‘What soldiers can teach us about transforming trauma’

In his acclaimed new book Aftershock: fighting war, surviving trauma and finding peace, Matthew Green documents the private battles fought by soldiers and their families as they struggle with the legacy of deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and previous conflicts the rest of Britain has long since forgotten.

Now, Green is on a mission to show how British service personnel are leading the way in pioneering new approaches to healing psychological injury, whether they manifest as depression, anxiety and addictions–or the flashbacks, night terrors and emotional numbing of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Drawing on the remarkable true stories he uncovered all over Britain, Green shows how ex-forces can help the rest of society answer questions all of us will at some point confront: ‘How can we move past a traumatic event? And how can our worst experiences become our greatest teachers?’

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GREEN SHOWS


How we are all affected in some way by the aftershocks of Britain’s wars.
Where our system of caring for veterans is failing – and how we can fix it.
How new horizons in therapy are offering fresh hope to trauma survivors – civilian as well as military.

A compelling and experienced public speaker, Green has moved and inspired audiences across the UK, whether addressing literary festivals, university students or senior military officers. He is a regular current affairs commentator on the BBC News Channel and BBC World Service radio and writes for Newsweek, the Guardian and Financial Times.

The theme and content of each talk can be tailored for specific events, but are guaranteed to be poignant, thought-provoking and to leave audiences feeling inspired. Green has a powerful multi-media presentation including video, pictures and sound clips of veterans and their families.

To see Green speak visit his YouTube channel; this feature on Aftershock on BBC World; advocating for better veterans services in this Guardian video; and speaking to British Forces Broadcasting.


Reuterís journalist Matthew Green works on the top of an Amphibia Assault Vehicle on the road near Baghdad on April 8, 2003.    REUTERS/Oleg Popov

WHERE MATTHEW GREEN HAS SPOKEN

Edinburgh International Book Festival
HQ Joint Forces Command, Northwood
King’s College London MEDFEST
The Defence Academy, Shrivenham
Cheltenham Literature Festival
Belfast International Arts Festival
London School of Economics
Aye Write Glasgow
Hay Festival
University of Leeds
Oxford Literary Festival
Barts Medical School
Kingston University
Open University