Healing a Violent World: Healing Invisible Wounds

Boston Globe Health and Science Article Today

An article/essay I wrote, "Trauma Care," is featured in The Boston Globe, Health and Science section today.

Pictured at right is the article, including a featured image of Svang Tor, Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma staff member, and former refugee. She holds her identification photo from her time in a Cambodian refugee camp.

From the article:

Trauma victims can transcend the most horrific events imaginable and go on to lead rich and meaningful lives. Ultimately, traumatized people heal themselves -- and what's more, their experience can teach the rest of us how to deal with the tragedies of everyday life.

You can find the article (for the next couple of days) here:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/health_science/articles/2007/07/02/trauma_care/

Reworking Prognosis and the Concept of Health

A passage from the book:

"Ancient physicians did everything in their power to maximize natural healing and lessen the violence of illness on the patient's body and mind. They told the patient: 'I know your illness and will help cure you or at least relieve your suffering.' In contrast, the modern physician states: 'You may have cancer, infection, or a host of nonserious or potentially fatal diseases. Depending on the diagnosis, you may be in luck and have a good outcome.' Prognosis however, can be used by modern doctors as the first step in establishing a trusting, therapeutic partnership that supports the natural healing capabilities of the patient. Enough is now known of the therapeutic trajectory of traumatized persons that those assisting in the healing process can be extremely optimistic. The fear of a poor outcome or bad prognosis is just that, a fear, which is not based on solid scientific facts and can now be properly disarmed by the healing practitioner. In reworking their use of prognosis, doctors must also begin to challenge the conventionally held concept of health...." p. 192-193.