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Dr. George Bonanno, professor of psychology at Columbia University and head of the Loss, Trauma, and Emotion Lab, joins us to challenge everything you think you know about trauma and resilience.
Dr. George Bonanno, professor of
psychology at Columbia University and head of the Loss, Trauma, and
Emotion Lab, joins us to challenge everything you think you know
about trauma and resilience.
George shares how his unconventional path—from a troubled
youth to working with mentally ill adults—led him to Yale and
into a career studying how people respond to loss and extreme
stress.
His research shows that most people are more resilient than
commonly believed, bouncing back from hardship without developing
long-term trauma.In this conversation, we dig into why PTSD is
often misunderstood, how flexibility (not stoicism) is the real
marker of resilience, and why popular traits like "grit"
or "toughness" don't always predict who copes
well.
George also discusses effective PTSD treatments—from
exposure therapy to psychedelics—and how laughter,
reappraisal, and even "coping ugly" can be surprisingly
powerful tools in recovery. Whether you're dealing with loss,
supporting someone through a tough time, or just trying to
understand what real resilience looks like, this episode brings
deep insight backed by decades of research.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
