Can Psychedelics Cure Trauma? Bessel van der Kolk and Rachel Yehuda in Conversation

Traumatic events can overwhelm the brain, hijack the body, and distort one’s sense of self. Psychologists often address these responses through techniques that aim to integrate memories, promote personal insight, and deepen one’s understanding of the event. However, recent stress and trauma research has shown us that there are genetic, epigenetic, neurological, and hormonal mechanisms at play, and that understanding may not be enough to treat the symptoms. To learn more, Pioneer Works’ own Janna Levin sat down with Bessel van der Kolk-author of the New York Times best-selling book The Body Keeps the Score-and Rachel Yehuda-a pioneer in the epigenetics of trauma. Together, they considered the impact of trauma on our brains and bodies, pondering: Are we permanently damaged by trauma? Or is there resilience inherent in our very biology?
This project is supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Program in Public Understanding of Science and Technology, bridging the two cultures of science and the arts.
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Oh my gosh! Bessel van der Kolk! I highly recommend his book The Body Keeps the Score.