Healing trauma through research as well as lived experiences
Integrating rigorous research with lived experiences can help people recover from trauma, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Karestan Koenen.
On an April 14 episode of the “On Trauma & Power” podcast, from the Center for Trauma and Embodiment, Koenen, professor of psychiatric epidemiology, spoke about how her work as a trauma researcher, as well her own experience as a survivor of trauma, has shaped her efforts to understand healing and resilience.
Koenen talked about her struggle to heal from a sexual assault during her time in the Peace Corps, and how it led her to study trauma—how it embeds in the body and can influence long-term physical and mental health. But Koenen emphasized that trauma’s negative impacts can be mitigated through intervention and support. She also noted that, to help people heal, it’s important to consider individual experiences with trauma and to include nontraditional strategies such as breath work, acupuncture, and yoga.
Listen to the podcast: Healing Trauma – Integrating Lived Experience & Research/Dr. Karestan Koenen
Learn more
Unpacking trauma’s health impacts (Harvard Chan School news)
Body-based therapies can be effective for trauma survivors (Harvard Chan School news)
