[MoxieDoxie]

http://https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/03/08/meet-world-reknowned-author-center-trauma-program-controversy/izjBaELj9iFgdLxPRGSdgI/story.html

How does that make you feel?

[leomama]

Originally Posted by MoxieDoxie

http://https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/03/08/meet-world-reknowned-author-center-trauma-program-controversy/izjBaELj9iFgdLxPRGSdgI/story.html


How does that make you feel?

Disappointed

[seesaw]

That's interesting but also not surprising. Even very intelligent people who do work to help others can be abusive to people close to them. I've worked with loads of people in the nonprofit arena who are high profile, working to do good, but they are super narcissistic and can be very abusive. So it doesn't surprise me, but it is disappointing.

[leomama]

Fight is a complex ptsd narcissistic defense mechanism. I’m not surprised at all.

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by MoxieDoxie

http://https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/03/08/meet-world-reknowned-author-center-trauma-program-controversy/izjBaELj9iFgdLxPRGSdgI/story.html

How does that make you feel?

Wait until we learn more.

[HD7970GHZ]

I am not surprised at all. Therapist are human, they are susceptible to the same ups and downs that we are. All of us are bound by human nature whether we like it or not. I am interested in hearing more details.

Thanks,
HD7970ghz

[Unrigged64072835]

Sad but not surprised.

[Open Eyes]

He was not nurtured and loved by his mother, so he may have some deep challenging deficits when it comes to interacting with women.

That being said, he is 70 and that generation did not look at women as equals and instead tended to only see women in certain roles that are much more ridged and women had their place and that was much different than today.

[pachyderm]

So everybody here already knows the facts?

[leomama]

I think we don’t know the whole story. Any time I read about allegations of abuse in the media I am skeptical. It is very easy for people to complain nowadays and they are believed over their targets.

[HD7970GHZ]

Originally Posted by leomama

I think we don’t know the whole story. Any time I read about allegations of abuse in the media I am skeptical. It is very easy for people to complain nowadays and they are believed over their targets.

Not to be devils advocate here, because I agree that we don't know the facts, but I think that (the bold underlined part) depends on the kind of situation / circumstances. Allegations against someone who is in a helping profession or in some other form of ethical power is typically considered libel or defamatory and unfounded. People in ethical positions of power (like clergy or doctors or police) are usually given benefit of the doubt, whereas in Hollywood, Actors or Producers who are targeted are assumed to be guilty because society assumes they are all about sex, drugs and money.

***I am not refuting that Hollywood is disgusting. I am just pointing out the social constructs surrounding it and allegations***

I find the social constructs surrounding these matters to be fascinating. Society still regards mental illness in light of age-old stigma despite the fact that everyone struggles with it in some way or another. What is most likely?: is the person with mental illness telling the truth, or is the person in a high esteemed, privileged position of power hiding a secret?

Thanks,
HD7970ghz

[leomama]

The person publicly crying they are a victim is the mentally ill person.

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by pachyderm

So everybody here already knows the facts?

Pachyderm, I wasn't intending to lay judgment, just stating that it wouldn't surprise me if it were true. I prefer to rely on the judicial system and legal process to deal with these things. I acknowledge I don't know all the facts. But considering the immense amount of harassment and sexism I've experienced in my career and never been able.to report or.say anything about it, I do tend to give the victim the benefit of the doubt. However, I do believe suspensions with pay are in order while investigations are held.

If the employer held a investigation and found enough evidence to decide to terminate the employee, then I feel there was likely something to it.

[pachyderm]

I wish I knew more facts about this thing. I hope some more information comes out. Maybe it will, maybe it won't.

[Open Eyes]

By Liz Kowalczyk GLOBE STAFF MARCH 08, 2018
Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, a best-selling author whose research on post-traumatic stress disorder has attracted a worldwide following, was fired from his job over allegations that he bullied and denigrated employees at his renowned Trauma Center,

The key word is "allegations", so at this point it has not been something "proven" to be true. That being said, the fact that he has been fired according to this article can mean there was enough damming evidence that it was deemed necessary for him to be removed from his position. There really are no specifics in this article as to what he may have done that was considered abusive behaviors towards the employees or even how many employees stepped forward to complain. We also have not had a chance to hear his side of this challenge.

For myself, the only thing I could say is "it may be due to" as with the little information that has been presented all one can do at this point is speculate what it could be due to. How I "feel" about this is that it's important to make sure to not negate whatever this individual has contributed to shedding light on and bringing awareness to what individuals are challenged with when they struggle with PTSD and even childhood trauma and the affect that can have on someone. Clearly this is something this individual has been very passionate about and "perhaps" he got angry when employees did not follow his program when interacting with patients. All we can do is wait and "hear" his side of this story.

[pachyderm]

Here is a response from Van der Kolk, and some supporting messages to him:

Behind the Globe Article - BESSEL VAN DER KOLK M.D.

Still do not know all the facts.

[leomama]

Originally Posted by pachyderm

Here is a response from Van der Kolk, and some supporting messages to him:


Behind the Globe Article - BESSEL VAN DER KOLK M.D.


Still do not know all the facts.

Yeah that makes sense

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by pachyderm

Here is a response from Van der Kolk, and some supporting messages to him:

Behind the Globe Article - BESSEL VAN DER KOLK M.D.

I was suddenly fired without any warning, while the rest of the management team was told to pass the message that I had been fired & would not be allowed to step foot at the Trauma Center on to our students, staff & patients. They unanimously refused to do so.

...

...JRI now is engaged in a public character assassination that most of you have by now heard about.

van der Kolk was hurt and is trying to justify himself. Wonder if he has tried to apply some of the approaches to JRI that he applies to his patients: realizing that they react out of their own past traumatizations sometimes also...

[leomama]

I detest character assassination on any level and I am learning that usually happens to strong people, the weak attack them because they feel inadequate. How he handles it shows his true character.

[PumpkinPieHead]

Can we copy and paste the article? The site wants me to pay

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by PumpkinPieHead

Can we copy and paste the article? The site wants me to pay

I don't see that.