Keeping Score
“The Body Keeps the Score” is a seminal work that has significant implications for leadership in the context of trauma. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk’s insights into the physical and psychological effects of trauma, as well as effective interventions and treatment strategies, are highly relevant to leaders who seek to promote the health and well-being of individuals and communities affected by trauma. Trauma is a complex and challenging issue that requires a nuanced understanding of its physical and psychological effects on individuals and communities. By drawing from multiple fields, such as trauma psychology, neuroscience, and public health, leaders can develop a comprehensive and compelling understanding of trauma and its effects on individuals and society. As leaders this is something that we need to be well informed about (if we not already).
Though there are many insights in the book there were two insights that stuck out to me which were
- trauma disrupting your present[1].
- traumatized people have a tendency to superimpose their trauma on everything around them and have trouble deciphering whatever is going on around them[2].
(For the sake of word count I’m only going to talk about one.)
Trauma Disrupting Your Present
Over the weekend I went to my little brothers wedding in Cleveland, TN. My family got in around Friday afternoon and spent the day with everyone. As we were heading back to our Airbnb my brother (the one getting married) calls me and says hey I need a favor. Knowing that I couldn’t turn him down on his wedding weekend I agreed to help before I even knew what it was. He proceeds to tell me that my dad is coming to the wedding, he needs to be picked up from the airport and that he needs a place to stay. I won’t go into all the details here but let’s say that my dad and I do not have the best of relationship (a story I wouldn’t mind sharing face to face). When my brother asked me that seconds immediately turned into an eternity as my past trauma came rushing back to my mind and heart. I’d let you know what I decided to do but that would make for an awful story teller.
The book “The Body Keeps the Score” is supported by a growing body of research in trauma psychology, neuroscience, and public health. For example, “The Trauma of Everyday Life” by Mark Epstein explores the ways in which trauma affects our everyday lives, and how we can use mindfulness and other practices to help us cope with trauma. Epstein’s work reinforces the importance of mind-body interventions in treating trauma-related disorders, as emphasized in “The Body Keeps the Score.”
Similarly, “The Deepest Well” by Nadine Burke Harris examines the ways in which childhood trauma affects lifelong health and well-being. Harris’s work highlights the physical effects of trauma on the body, reinforcing the importance of understanding the physical effects of trauma in the context of leadership. “Trauma Stewardship” by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky and Connie Burk explores the ways in which professionals working in fields affected by trauma can practice self-care and foster resilience. This work emphasizes the importance of social connection and support, which is a critical component of leadership in the context of trauma. “Trauma and Recovery” by Judith Herman explores the ways in which trauma affects individuals and communities, and provides a framework for understanding the process of healing from trauma. Herman’s work underscores the importance of recognizing trauma as a social and relational experience, and the role of social connection and support in promoting healing and well-being.
Taken together, these works provide a comprehensive and compelling understanding of trauma and its effects on individuals and communities. By drawing from multiple fields and perspectives, leaders can develop a nuanced understanding of the issues at hand and develop effective interventions and support strategies. The insights presented in “The Body Keeps the Score” are highly relevant to the field of global leadership, particularly in terms of promoting health and well-being among diverse and often traumatized populations.
Leaders working in settings affected by conflict, natural disasters, or other traumatic events may encounter individuals and communities who have experienced trauma, either directly or indirectly. Understanding the physical and psychological effects of trauma, as well as effective interventions and treatment strategies, can help leaders support individuals and communities in their efforts to recover and rebuild. By promoting mind-body interventions, such as yoga and mindfulness, leaders can help individuals and communities affected by trauma reduce symptoms of trauma-related disorders and improve overall well-being.
Furthermore, the emphasis on social connection and support as critical components of healing from trauma has important implications for leaders working in multicultural and diverse environments. Developing healthy relationships and building social support networks can help promote cross-cultural understanding, trust, and cooperation, and can foster a sense of belonging and shared purpose among diverse groups. By promoting social connection and support, leaders can play a critical role in promoting healing and well-being among individuals and communities affected by trauma.
In summary, “The Body Keeps the Score” is a crucial resource for individuals seeking to comprehend leadership within the context of trauma. The book’s insights are substantiated by an expanding body of research, emphasizing the significance of mind-body interventions, social connections, and support, as well as understanding the physical ramifications of trauma. Leaders operating in trauma-affected environments can utilize these insights to devise effective interventions and support strategies that facilitate healing and well-being among individuals and communities impacted by trauma. By integrating knowledge from multiple disciplines and perspectives, leaders can cultivate a sophisticated understanding of the issues at hand, ultimately working towards fostering healing and resilience in the wake of trauma.
[1] Bessel A. Van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, (New York, New York: Viking, 2014), 221.
[2] Bessel A. Van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, (New York, New York: Viking, 2014), 28.
6 responses to “Keeping Score”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Daron – I appreciate how you related The Body Keeps the Score and trauma to leadership because trauma is something that every person experiences in their own unique ways and as someone charged with leading others, an understanding of how it impacts people is critical. I hope that all went well at the wedding!
Hi Laura,
The wedding was amazing! I had such a fun time catching up with people and family I have not seen in years. It was a great reminder of God’s grace towards me.
Deron-
Thank you for your post and sharing how this book related to a recent family wedding experience. This captures so much:
“When my brother asked me that seconds immediately turned into an eternity as my past trauma came rushing back to my mind and heart.”
This is a great example of how quickly the past can be pulled into the present.
I am curious if there is an intervention that you have found to be helpful for yourself?
Kristy
Thanks for your response. So I have a habit of facing trauma head on. It’s actually how I deal with everything in life (not sure if that is a good thing). When I notice trauma within myself I usually stop and ask myself why am I feeling this way and what is causing me to react in such a way. It has been helpful and at times painful because I force myself to sit with it until I better understand it.
I appreciated your post! How can we as leaders use the insights presented in “The Body Keeps the Score” to promote healing and well-being among individuals and communities affected by trauma?
Alana
Great question. I tried to cover it a little bit in my post. I think as leaders we need to be well versed in not just leading people but also understanding the physical and psychological effects of trauma, as well as effective interventions and treatment strategies, can help us as leaders support individuals and communities in their efforts to recover and rebuild. This means we need to work at building teams of people that can help us respond accordingly but we must also stretch ourselves to better understand trauma within ourselves so we can help others.