Dr. Bessel van der Kolk: Trauma, the Body, and the Power of Community
I'm Fine
Neurobiology of Trauma and Developmental Impact
Bessel outlines stress responses, how childhood trauma shapes identity, and brain/hormone patterns that persist.
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I’m Fine hosted by Jean Campbell meets psychiatrist and trauma pioneer Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of the seminal book The Body Keeps the Score. Recorded at Balliol College, Oxford, after he spoke at the Masters Event this wide-ranging conversation explores what trauma really is — beyond war and catastrophe and why connection, safety, and community are at the heart of healing. In this conversation they discuss how trauma lives in the body, how it shapes identity, and why silence and secrecy so often make suffering worse. From those suffering from dissociation, emotional numbness to chronic pain, immune illness, and loss of self, we hope this episode offers both clarity and hope as they explore what helps.
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk is a psychiatrist, researcher, and educator who has spent over five decades studying trauma and its effects on the body and mind. He is the founder of the Trauma Research Foundation and the author of The Body Keeps the Score, one of the most influential books on trauma ever written.
In this Conversation:
- What trauma actually is and why it’s not defined by the event alone, what is the difference between stress and trauma
- How the body ‘keeps the score’ when the mind tries to move on
- Why secrecy and shame deepen trauma, and the difference between public trauma and private trauma
- “Trauma is not what happens to you. It’s what happens inside you when you are left alone with what happened.” How trauma shapes identity — especially when it is rooted in childhood
- Why talk therapy alone is often not enough - the healing power of groups and shared experiences
- Loss of self — and why recovery is still possible and why community is the strongest antidote to hopelessness
- “We don’t exist as individuals. We exist as members of a tribe. What to do if you feel alone, disconnected, or “beyond help”
About I’m Fine:
I’m Fine is a Podcast hosted by Model, Writer and Mental Health Advocate Jean Campbell is a safe space and platform where high-performance people talk honestly about their life experiences and healing as Jean explores the inner world behind their outward success. Jean has navigated chronic pain since she was 12 years old, this experience inspired her to create I’m Fine to help reshape the stigma around pain - emotional, physical, and mental - to give a voice to the many who hide behind the words: ‘I’m Fine’. The series features conversations about mental health, identity, resilience, and how we cope when life doesn’t go to plan.
With Very Special Thanks to:
- Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
- Natasha SilverBell: CEO SilverBell Global
- Araminta Jonsson: CEO Book Time with Me, Mint Partnerships
- Technical Production by Copperbeach (social handle @copperbeachuk)
This episode of I’m Fine Series Two is kindly supported by Natasha SilverBell and SilverBell Global https://silverbellglobal.com
@Natasha SilverBell is the CEO and Founder of SilverBell Global, established in 2012 to provide informed care and attuned presence to individuals and families navigating the complexities of mental health. A thought leader and keynote speaker, Natasha curates dialogues with leading practitioners around mental health, wellbeing, and spirituality. She participated in the first Lord Mayor's Global Family Office Summit at Mansion House, London, is an Ambassador for Partnership to End Addiction, and is the founder of the Megan Anne Foundation
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