Dr Rangan ChatterjeeHealing Children in War Zones: Lessons in Hope & Humanity | Dr Alexandra Chen
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Episode Details
EPISODE INFO
- Released
- November 4, 2026
- Duration
- 1h 33m
- Channel
- Dr Rangan Chatterjee
- Watch on YouTube
- ▶ Open ↗
EPISODE DESCRIPTION
This episode includes accounts from a doctor working in Gaza, with descriptions of death, violence, injury and the humanitarian impact of war. Some content may be distressing, and listener discretion is advised. How do you help a child heal when they've experienced unimaginable trauma? And how do you offer hope when the world around them is anything but safe? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Alexandra Chen, a trauma psychologist who has spent 18 years working with children and families affected by war, displacement and torture across around 15 conflict zones. Most recently, her work has focused on supporting children and families in Gaza. Alexandra shares two extraordinary patient stories and explains why the most important thing we can offer someone experiencing trauma isn't always a solution, but the reassurance that they don't have to face it alone. We discuss how to create emotional safety when physical safety is impossible, why promising everything will be okay can damage trust, and why conventional approaches to trauma don't always work when danger is ongoing. She also explains how movement and expressive therapies can help children process experiences they don't have the words for, why we must trust people to guide their own healing, and what it really means to be resilient. Alexandra tells me about the conversation that inspired her to establish Healing for Gaza, connecting children and families with therapists around the world. What began with three people has grown into a team of 180. But this conversation goes beyond war and trauma. We explore the power of compassion, why empathy needs to lead to action, and how to respond to suffering without becoming overwhelmed or losing hope. Alexandra shares what nearly two decades of humanitarian work have taught her about human connection and our capacity to make a difference. Whether you've ever struggled to know what to say to someone going through a difficult time, or felt helpless in the face of suffering elsewhere in the world, this conversation is a powerful reminder that sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is simply being there. 🌱 Want to feel better and live more? Subscribe for new conversations that could change how you think about your health and your life. ________________________________________ Episode Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:50 The Reality of Life in War Zones 03:01 How to Create Emotional Safety After Trauma 06:43 Trauma Therapy in War Zones 08:10 Stories of Extreme Trauma 19:35 Why Listening Is Medicine 20:32 Why I Work With Children in War Zones 26:01 How Children Heal From Trauma 28:31 Parents, Children and Intergenerational Trauma 32:31 The Power of Trauma Therapy 34:59 What Is Healing for Gaza? 41:30 Letters of Hope for Children in Gaza 44:10 How War Changes Trauma Therapy 52:10 The Hidden Cost of Resilience 01:01:01 Survivor's Guilt and Trauma 01:04:45 The Emotional Cost of Humanitarian Work 01:08:32 Supporting Trauma Therapists 01:12:45 Changing How We See War and Trauma 01:15:01 Why We Disconnect From War 01:20:47 How Can We Make a Difference? Find out more about Healing for Gaza: https://www.instagram.com/healing_for_gaza/ https://healingforgaza.org/ To write a Letter of Love you can submit a letter here https://bit.ly/HFG-LettersfromtheWorld. To donate or find out about volunteering with Healing for Gaza you can find our more here https://healingforgaza.org/. #feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast ----- Follow Dr Chatterjee at: Website: https://drchatterjee.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.
SPEAKERS
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee
hostMedical doctor and GP, host of “Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee” focused on health and wellbeing.
Dr Alexandra Chen
guestTrauma psychologist and psychotherapist specializing in children and adolescents, working in conflict zones and leading “Healing for Gaza” via the Early Light Foundation.
EPISODE SUMMARY
In this episode of Dr Rangan Chatterjee, featuring Dr. Rangan Chatterjee and Dr Alexandra Chen, Healing Children in War Zones: Lessons in Hope & Humanity | Dr Alexandra Chen explores trauma therapy in war zones: honest safety, agency, and hope Dr Alexandra Chen describes what children and families endure in conflict zones, emphasizing both visible devastation and the “invisible wounds” of despair, terror, grief, and fractured identity and community.
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