"Maybe Without Boarding Schools The History of Humanity Would Be Very Different"

In this episode I speak with author and psychiatrist, Dr Anabel Gonzalez about complex trauma, dissociation and boarding school.

She gives her clinical opinion about the impact of boarding school and how "you have to live your entire life in a survival mode."

Anabel Gonzalez, M. D., Ph. D. works as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist in the Public Mental Health System. She coordinates the Trauma and Dissociation Program in the Severe Mental Disorders Services of the University Hospital of A Coruña, and has a broad clinical experience with Dissociative Disorders and Complex Trauma.

Trained in different psychotherapeutic approaches, she has been working with EMDR since 1999 and is an EMDR trainer. Anabel Gonzalez is President of the Spanish EMDR Association and she is author of several articles, presentations, and books

Some areas and questions to explore:

1. I would love for you to share some of your journey. How did you get into the work that you now do?
2. Could you please explain more about the difference between trauma and complex trauma?
3. Could you please talk a little about attachment and the importance of secure attachment in childhood?
4. What is dissociation? Why does dissociation happen with trauma?
5. In the UK we have normalised sending children to boarding school from the ages of 5, 8 or 11. As a psychiatrist who specialises in trauma, attachment & dissociation what is your clinical opinion of this practice? Might the breaking of attachment at this age and putting children into a loveless institution potentially create complex trauma? And if so what might that impact me on the child, and the adult? What if these adults were in charge of government? Might that effect those around them?
6. You mention in your book that people with dissociation, “feel, think or do things that are quite different from what they would like to do.” Could this explain why so many leaders who have been to boarding school act in a contradictory way? Because of complex trauma?
7. What might the impact be on a child who is left in an institution by their caregiver for long periods of time and told that this will be good for them? When the reality turns out to be very different how might this impact the child.
8. What are the key tools you use with clients to help them overcome dissociation?
9. Could you please talk about the importance of making mistakes in the healing of complex trauma? I really love this idea
10. In your clinical opinion, what can we do about the boarding school situation? And our leaders?
11. What are some of the solutions to complex trauma?
12. How do people find out more about your work?

To buy Dr Gonzalez's books please visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-not-Understanding-Attachment-Dissociation/dp/8409066866/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1679737611&refinements=p_27%3AAnabel+Gonzalez&s=books&sr=1-1&text=Anabel+Gonzalez

To learn more about her work: https://anabelgonzalez.es/

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An Evolving Man (AEM) Podcast is for men and women who want to grow, evolve and want support in learning how to do this.

On a regular basis there will be an interview around men's (and women's) topics ranging from self-development, relationships, spirituality, archetypes, trauma, boarding school syndrome and men's work featuring authors and leaders in this field.

The sense with these interviews is to support people during these times of change. What are the teachings, tools and practices that you can use to help you through these turbulent times?