We’re Older. Are We Better?

Daniel Siegel & Bessel van der Kolk

On the occasion of the Symposium’s 40th anniversary, two of the most influential figures in our field reflect on the most important advances of the past four decades as well as the prospects for improving our therapeutic effectiveness in the future, with a special emphasis on the scientific and technical innovations. In this discussion, you’ll explore answers to the following questions:

• What have been the biggest breakthroughs in treating the most common presenting issues, including trauma, anxiety, depression, couples issues, and family dysfunction?
• How have advances in understanding the brain led to actual improvements in mental health treatment?
• What are the biggest challenges facing our profession, and the most promising new developments on the horizon?
• What role will technology play in enhancing therapeutic effectiveness in the years ahead?

Daniel Siegel, MD, is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine and the executive director of the Mindsight Institute. His latest book is Mind: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human.

Bessel van der Kolk, MD, is the medical director of The Trauma Center in Boston and codirector of the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress Complex Trauma Network. His newest book is The Body Keeps the Score.