Judith Herman

Published in 1992, Trauma and Recovery argues that the psychological effects of trauma—whether from combat, domestic violence, or sexual abuse—share fundamental features across these contexts, and it proposes a three-stage model of recovery: establishing safety, processing the traumatic memory through remembrance and mourning, and reconnecting with ordinary life.

Herman advocated for what she called Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Complex PTSD) to capture symptoms not covered by standard PTSD, such as chronic difficulties with emotional regulation, identity disturbance, and relational problems that result from sustained abuse or captivity. This concept has influenced subsequent diagnostic discussions, including in the ICD-11.

Herman drew historical and clinical parallels between the experiences of battered women and incest survivors and those of combat veterans with shell shock or PTSD, arguing that all suffer from a constellation of symptoms including intrusive memories, avoidance, hyperarousal, and disconnection from others. She framed both as forms of trauma that had been alternately recognized and denied throughout history.

Herman is a psychiatrist affiliated with Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance, where she has worked with survivors of violence and abuse. She co-founded the Victims of Violence program at Cambridge Hospital, providing clinical services grounded in her trauma recovery model.