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Karestan Chase Koenen, Ph.D.
Author, Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health
Author Bio
Karestan Chase Koenen, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and an Institute Member at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, where she leads the Broad Trauma Initiative. Her groundbreaking research investigates why some individuals exhibit resilience while others develop PTSD, focusing on the long-term impacts of violence and expanding global access to evidence-based recovery.
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A steadfast advocate for survivors, Dr. Koenen has testified before Congress and provided expert commentary for The Boston Globe and The Washington Post. She is the co-author of Treating Survivors of Childhood Abuse and Interpersonal Trauma and has been honored for her scientific contributions and mentorship by the American Psychological Association and Harvard University.
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Beyond the lab, she is a certified yoga, meditation, and breathwork instructor. Dr. Koenen finds deep purpose in exploring the intersection of ancient practices and modern science to better understand how breathwork serves as a physiological bridge to trauma recovery.
Karestan's Book
Luminaries
Luminaries: Women Leaders Who Light the Way is a powerful collection of hard-earned stories from women who have built businesses, shaped policy, advanced research, and created meaningful change within their communities. Through uncertainty, loss, courage, and unexpected detours, they discovered lessons that transformed not only their careers, but the way they lead, live, and move through the world.
Listen Below:
When Life Changes the Plan with Dr. Karestan Koenen
In this Author Spotlight episode of Her Best Chapter, Michelle Savage sits down with Dr. Karestan Koenen PhD, bestselling author and professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and leader of the Broad Trauma Initiative at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Karestan discusses how a life-altering assault in Niger reshaped her path and how she moved from devastation and institutional betrayal to therapy, research, public testimony, and a wider mission to help other women heal. Michelle and Karestan also explore how personal experience, research, and public advocacy can come together to create real change.
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Key topics:
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Karestan’s plan to work in Africa on women’s economic development after joining the Peace Corps
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The compounding harm of how the Peace Corps handled the aftermath of Karestan’s sexual assault, which she calls institutional trauma
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How therapy and the healing process reconnected her with her original purpose of helping other women
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The difference between talk therapy and body-based trauma work, including yoga, meditation, breath work, and trauma-informed yoga
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Karestan’s testimony in Congress and work on legislation to support women facing similar failures in systems meant to protect them
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The personal cost of public advocacy, including strain on her marriage and family life, and the support she needed around her to do it
