviews on Amazon and 135,000 reviews on Goodreads.

His work integrates in a unique way developmental, neurobiological, psychodynamic, somatic and interpersonal aspects of the effects of trauma and its coping. Through his research, he reveals how repetitive trauma literally rewires the brain—especially the areas devoted to pleasure, commitment, self-control, and trust. She shows how these areas can be reactivated through innovative therapies including physical therapy, psychodrama, mindfulness techniques, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, yoga and neurofeedback.

He has published over 150 scientific articles on topics as diverse as neuroimaging, self-injury, memory, neurofeedback, developmental trauma, yoga, theater and EMDR. For 34 years, through the Center for Mental Trauma Trauma Research Foundation, he has been organizing the International Trauma Conference in Boston, one of the most important international conferences on trauma and mental health.

The Trauma2Therapy Institute

The Institute for Mental Health Trauma2Therapy was created by the trauma therapists Sofia Vasilakou and Despina Plousiou and the lawyer and entrepreneur Konstantinos Plousio with the aim of offering new approaches in the field of mental health in Greece and to act as a connecting link with the international community and the new revolutionary researches around Trauma and degenerative diseases its consequences. Its activities include the organization of seminars, trainings and talks by internationally renowned trainers, founders of well-known trauma schools and researchers around complex trauma.

The first action of its founders in Greece is the invitation to Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, with whom they have been connected personally and professionally, to address the Greek public. At the same time, in August 2023, in collaboration with the Trauma Research Foundation of Dr. van der Kolk presented their virtual course Embody the Hero Within: How 5 Ancient Greek Myths Can Help Unlock Your Healing Potential.

More at https://traumaresearchfoundation.org/resources/trf-tuesday/

The American College of Greece

The American College of Greece is a private, non-profit educational organization with a history of 148 years. It consists of three educational units: Pierce’s Elementary, Middle and High School-IB, Deree -which offers undergraduate and graduate programs- and the Alba Graduate Business School. As part of its mission to provide equal opportunities for access to education, the American College of Greece annually offers more than 8 million euros in scholarships and financial support programs.