Bessel van der Kolk to appear at the Sydney Opera House

Sydney — Wednesday 22 November 2023

Author of the bestselling phenomenon The Body Keeps the Score and one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, Bessel van der Kolk, will appear on the Concert Hall stage in March next year discussing his pioneering research into traumatic stress and its impact on our brains and bodies.

With over 50 years’ experience as a renowned psychiatrist, Dr van der Kolk is at the forefront of research into post-traumatic stress and its effect on memory, brain function and treatment outcomes. The Body Keeps the Score, originally intended as a resource for researchers and students, struck a powerful chord with the public, spending more than 260 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and selling more than three million copies worldwide. Dr Van der Kolk’s study of trauma continues to influence our understanding of its role in our lives. Why is it that his research has connected so powerfully with us?  

In this special event, Dr van der Kolk will share his insights into how traumatic experiences can disconnect our body and mind, leaving us with a physical imprint of our psychic wounds, as well as the treatments showing promise, including neurofeedback, psychedelic therapy, psychodrama and more.

Bessel van der Kolk M.D., says: “I am absolutely thrilled to be coming to the Sydney Opera House to discuss the evolution of our understanding of trauma over the years. My career has been spent examining and understanding trauma’s effects however I am still learning more about it from my patients and my research. It will be a pleasure to continue to engage with Australian audiences and discuss my life’s work with them in such an incredible venue.”

Sydney Opera House Head of Talks & Ideas, Chip Rolley says: “In many ways, we are living in the age of trauma. From the lasting impact of war on returned soldiers to the many personal testimonials of the #MeToo movement, there is a greater awareness of the prevalence of trauma and PTSD in our lives. Sydney Opera House is proud to present Dr van der Kolk, who has had a deep impact on the lives of many people suffering from PTSD, and whose talk event in our Concert Hall promises to foster greater empathy and understanding of the burden so many carry.”