Understanding Shell Shock and the 'Talking Cure'
During World War I, approximately 80,000 soldiers were treated for "shell shock," a condition now recognized as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At the time, the prevailing approach was to encourage soldiers to suppress traumatic memories, hoping they would simply fade away.
Dr. William Halse Rivers Rivers—a medical doctor, anthropologist, philosopher, and scientist—pioneered a more compassionate method known as the "talking cure." This approach involved encouraging patients to confront and discuss their traumatic experiences. One of his most notable patients was the war poet Siegfried Sassoon, whom he treated at Craiglockhart War Hospital in 1917.
About the Speaker: Bonita Posen
Bonita Posen began her teaching career working with adolescent girls in the care system, later moving into the British prison education system. There, she discovered that illiteracy and innumeracy often led individuals toward crime. Awarded a scholarship, she initiated an innovative program where literate and numerate prisoners tutored those lacking these skills. Bonita made Aliyah in 2000.
Light refreshments will be served.
