Boarding school syndrome: The anatomy of a trauma | 11th March 2023
In her book Boarding School Syndrome: The Psychological Trauma of the “Privileged” Child (Routledge: 2015) Joy Schaverien identified a cluster of symptoms and behaviours, which she classified as ‘Boarding School Syndrome’. The premise is that children sent to boarding school at an early age suffer the sudden and irrevocable, loss of their primary attachments and this constitutes a significant trauma.
Boarding School, Syndrome, Trauma,Privilege, Psychological Trauma, Joy Schaverien, BoardingSchool Syndrome, early age
17592
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-17592,single-format-standard,bridge-core-3.1.5,qode-page-transition-enabled,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode-child-theme-ver-1.0.0,qode-theme-ver-30.3.1,qode-theme-bridge,qode_header_in_grid,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-7.5,vc_responsive

Boarding school syndrome: The anatomy of a trauma | 11th March 2023

Saturday 11th March

Online Workshop 10.00 – 16.00

with Joy Schaverien

This workshop will be delivered via Zoom.

This insightful and thoughtful workshop will provide participants with an opportunity to learn in depth about the trauma of early boarding. In addition to this Prof. Schaverien will raise awareness of the nature of this trauma; the depth of which is often missed by experienced psychotherapists.

As a result of attending this workshop you will:

  • Be more alert to the suffering caused by boarding.
  • Understand the nature of sexual abusive behaviour in such schools.
  • Understand that in this case the therapist may need to be more active than in some other forms of trauma.

In her book Boarding School Syndrome: The Psychological Trauma of the “Privileged” Child (Routledge: 2015) Joy Schaverien identified a cluster of symptoms and behaviours, which she classified as ‘Boarding School Syndrome’. The premise is that children sent to boarding school at an early age suffer the sudden and irrevocable, loss of their primary attachments and this constitutes a significant trauma. The children are also unsafe because, in some schools, they are at the mercy of bullies and sexual predators.  To adapt to the system, a defensive and protective encapsulation of the self may be acquired; the true identity of the person then remains hidden. This pattern may continue into adult life, distorting intimate relationships. This workshop will draw attention to the ways in which this syndrome may present in psychotherapy. It will give a sense of the depth of trauma, which is often missed when a client mentions they attended a boarding school. Find out more about the event by clicking here

Course fees

Qualified Practitioners: £85
Counselling/Psychotherapy Trainee: £75
WPF Therapy Trainees/Staff: £60
All participants completing the workshop will receive a Certificate of Attendance for their Continuing Professional Development portfolio.